Dr. Birkena Qirjazi is the Head of the ENT service at the University Hospital Center of Tirana, Albania and professor at the Department of ENT and Ophthalmology, at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine of Tirana. She is an ENT surgeon and Audiologiest, (Msc Audiology at ISVR, UK) specialized in ear pathologies, including the hearing disorders both in children and adults. Dr Qirjazi is also the initiator of the neonatal hearing screening programs in Albania and is leading the CI program in Albania.

Education & Academic Background

• Medical Degree: Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine (1987).

• Residency: Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology (1993).

• Research Fellowship: Niigata University, Japan (1991–1993). Conducted the research project “Relationship between craniofacial development and middle ear functions in cleft palate patients” under the MONBUSHO Scholarship.

• ORL-postgraduate Thesis: “Investigation of the Craniofacial Skeleton in Cases of Adenoid Vegetation and Secretory Otitis Media” (Advisor: Prof. N. Akyıldız).

Academic Appointments

• Professor: Gazi University (GU) Faculty of Medicine (2003–Present).

• Associate Professor: GU Faculty of Medicine (1997–2003).

• Head of the Division of Audiology: GU (2004–Present).

• Chairman of the ORL-HNS Department: GU (2013–2021).

Institutional Leadership & Founded Programs

Dr. Kemaloğlu has been a pioneer in establishing audiological infrastructure in Turkey, having founded:

• The Prof. Dr. N. Akyıldız Hearing, Speech, Voice, and Balance Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment Center (2002).

• MSc Program in Audiology, Voice, and Speech Disorders (GU, 2002).

• Division of Audiology at GU (2004).

Research & Projects

• International Collaboration: Researcher for "Core B-Project 4" in the “Middle Ear Pressure Regulation in Health and Disease NIDCD P50” project at the University of Pittsburgh (2010–Present).

• Sign Language & Education: Principal Investigator for two World Bank-funded projects regarding “Educational Problems of the Hearing Impaired and Turkish Sign Language (TID).”

• Grant Projects: Led numerous scientific research projects supported by the EU, TUBITAK, and university funds.

• Supervision: Mentored approximately 20 Master’s theses and ORL-HNS residency dissertations.

Advisory & Public Service

• National Hearing Screening: Served on the founding scientific advisory team for the National Newborn Hearing Screening (NNHS) Pilot Project in Türkiye; currently serves as a consultant for the Ministry of Health’s NNHS program.

• Governmental Commissions: Member of the Ministry of Health and Social Security Institution (SGK) commissions regarding hearing aids and cochlear implants.

• Turkish Sign Language (TID):

  • Member of the TID Scientific Approval Board (Turkish Language Association, 2010–2013).

  • Chairman of the TID Dictionary Commission.

  • Member of the TID Interpreter Examination Commission.

Professional Societies & Congress Presidency

• President: Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (2018–2021); Vice President (2016–2018).

• Board Member: Society of Otology and Neurotology; Center for the Development of the Hearing Impaired; Association of Hearing and Speech Scientists.

• Congress Leadership:  

  • President of the 14th International Congress of ORL & Head and Neck Surgery (2021).

  • Co-organizer of SIGN5: 5th International Conference on Sign Languages and Deaf Studies with the University of Central Lancashire (2011).

  • Scientific Secretary for the 1st and 2nd Neuro-Otology Conferences (EAONO & GU).

Publications & Innovations

·         Publications: Over 120 scientific articles (approx. 70 in international peer-reviewed journals) mainly focusing on otology, audiology, NHS, and voice.

• Books: Co-author of the textbook “Otitis Media” (with Prof. Akyıldız).

• Intellectual Property:

  • Patent: Holds a patent for a unique method of analyzing snoring sounds for the diagnosis and treatment of OSA.

  • Software: Developed trademarked voice analysis software (with Prof. Mengü).

·         Reports: Authored the "E-İşit Project Report" regarding electronic materials for higher education for the hearing impaired.

Personal

• Languages: English, Japanese (Limited).

ENT, audiologist, Hearing Center, Hereditary hearing loss in Kyrgyzstan

ENT, audiologist, Hearing Center, Hereditary hearing loss in Kyrgyzstan

ENT, audiologist, Hearing Center, Hereditary hearing loss in Kyrgyzstan

ENT, audiologist, Hearing Center, Hereditary hearing loss in Kyrgyzstan