Dr. Rachel Rossine Baptista (Brazil)

Dr. Baptista is a board-certified plastic surgeon in São Paulo, Brazil, where she runs a private practice dedicated exclusively to facial paralysis treatment. She completed her medical degree, general surgery and plastic surgery residency, and craniofacial and microsurgery fellowships at the University of São Paulo - Brazil. In 2011, she trained as an observer fellow with Dr. Pedro Cavadas in Valencia, Spain. In 2013, she was honored with the Plastic Surgery Foundation Award, allowing her to visit leading U.S. centers specializing in facial reconstruction. Dr. Baptista is an active participant in the Sir Charles Bell Society, taking part in consensus discussions and studies on facial paralysis. She is also deeply involved in education, teaching at congresses, meetings and webinars dedicated to facial paralysis.

Prof. Dr. Federico Biglioli (Italy)

Prof. Federico Biglioli He was born in Sondrio - The Alps - Northern of Italy in 1967. He specialized in Maxillo-Facial Surgery and later on in Microsurgery at Milan University. He has attended many of the major centers of reconstructive surgery and microsurgery worldwide: the Department of Plastic Surgery at Tokyo University, the Department of Plastic Surgery at Taiwan University, the Department of Plastic Surgery at Langone Medical Centre, New York University, the Department of Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Centre, New York. He made all steps of university career and now is Full Professor of Maxillo-Facial Surgery at Milan University - Italy. He is also the Director of the Maxillo-Facial Surgical Unit and the Head and Neck Surgery Department at S.Paolo Hospital of Milan. His scientific activity is wide, being Author of more than 150 international papers (Scientific publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/? term=BIGLIOLI+F), co-author of 15 scientific books. His major fields of interest are microsurgical reconstructions, specially focused on facial reanimation (with more than 1000 facial-palsy patients operated). This activity is highly recognized world-wide: there are always foreign colleagues from all countries visiting his clinical and surgical activity and he has been invited to operate abroad (recently at the prestigious Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital of Taiwan). He made key-note lectures on facial palsy at four different European Society of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Congresses (Dubrovnik 2012, Munich 2018, Madrid 2022, Rome 2024), at the European Society for Cranial Base Surgery Congress in Berlin 2016, at the the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Congress in Rio de Janeiro 2021, and many others. He also organized many national and international scientific events with live surgery on the treatment of facial palsy.

Prof. Dr. Gregory H. Borschel (USA)

Dr. Borschel is the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, US. His practice focuses on pediatric nerve injuries, corneal neurotization, facial paralysis, congenital hand surgery, and microvascular reconstruction. His research laboratory develops treatments for nerve injuries and improving patient outcomes. He works with neuroscientists, engineers, and doctors around the world to improve treatments for patients with these conditions. Dr. Borschel graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1997 and completed a residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Michigan in 2005. He completed a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship in neuromuscular tissue engineering at the University of Michigan, and a fellowship in Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. His clinical work focuses on pediatric facial paralysis, nerve injuries, hand surgery and microvascular reconstruction, and he has pioneered corneal neurotization, a treatment for neurotrophic keratopathy, a rare cause of blindness caused by lack of nerve supply to the cornea. His research laboratory focuses on ways to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, including drug and growth factor delivery, electrical stimulation, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning neurotrophic keratopathy and corneal neurotization.
He has published over 130 original peer-reviewed publications, four textbooks in Plastic Surgery, and dozens of book chapters. He has served as primary supervisor for several Master’s students, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in nerve regeneration research. These students have won hundreds of international, national and local awards, fellowships, competitions and prizes for their research in nerve regeneration. Dr. Borschel was elected President of the American Society for Peripheral Nerve for 2021 and was reappointed President for 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was elected Chair of the Plastic Surgery Research Council for 2020 and was appointed Chair for an unprecedented second term for 2022.
His research sponsors have included granting agencies such as the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Moebius Syndrome Foundation, and the Foundation for Fighting Blindness. In 2007 he was the recipient of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons Academic Scholar Award. He was also awarded the C. James Carrico Faculty Research Award by the American College of Surgeons in 2009. In 2014 he was awarded the University of Toronto Department of Surgery George Armstrong Peters Prize “for outstanding academic productivity in research”, the highest honour that the Department can bestow upon a young surgeon.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bozkurt (Germany)

Dr. Bozkurt is a board certified Plastic Surgeon and Hand Surgeon. He was recently appointed as Medical Director and Head of the Department for Plastic and Hand Surgery, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the HELIOS University Hospital Wuppertal (Germany) in 3/2017. In 10/2015 Dr. Ahmet Bozkurt received an Extraordinary Professorship (APL-Professur) from the Medical Faculty of the RWTH Technical University in Aachen (Germany), after he was appointed as Full (W2) Professor in 6/2013.
Dr. Bozkurt graduated from Aachen University in 2004 and joined the residency program at the Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center at the University Hospital in Aachen. After finishing his PhD-Studies in 2009, he received his board certification in 2010. He participated in a number of clinical rotations in national as well in international renowned University Hospitals (e.g. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical University of Vienna / Austria; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UPMC-University of Pittsburgh/USA).
Dr. Bozkurt received a high number of national and international research fellowship, scholarships and awards (e.g. the most prestigious Hans Anderl Award of the European Society [EURAPS, 2013] and the Science Award of the German Society [DGPRÄC, 2009]). Dr. Bozkurt was the principal investigator and main applicant of several major grants and raised external funds of more than 1 million euro.

Prof. Dr. Tommy Nai-Ren Chang (Taiwan)

Dr. Tommy Nai-Jen Chang is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Taiwan. He is currently a Professor in the Division of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery, at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taiwan. Since 2012, he has trained in peripheral nerve reconstruction under Professor David Chwei-Chin Chuang. From 2015 to 2016, Dr. Chang completed a peripheral nerve research fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada, under the supervision of Dr. Gregory Borschel, Dr. Tessa Gordon, and Dr. Ronald Zuker. Currently, he works on various types of peripheral nerve reconstruction, including motor, sensory, and sympathetic nerve via robot reconstruction in Chang-Gung.
In 2016, Dr. Chang founded the International Microsurgery Club (IMC) on Facebook. Today, it is the largest online microsurgery platform, with over 23000 members worldwide. In 2017, he was invited to serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Microsurgery Journal (IMJ). In 2018, he launched the International Microsurgery Website (IMW) to provide essential educational resources, which now includes nearly 800 recorded webinars and surgical videos. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Chang initiated the IMC Webinar Series to ensure continuous education for global microsurgeons, hosting over 660 events to date. The IMC system continues to expand, leveraging the power of online learning to benefit microsurgeons worldwide. In 2025 IMC becomes the official society in Taiwan and he is the founding president of the IMC society.

Prof. Dr. Steffen Eisenhardt (Germany)

Dr. Eisenhardt is a Full Professor of Plastic Surgery and Chairman of the Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery at the University of Freiburg Medical Centre/ Germany. He is the director of the facial reanimation program, the busiest clinic in that field in Germany. His clinical focus lies on reconstructive microsurgery in the head and neck, Sarcoma and breast reconstruction.
Dr. Eisenhardt is PI of several major grants of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and has been a past recipient of a Heisenberg Professorship, the most prestigious personal fellowship awarded by the DFG, honoring his scientific contributions.

Lect. Camilla Ekwall (Sweden)

Camilla Ekwall is a Swedish physiotherapist, who is a specialist in neurological physiotherapy. She is clinically active at the University Hospital in Uppsala, Sweden. She also works as a lecturer at the Physiotherapy Department at the University of Uppsala. For over twenty years, Camilla has had a special interest in working with patients with facial palsy. She has been trained in a Plastic Surgery Center in the USA (Madison), and she has worked closely for many years with the ENT team at the University Hospital in Uppsala, building up the Facial Team in Uppsala. Camilla is currently working as a physiotherapist at the Facial Palsy Team at the Department for Plastic Surgery at the University Hospital in Uppsala. The Facial Palsy Team has become one of Sweden´s most active centers for rehabilitation after facial palsy. Camilla has a great interest in developing physiotherapy for patients with facial palsy, both children and adults. Camilla is active in international networks concerning rehabilitation after facial palsy, for example Facial Therapy Specialists International. Camilla has also a great interest in the anatomy and physiology of the facial nerve, in order to understand the key to rehabilitation after facial nerve injury.

Prof. Dr. Young Chul Kim (Korea)

Dr. Young Chul Kim is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. He specializes in craniofacial reconstruction, facial palsy surgery, and functional head and neck reconstruction. He completed his residency training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Asan Medical Center and subsequently pursued advanced fellowship training as a member of the Craniofacial Team before joining the faculty.
Dr. Kim has developed extensive experience in facial nerve surgery, dynamic facial reanimation, and reconstructive procedures for cleft, craniofacial, and tongue defects. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including studies on functional muscle transfer, swallowing and speech outcomes after tongue reconstruction, 3D-based craniofacial analysis, and patient-specific reconstructive techniques. He has been an invited speaker at international meetings such as the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the International Facial Nerve Symposium, the International Academy of Oral Oncology, and the International Society of Craniofacial Surgery, where he has presented his work in facial palsy management, dynamic reconstruction, and translational 3D/AR surgical technologies.
Dr. Kim’s current clinical and research interests focus on facial palsy treatment, dynamic facial reanimation, multimodal functional assessment, and innovative reconstructive strategies in craniofacial and head and neck surgery.

Prof. Dr. Luis Lassaletta (Spain)

Dr. Lassaletta is Head of the Department of Otolaryngology at La Paz University Hospital in Madrid, Spain, and Professor of Otolaryngology at the Autonomous University of Madrid, where he is accredited as a Full Professor. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, facial nerve disorders and facial paralysis are among his principal areas of clinical and academic expertise. He is Director of the Facial Palsy Unit at La Paz University Hospital, where he leads a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with facial nerve dysfunction. His clinical and research interests encompass facial nerve pathology, skull base tumors, hearing loss, and auditory implants. Prof. Lassaletta has been actively involved in the international facial nerve community for many years. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Sir Charles Bell Society and served as Congress President and Organizer of the International Facial Nerve Symposium (IFNS 2025), held in Madrid, one of the leading international scientific meetings dedicated to facial nerve disorders and facial paralysis. He is currently President of the Spanish Skull Base Society and previously served as President of the Otology Board of the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology (2018–2024). He is also a member of the HEARRING International Network of Experts in Hearing Implants. In the field of research, he leads the Research in Otoneurosurgery group at IdiPAZ (La Paz University Hospital Research Institute) and is a member of CIBERER, the Spanish Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases. Prof. Lassaletta has authored more than 250 publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals and has been invited to speak at more than 300 scientific meetings, with particular emphasis on facial nerve disorders, skull base surgery, hearing loss, and auditory implants.

Prof. Dr. Tae Suk Oh (Korea)

Dr. Oh graduated from department of materials science engineering at Seoul National University and completed his medical education at the Seoul National Medical School. He finished plastic surgery residency program at the Asan Medical Center, South Korea. He spent one year at Duke University, North Carolina, United States as a visiting scholar. Currently he is Associate Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. The main focus of his clinical work and research are Facial Palsy, Head and Neck reconstruction, Cleft lip and palate surgery and Face lift.

Prof. Dr. Shai Rozen (USA)

Dr. Rozen is Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Plastic Surgery at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He is the Director of Microsurgical Fellowship and the Facial Reanimation Program at UTSW Medical School. He trained in General Surgery followed by Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He pursued advanced training in Craniofacial Surgery and Peripheral Nerve surgery before joining the faculty at UTSW in 2007. Today he is considered as a leading expert in the area of facial paralysis, and is the author of numerous leading publications in the area. He has given numerous talks in the USA, Europe, and Asia on the treatment of facial palsy and as a consummate educator participates in many visiting professorships in academic centers worldwide working closely with residents and faculty. He is the Primary Investigator in several large funded studies and concentrates his research in several areas in peripheral nerve and facial paralysis. Source https://www.drshairozen.com/facial-paralysis/

Prof. Dr. Lukas Reissig (Austria)

Prof. Dr. Othmar Schuhfried (Austria)

Dr. Schuhfried is Research Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Medical University of Vienna. His research focuses on electrophysiology, functional electrical stimulation, outpatient neurological rehabilitation and physical modalities. Currently head of the electrophysiological ambulance and the thermography ambulance of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Medical University of Vienna.

Prof. Dr. Eva Stifter (Austria)

Dr. Stifter is Associate Professor for Ophthalmology at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. She is specialist for ophthalmic microsurgery, cataract surgery and pediatric ophthalmic surgery. Starting with a plastic surgery residency in 2004/2005 at the Medical University of Vienna, Division for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, she has a special interest in oculoplastic lid surgery and the surgical therapy of facial palsy.  

Dr. Kallirroi Tzafetta (United Kingdom)

Dr. Kallirroi Tzafetta is a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at the renown St Andrew’s Centre of Plastic Surgery and Burns in Broomfield Hospital, Essex, UK. She specializes in reconstructions following Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Palsy. She has been trained in Plastic Surgery Centres in the United Kingdom, and was also a Consultant Plastic Surgeon in Leeds prior to her current position. She has furthered her microsurgical training and sub-specialized in Facial Palsy reanimation as a Microsurgical Fellow in Norfork, Virginia, USA under Dr. Terzis. She is a Core Member of the Essex Head and Neck MDT, Board member of the facial palsy UK, and member of the Bell’s Palsy Society. She has been an author on scientific papers and textbook chapters (such as: Facial Reanimation at: Plastic Surgery, Indications and Practice by B Guyuron, et al,   Atlas of Operative Maxillofacial Trauma Surgery by M Perry, S Holmes, and Oxford Textbook of Plastic Surgery).

Prof. Dr. Gerd Fabian Volk (Germany)

Dr. Gerd Fabian Volk is active since 2006 as a physician at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Jena University Hospital. Since 2012 he is the Leader of the interdisciplinary Facial-Nerve-Center Jena. His clinical interests are: diagnostic and treatment of facial nerve palsy, telemedicine to improve diagnostic and treatment of rare diseases, application of botulinum toxin and electrostimulation in the head and neck region, functional diagnostics and therapy of peripheral nerve lesions electrophysiological and imaging techniques for the evaluation and rehabilitation of the muscles and nerves. Experimental topics: development of new methods of reconstruction of the facial and laryngeal nerve, electrostimulation as diagnostic and therapeutic tool, central changes after brain nerve failure, in particular of the facial and vestibular nerves, telemedicine and health care networks to improve treatment quality.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Weninger (Austria)

Dr. Weninger studied Medicine at the University of Vienna, graduating 1995 as MD. 2000 he spent a year with Dr TJ Mohun at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research in London. 2002 he received his Habilitation and 2003 his certificate as medical specialist for Anatomy. Since 2016 he is head of the Division of Anatomy of the Medical University of Vienna. Dr. Weninger focuses on clinically applied anatomy, morphological phenotyping of biomedical model organisms and on developing and exploring novel imaging methods http://www.wolfgangweninger.at .

Prof. Dr. Andres Rodriguez (Sweden)

Dr. Rodriguez is is the Head of the Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery at Uppsala University Hospital and an Associate Professor at Uppsala Univerity, Sweden.
Dr. Rodriguez completed his medical education, postgraduate Ph.D. studies, and plastic surgery residency in Spain, followed by two-year microvascular fellowships at the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit in Glasgow and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. He has worked in Uppsala, Sweden, since 2010, leading one of the most active microsurgical centers in Scandinavia. He is the program director of the International Fellowship Program in Microsurgery at Uppsala University. He focuses his clinical and research activity on head and neck reconstruction, free tissue transfer, and facial paralysis.
He has written over 78 peer-reviewed publications, 23 book chapters, and the book “ Facial Palsy: Techniques for Reanimation of the Paralyzed Face.” He is a member of the Editorial Boards of several journals in plastic surgery. He was awarded several awards, such as the 2021 Hans Anderl Award of the European Association of Plastic Surgeons.
Dr. Rodriguez is the co-director of the biannual courses “ Facial Palsy: A hands on Course” in Vienna, Austria and “ Nordic Facial Nerve Meeting” in Uppsala, Sweden.

Prof. Dr. Chieh-Han John Tzou (Austria)

Dr. Tzou completed his medical education and plastic surgery residency at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria under Prof. Dr. M. Frey and a one-and-a-half-year microvascular fellowship at the Chang Gung Memorial University Hospital in Taiwan with Prof. F.C. Wei, Prof. D.C.C. Chuang and Prof. M.H. Cheng. Currently he is the Director of Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Hospital of Divine Savior Vienna, Austria (Krankenhaus Goettlicher Heiland Wien) and Associate Professor of the Sigmund Freud University of Vienna. The main focus of his clinical work and research are facial palsy, reconstructive lymphedema surgery, nerve reconstruction, microsurgical reconstruction and super-microsurgery.