Speakers
Nate Jowett, MD, PhD, is a Scottsdale-based, board-certified facial plastic surgeon specializing in Bell’s palsy and nerve reconstruction at his private practice, Revitalis. A pioneer in multi-vector smile reanimation and former Harvard faculty with over 100 publications, he is a father of six and an eight-time Boston Marathon finisher.
Dr. Jurij Kiefer is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with subspecialty expertise in facial reanimation surgery. He completed his plastic surgery residency at the University of Freiburg Medical Center, Germany, where he developed a focused clinical and research program in facial palsy under Prof. Eisenhardt, followed by a microsurgical fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. As an attending surgeon at Orlando Health Cancer Institute, he now brings the full reconstructive spectrum of facial palsy surgery to the state of Florida.
Shai Rozen, MD is Professor and Vice-Chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas Texas. He is the Director of The Facial Palsy Program, Director of Microsurgery, and Vice-Chair of Research and Development. He specializes in facial paralysis and facial synkinesis surgery, as well as advanced aesthetic facial plastic surgery such as face and neck lift surgery, and surgery of the eyelids. He completed his surgical residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, followed by a plastic surgery residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and advanced fellowship training in craniofacial surgery and peripheral nerve surgery. Dr. Rozen is a leader in facial paralysis and facial synkinesis treatments. Among his contributions to the field of facial paralysis are promotion of early intervention in palsy patients, innervation of the periorbital musculature to improve corneal protection, improving cross facial innervation techniques, and improving the understanding and treatment of synkinesis
He is a prolific researcher and writer, supported by grants from both federal institutes and private foundations, has authored over a hundred and twenty manuscripts and book chapters in leading journals and textbooks, and given more the 200 invited talks and speeches in the USA and abroad in leading academic institutions. He is an avid educator and mentor to medical students, residents, and fellows and enjoys lecturing and interacting with trainees and faculty in the US and abroad. He has received numerous awards over his career and is has been elected as President of the American Society for Peripheral Nerve, which he will serve in 2027. https://www.drshairozen.com
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. Dr Rodriguez leads one of the Swedish National Units for Facial Paralysis.
He has written over 84 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 , “ Nordic Facial Nerve Meeting” in Uppsala and the President of the upcoming International Facial Nerve Symposium in 2029 in Uppsala
MD, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Maastricht University Hospital, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Dr. Stefania Tuinder is an internationally recognized plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in advanced breast reconstruction techniques and nerve-integrated flap procedures. She has been active in the Netherlands since 2005, obtaining her PhD in 2014 on “Clinical, Radiological, and Anatomical Findings on Perforator Flaps.” With over 75 peer-reviewed publications, she is an influential figure in reconstructive surgery research, focusing on improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
Ulrich Rieger is Head of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and Hand Surgery at AGAPLESION Markus Krankenhaus in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He completed his specialist training at renowned centers, including the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland and the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, as well as through international fellowships in Paris, France, and in the United States.
His clinical expertise focuses on microsurgical reconstruction from head to toe, particularly reconstructive and aesthetic surgery of the breast and face, as well as body contouring procedures.
He completed his habilitation in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the Medical University of Innsbruck (Austria) and was appointed Adjunct Professor (apl. Professor) at Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany. In addition to his clinical work, he is actively engaged in research and teaching and is the author of numerous scientific publications.
Senior Consultant and Leader of the Facial-Nerve-Center Jena
ENT-Department, Facial-Nerve-Center Jena, Center for Rare Diseases, Jena University Hospital
apl. Prof. Dr. med. habil. Gerd Fabian Volk is active since 2006 as a physician at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Jena University Hospital. Since 2012 he has built up and 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, especially ultrasound and MRI, 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.