The Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in Kajetany, led by Prof. Henryk Skarżyński for a continuous period of 25 years, became a laureate of the “Success of the Year in Healthcare – Leaders in Medicine” competition in the “Leader of the Year 2020 in Healthcare – innovative hospital” category. The 20th edition of the competition, organised by the medical publishing house Termedia and editors of “Health Manager” and “Medical Courier”, culminated in an online Gala held on the 14th of January, 2021. Among the laureates were: Prof. Andrzej Matyja, Marcin Jędrychowski, dr. Izabela Ciuńczyk, Prof. Robert Flisiak, Prof. Andrzej Horban, Prof. Krzysztof Simon and Prof. Małgorzata Krajnik.
The opinion presented by the Jury members reads as follows: “The Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing is a scientific, didactic and clinical phenomenon. It is a symbol of a perfectly organised hospital where hundreds of patients are treated, and many innovative operations are performed. The development of the concept and the building and launching of the Institute are a success of Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, M.D., Ph.D., dr. h.c. multi, internationally renowned otosurgeon and otorhinolaryngology specialist, a national consultant on otorhinolaryngology. The word “first” appears with his name very often. He was the first in Poland to use: cochlear implants (in 1992), auditory brainstem implants (in 1998) and middle ear implants (in 2003). In 2002, he developed the world’s first programme for the treatment of partial deafness in adults, and in 2004 he performed the world’s first operation on a child. This method, referred to as “Skarżyński’s method” and regarded as Polish speciality, for which he developed a new electrode and clinical procedure, has been implemented in 9 centres worldwide. Moreover, the professor introduced over a hundred new clinical solutions, contributing to the development of cochlear implants, otosurgery and audiology. All of these groundbreaking operations needed well-organised centres. So he created them. He is the initiator and organiser of Europe’s second “Cochlear Center”, the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing and the World Hearing Center. His recent achievements include a series of Poland’s and our part of Europe’s first operations applying pioneer active implants to improve hearing in patients with earlier unsuccessful operations.”
From the very start, our achievements have been recognised and awarded by representatives of the highest authorities in Poland and by international institutions – said Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, receiving the award. – The centre was repeatedly visited by representatives of the government, Parliament, foreign delegations, heads of state and first ladies. Everyone stressed that it was unique on a global scale, and the conditions it provided to its patients should be a model to be followed by other hospitals. The numerous guests were impressed by the fact that the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021, earned such a high position in Poland and abroad within such a short time. Over that time, nearly half a million surgical procedures and over 3.5 million examinations and consultations have been conducted, with over 10 000 implant users staying under the Institute’s care. Over 17 years, it has performed the biggest number of procedures in the fields of otosurgery, phonosurgery and rhinosurgery worldwide. The Institute has never got into debt, while continually improving its work, implementing and developing new technologies, recommending new target groups of patients for the world’s new procedures. The Institute has carried out numerous national and international projects as well as pioneer scientific and clinical programmes, the results of which have set new standards for therapeutic treatment in this field of medicine – adds Prof. H. Skarżyński.
It is worth adding that the Jury of the Competition consists of prominent names in Polish medicine, representatives of local authorities, employers’ associations, institutions, and legislative power members. The prizes were awarded at an online Gala, which was accompanied by the conference “Priorities in healthcare 2021” devoted to public health issues at a time of pandemic, pharmaceutical policy, the role of the private sector in the Polish healthcare system and priorities in selected therapeutic areas.
The “Success of the Year in Healthcare – Leaders in Medicine” award is not the only prize awarded by Termedia publishing house: in 2004, Prof. H. Skarżyński was awarded the title “Leader of the Year 2004 – Public Health”, in 2007 – special prize “Man of the Year 2007 in Public Health”, and in 2012 – the “Top Medical Trends 2012” award granted by Teremdia together with the Polish Association of Family Medicine.