We had the honour to have an interview with Pr. Frederik Dikkers and Pr. Marc Remacle to discuss their role in the ELS beginnings and their vision for the future.
Since your arrival in the ELS Committee, what is the most important mission you conducted?
MR: When we founded the ELS in 1995 with Oskar Kleinsasser in 1995, our first mission was to put the organizational structure of this new society. We wanted it to have a scientific content managed by a dedicated board. Therefore, it was necessary to recruit dynamic and motivated laryngologists to form the first scientific council for the inaugural congress in 1996.
FD: In 2008, I became General Secretary. After discussions with the President and Treasurer of ELS during the congress in Barcelona, I initiated corporate membership: I called different companies and within few weeks, we had several corporate members who helped in increasing ELS funds. This had a huge influence in the development of the society.
Since your arrival in the ELS, what has been the most significant technological advance in laryngology you witnessed?
MR: It was first laser development that allowed the transition from the external approach to transoral endoscopic surgery in laryngeal oncology, and also benign lesions management. Also, we witnessed light source improvement with the arrival of reliable stroboscopes and then the NBI. And, finally another technological improvement that was beneficial is video-endoscopes improvement that can now allow surgeries to be performed transnasally.
FD: For me, it is the NBI. Prof. Cesare Piazza and prof. Giorgio Peretti, the current and a past President, first used it in 2010. I was then approached by the company and started using it for laryngeal papillomatosis. In 2012 we were able to publish a study on that subject with one of my PhD students. Also in 2012 we initiated Committee on Endoscopic Laryngeal Imaging, and with prof. Christopher Arens and colleagues we updated the famous Ni’s classification. Benefits of NBI had since then been proved by retrospective and prospective data. It is (along with the other light filters developed since then) a formidable tool for mucosal lesions, not only in laryngology but also in gynecology and proctology.
What do you consider as today's biggest challenge that we as laryngologists have to face?
MR: The world's population is aging Neurodegenerative dysphonias and dysphagias are increasing. We have to work on improving our capacities of taking care of them. From a more general point of view, we have to work on unifying treatments and care protocols at a European level or even beyond that. In addition we have to continue in recruiting young laryngologists to sustain the society.
FD: Today's biggest challenge is to be able to go back to normal face-to-face meetings. Virtual meetings are indeed practical, but sitting together at the same table, having a little chat in the corridor after work or having a drink is extremely useful. I look forward to physical contact again.
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