<p>Prof. Evren Hizal, MD, PhD, FEBORL-HNS is an otologist–neurotologist and ENT surgeon from Türkiye, with academic interests in vestibular disorders, otology, neurotology, and audiology. He serves as Secretary of the Otology & Neurotology Scientific Committee for the XXIII IFOS World Congress 2026 in Istanbul. His work focuses on vestibular physiology, balance disorders, and clinical outcomes in otologic surgery. Prof. Hizal is actively involved in international scientific collaboration, graduate and postgraduate education, and peer-reviewed research in otorhinolaryngology.</p>

<p>Professor Backous (Drbackous.com) is a board-certified Neurotologist who practices in Puyallup, Washington. He graduated the University of Washington School of Medicine, did his internship and residency at Baylor College of Medicine and went on to complete a research followed by a clinical fellowship in Neurotology at Johns Hopkins University. His professional mission is ensuring access to care for patients with ear disease and hearing loss. He is an inaugural member of the Healthy Hearing Ears Initiative committed to creating standards of care for treating hearing loss in people with chronic otitis media. Prof. Backous hosts the Northwest Otology Fellowship and runs the largest implantable hearing device program in the Pacific Northwest. His passion is working to protect the richness of otolaryngology practice with doctors being able to choose their practice environment to optimally serve their patients with enjoyment and resilience. He is Past-President the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. His interests include flyfishing, water and Nordic skiing, golf, church activities, spending time with his wife and family and hiking.</p>