<p>Seiji Kakehata, M.D., Ph.D. is best known for his work in pioneering endoscopic ear surgery in his home country of Japan and around the world. He served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine until March of 2023 after which he became Professor Emeritus. In May of 2023, he opened the Endoscopic Ear Surgery Center in the Ota General Hospital in Kawasaki Japan to make TEES more accessible to the wider public. He is also the immediate past Chair of Board of Directors, Japan Otological Society. He is a director of the Japanese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. In addition, he is a founding board member of the International Working Group on Endoscopic Ear Surgery (IWGEES) and its immediate past president as well as the president of the Pan-Asia Working Group on Endoscopic Ear Surgery (PAWGEES).</p> <p>Dr. Kakehata’s clinical interests include minimally invasive endoscopic ear surgery, conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, and facial nerve palsy. Dr. Kakehata’s research has focused on cochlear hair cell physiology and hearing regeneration. His funded research includes the study of outer hair cell motility, effects of cholesterol alterations on outer hair cells, regeneration of the facial nerve, and regeneration of auditory nerve fiber growth and synapse formation after ear injury.</p> <p>Dr. Kakehata hosted the 4th World Congress on Endoscopic Ear Surgery in 2022 and is the president-elect of the 36th Politzer Society Meeting to be held in 2028 in Kyoto. He organized and conducted the first endoscopic ear surgery courses in Asia and has continued to host an annual hands-on course since 2012. He has delivered numerous presentations at regional and national meetings in Japan, as well as at international conferences and courses, particularly in the field of endoscopic ear surgery.</p>

<p>2019~ Professor in Department of ORL Osaka Metropolitan (City) University Graduate school of medicine</p> <p>2018-2019 Associate Professor in Department of ORL Osaka City University Graduate school of medicine</p> <p>2016-2014 Assistant Professor in Osaka City University Graduate school of medicine</p>

<p>Education:</p> <p>1984-1990 M.D., Osaka University Medical School, Suita</p> <p>1992-1996 Ph.D., Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka University Medical School, Suita</p> <p>Professional Experiences:</p> <p>2009-2012, Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita</p> <p>2012-present, Director, Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Sakai</p> <p>2021-present, Vice-President, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Sakai</p> <p>Research experience:</p> <p>1996-1998, Fellow of the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst: DAAD), Department of Physiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany</p> <p>Professional Societies:</p> <p>Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan, Otological Society of Japan, Japan Rhinologic Society, Japan Society for Equilibrium Research, Barany Society (Uppsala, Sweden)</p> <p>Major Interest:</p> <p>Otologic surgery, Sinus surgery</p>

<p>EDUCATION1990-1996 Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan</p> <p>Awarded the degree of M.D.</p> <p>1998-2002 Graduate School of Medicine, Yamagata University</p> <p>Awarded the degree of Ph.D. (Medical Science)</p> <p>Brief Chronology of Employment1996- Associate, Department of Otolaryngology, Yamagata University Hospital</p> <p>1996- Associate, Department of Otolaryngology, Nanyo City Hospital, Yamagata, Japan</p> <p>2002- Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine</p> <p>2013- Chief doctor, Department of Otolaryngology, Yamagata City Hospital</p> <p>2015- Lecturer, Department of Otolaryngology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine</p> <p>2017- Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine</p> <p>2024- Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine</p>

<p>2012- Akiru municipal medical center, Resident</p> <p>2014- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of</p> <p>Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Fellow</p> <p>2020- Fukuoka public health promotion organization, clinical staff</p> <p>2022- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of</p> <p>Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Assistant Professor</p>

<p>Saki Takihata, MD, is an otolaryngologist at the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, National Defense Medical College, Japan. Her clinical and research interests focus on otologic surgery, particularly transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) . She has published peer-reviewed articles on surgical anatomy and complications in middle ear surgery, including chorda tympani nerve injury. Dr. Takihata is actively involved in both clinical practice and academic research.</p>

<p>Specialized in otology, with a particular focus on otologic surgery, hearing aids and auditory implants, as well as clinical genetics related to hearing loss.</p>