09-09, 14:30–15:00 (Europe/Istanbul), Humanitarian + Transverse Activities + Global Outreach
Rationale and Objectives: In recent years, the human voice has emerged as more than a medium of communication—it has become a powerful marker of physiological and psychological states. Advances in signal processing, artificial intelligence, and biomedical acoustics have attracted growing attention from diverse disciplines. In this panel, however, we will focus on the medical dimension—where clinicians and medical researchers analyze voice patterns as potential biomarkers reflecting health and disease, including neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, respiratory, and psychiatric conditions.
Therefore, I propose that the Scientific Board of IFOS consider organizing a panel discussion that brings together international experts—physicians and technical specialists—who have practical experience in applying voice analysis to medical issues.
Key Themes:
Voice as a Biomarker: Physiological and pathological correlates of vocal features essential for Neurological, Psychiatric, Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and otorhinolaryngological (particularly snoring & obstructive sleep apnea) diseases and pain management
AI and Digital Voice Analysis: Novel diagnostic and predictive tools in clinics and remote patient monitoring
Educational Perspectives: Integrating voice-based analytics into medical training and patient monitoring
Ethical and Practical Challenges: Data privacy, standardization, and clinical validation
Expected Outcomes: The session will stimulate dialogue among clinicians, researchers, and innovators about integrating voice-based tools into everyday medical practice. By highlighting cross-disciplinary collaborations, it will encourage new research directions and educational frameworks that position the human voice as a central biomarker in 21st-century medicine.
Suggested Format: Panel discussion with contributions from 3–4 experts, including both physicians and technical specialists, on the topics outlined above.
This panel aims to explore the concept of voice as a medical landmark, emphasizing its transformative role in early diagnosis, continuous monitoring, and holistic health assessment. We will bridge innovation, basic science, and education by showcasing how interdisciplinary research—combining otorhinolaryngology, neurology, data science, and behavioral medicine—reshapes our understanding of “health through sound.”
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).