Rhino Rounds International 2024 - Interview

Peter W. Hellings is a Professor in Otorhinolaryngology at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, and Clinic Head at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the University Hospitals of Leuven. He is also a former Professor at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and a Guest Professor at the University of Ghent, Belgium. Following his speciality training and doctoral thesis in 2001, he combined clinical work in the field of rhinoplasty and sinus surgery, with the guidance of several PhD fellows in research on airway immunology, allergology, sinus disease and rhinoplasty. His scientific work is published in over 275 scientific reports and has been awarded several international prizes. He is the course director of the European Rhinoplasty Course in Brussels and the International Course in Modern Rhinoplasty Techniques Amsterdam and the past-Secretary-General of EAACI (2015-2019). In 2015, he founded the non-profit organization EUFOREA aiming at arresting the epidemics of chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) in Europe via digital solutions and structural collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the field of CRD. At the occasion of the National Day in 2016, King Filip of Belgium granted him the title of Commander in the Order of Leopold.

Dr. Reitsma is an ENT physician at the Amsterdam UMC and is a globally recognized leader in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis and sinus and skull base surgery with more than 85 research publications. His expertise lies in understanding mucosal pathology in the upper and lower airways, with a particular focus on precision medicine. Dr. Reitsma's research encompasses diverse areas such as quality of life assessments, treatment outcomes, and economic considerations, aiming to improve patient care on individual and societal levels. A distinguishing aspect of Dr. Reitsma's work is his exploration of treatable traits and endotyping within CRSwNP. Through a combination of basic immunological research, epidemiological studies, and clinical trials, he seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms of this condition and develop personalized treatment approaches.