As part of the Educational Program for 2026, the Confederation has awarded 20 Observership travel grants ranging from 1,000 to 1,300 Euros. 

 

 

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you and to the Confederation of European ORL-HNS for awarding me the observership travel grant.
During my observership in the Erasmus Medical Center (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, together with the ERN CRANIO Team, I gained valuable clinical experience and had the opportunity to observe multidisciplinary management of patients with craniofacial conditions. It was an inspiring and highly educational and training experience that will significantly contribute to my professional development.

 

It was an educational experience under the supervision of Mr. Haytham Kubba, Consultant Pediatric Otolaryngologist and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Glasgow. During this period, I participated in a broad range of clinical activities, including:

• General and specialist outpatient clinics, and multidisciplinary team meetings
• A wide variety of surgical procedures in children
• The assessment and management of emergency cases
• Ward rounds, clinical discussions and case-based learning

 

The Netherlands is not only a beautiful country with tall, striking people but also one with impressive opportunities for physicians. One aspect of their residency training that particularly impressed me is the specialization in the fifth year: each resident chooses a primary focus — otology, rhinology, or head and neck surgery — and spends the year working closely with that team. In the operating rooms I observed fifth-year residents performing substantial parts of complex ear surgeries independently — a level of autonomy rarely seen in Germany. The residents were enthusiastic, energetic and positive despite working in the country’s largest university hospital, which speaks volumes about the quality of their training environment. The consultants were equally inspiring: highly skilled surgeons with profound clinical expertise who were generous with their knowledge and insights. Conversations with them reinforced my admiration for the Dutch approach to training and clinical care.

Overall, my fellowship in Rotterdam was an extraordinary experience. It reinforced my belief that physicians must travel, observe, and learn from their peers to refine their own surgical style and techniques. Remaining in one place, convinced of one’s own superiority, leads only to stagnation.

During my observership supported by the Confederation of European ORL-HNS, under the supervision of Dr. Garyfalia Lekakis, I rotated in Rhinology and Facial Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery. I observed a wide spectrum of complex procedures, including
extracorporeal septoplasties, reconstructive rhinoplasties, paediatric reconstructive surgeries (cleft lip, palate, nasal reconstruction), and various facial aesthetic procedures.
I also attended preoperative rhinoplasty evaluations, gaining insight into structured photo acquisition, simulation software, and complementary non-surgical techniques.
My participation extended to clinical consultations, ambulatory procedures, operating room sessions and multidisciplinary meetings. Although my role was observational, the exposure to diverse clinical approaches was highly educational.
Dr. Lekakis and her team were exceptionally receptive. She dedicated time to teaching, explained surgical strategies in detail, and encouraged discussion, which greatly enriched the experience.