Jong Woo Chung, MD, is a professor and former chairman of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine. Dr. Chung and his colleagues lead multiple clinical research projects focusing on sensorineural hearing loss, cochlear implantation, middle ear implants, chronic ear disease, and pediatric otitis media. His recent research interests have expanded into robotic-assisted ear surgery, artificial intelligence applications in otology, and endoscopic ear surgery.

Dr. Chung earned his medical degree from Seoul National University College of Medicine, where he also completed his residency and Ph.D. training in Otolaryngology. Following advanced training in general otology, neurotology, skull base surgery, and cochlear implantation, he joined Asan Medical Center, where he further developed programs in skull base surgery, audiology, endoscopic ear surgery, and cochlear implantation. He also initiated basic research on noise-induced hearing loss.

Dr. Chung has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles indexed in SCI/SCIE journals. He has held numerous leadership roles, including President of the Korean Audiological Society (2014–2016), President of the Korean Skull Base Society (2017), and President of the Korean Association of Institutional Review Boards (2020–2023). He currently serves as President of the upcoming World Congress of Audiology 2026, which will be held in Seoul.

Prof. Khassan Diab, born in 1973. With extensive training and expertise, he has become a leading authority in hearing improvement surgical interventions, including cochlear implantation. His surgical prowess is evidenced by an impressive record of over 5000 cochlear implantations in Russia and other countries and numerous complex surgeries for various ear conditions.

Education

• Ph.D., Medical Care Faculty Rostov State Medical University, 1999

• Residency, ENT Department Rostov State Medical University & St. Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Nose, Throat and Speech, 1999-2003

• Fellowship Rostov State Medical University, 2003-2005 Thesis: "Unsatisfactory results of stapedeoplasty and ways of their correction"

Professional Experience

• Research Associate Ear Pathophysiology Department, St. Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Nose, Throat and Speech November 2006 - 2010

• Senior Research Associate St. Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Nose, Throat and Speech 2011 - 2014

• Head of Cadaveric Temporal Bone Courses St. Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Nose, Throat and Speech 2006 - 2014

• Chief Research Associate Department of Ear Diseases, Federal Research Clinical Center of Otorhinolaryngology, Moscow December 2014 - March 2016

• Head of the Department of Ear Diseases Federal Research Clinical Center of Otorhinolaryngology, Moscow April 2016 - January 2020

• Professor of Otolaryngology Faculty of Postgraduate Education, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University Since November 2016

• Deputy Director for International Affairs Curator of the Scientific and Clinical Department of Ear Diseases National Medical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngology, Federal Medico-Biological Agency of Russia January 2020 - Present

Achievements and Affiliations

·         Honor Member Black Sea Otology and Neurotology Association

Member of the Board of the Society of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Specialists

            Member of the National Association of Otorhinolaryngologists of Russia.

·         Chairman of the Expert Council of the Eurasian Academy of Otorhinolaryngology

·         Official representative of Russia in The International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies (IFOS).

·         Annually conducts advanced dissection courses with international participation "Oto-surgery and surgery of the lateral skull base".

·         Publications Author of more than 300 articles and 20 patents in the field of ear pathology

·         Lecturer Engaged in various International scientific conferences and forums, including international events

Medical Centres Affiliations:

·         Medical Centre Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan

·         Municipal Childrens No.2 Hospital Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan

·         City Clinical Hospitals N.5, Almaty Republic of Kazakhstan

·         University Medical Centre Corporate Foundation Astana Republic of Kazakhstan

·         Republican Specialized Scientific Practice Medical Centre of Paediatrics Tashkent, Uzbekistan

·         ShifoNur Clinic Tashkent, Uzbekistan

·         Erebuni Medical ENT (Ear, Nose, & Throat) & Cochlear Implants Centre, Yervan, Armenia

·         Al Qassimi Hospital – Ministry of Health and Prevention UAE, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Surgical Expertise

• Conducted over 5000 cochlear implantations

• Successfully performed 100 implantations of bone conduction hearing aids

• Completed approximately 100 surgical treatments for Meniere's disease

• Executed more than 15,000 different types of tympanoplasties, including cases of petrous bone cholesteatoma

• Proficient in surgical treatment of temporal bone tumors, including glomus tumors, facial nerve schwannoma, and neuroma of the internal auditory canal (500 cases)

• Actively operating on patients (50 per year) with congenital external auditory canal malformations

• Pioneering the simultaneous method of formation of the external auditory canal and external ear reconstruction using Medpor

Dr. Ali Eftekharian is currently Professor at the department of otolaryngology of Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.

He is founder and director of otology neurotology fellowship program in Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.

He is also founder and director of the cochlear implant center in that University.

His subspecialty is in otology-neurotology and has performed over 1500 cochlear implant surgeries.

Areas of Special Interest:

                Auditory brainstem implantation

                Cochlear implantation

                Inner ear anomalies

                Vestibular schwannoma surgery

                Lateral skull base surgeries

                Facial nerve surgeries

Prof. Luminita Radulescu is a Professor of Otorhinolaryngology at Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iași, Romania, and Director of the ENT Clinic at the Rehabilitation Hospital Iași.  A pioneer in cochlear implantation in Romania, she was part of the team that performed Romania’s first cochlear implant in 2000 and has since overseen over 1000 procedures. Prof. Radulescu has authored more than 100 publications, four books, and presented over 200 papers at national and international conferences . She also mentors PhD candidates and serves on editorial boards related to otology and hearing rehabilitation.

Prof. Director: Otology & Skull Base Surgery department, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Chair: 11th International Conference on Cholesteatoma and Ear Surgery

Member of the board of directors: the Politzer Society and the Prosper Meniere Society

President elect: Shanghai Hearing and Vestibule Medicine Association.

Associate Editor: Journal of International Advanced Otology

Member of Editorial Board: Otology &Neurotology

Member of Editorial Board: Journal Neurological Surgery: Skull Base