Robert Jan Pauw (1978) is a consultant ENT surgeon specializing in otology and lateral skull base surgery at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, where he leads the otology department. He trained in otorhinolaryngology at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen and completed a fellowship in otology with Professor Offeciers at the European Institute for ORL-HNS in Antwerp.

In 2007, he earned his PhD with a thesis on hereditary hearing impairment, focusing on the clinical and genetic aspects of DFNA9, DFNA15, OTSC5, and OTSC7. He has since been actively involved in cholesteatoma research, co-supervising multiple PhD projects.

Dr. Pauw is a former chair of the Otology Section of the Dutch ENT Society and has played a key role in developing national treatment guidelines. Passionate about education, he trains ENT residents and medical students and teaches at international ear surgery courses in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.

He is the current congress chairman of the 12th International Conference on Cholesteatoma and Ear Surgery (CHOLE2027) that will take place from 6-9 June 2027 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. www.chole2027.com

Burhan Dadaş, MD, is a professor of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (ORL&HNS) with over 37 years of experience. Specializing in otology, his surgical practice focuses on improving patient outcomes for various otological diseases. He chaired the Şişli Etfal Teaching Hospital ORL&HNS Department from 1998-2012 in İstanbul and held multiple positions within the Board of the Turkish Society of ORL&HNS as member, board member and treasurer  and Education Committees. He practices at his private clinic in Istanbul and has published over 60 peer-reviewed scientific articles.