The advent of the endoscope opened the way to study the endonasal structural anatomy and, importantly, the physiology of mucociliary clearance which led to our current understanding of sinus disease. In 1990s, Professor Saleh was lucky enough to be in training when endoscopic sinus surgery was still novel in the UK and immediately became interested in pursuing research and specialisation in rhinology. It soon became clear that the endoscope can be taken further to explore and treat areas adjacent to the paranasal sinuses. By introducing image guidance surgery early in his appointment, he was able to explore and treat disease in the orbit and anterior skull base and create joint work with ophthalmology and neurosurgery.
As a rhinologist, working in the nasal cavity can ultimately lead to working outside it and developing interest in structural nasal surgery. Professor Saleh became interested in septorhinoplasty early on and continued to work on developing techniques to improve outcome. This has led to involvement in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and joint work with plastic and maxillofacial surgeons.
Hesham Saleh is a Professor of Rhinology at Imperial College London. In his inaugural lecture he will take the audience on a journey in the nose and exploration of future possibilities in his field. This is an area that continues to develop, and there will always be more avenues to explore.
Biography
Hesham Saleh is a Consultant Rhinologist/Facial Plastic Surgeon at Charing Cross and the Royal Brompton Hospitals and Professor of Practice (Rhinology) at Imperial College London.
He studied medicine at Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt and trained in Ear, Nose and Throat at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital and Charing Cross Hospital in London. He was also a Fellow of the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery at Amsterdam Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
In addition to his training in ENT and Rhinology subspecialisation, he is Board Certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by the International and European Boards. He joined Imperial College as consultant in 2001 to lead the rhinology/nasal reconstructive service at Charing Cross Hospital and run a specialist combined medical/surgical Nose Clinic with Professor Stephen Durham at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
The fundamental aims of his research are to improve outcomes for patients with nasal conditions including rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, anterior skull base pathology and nasal deformities. This ranges from studying the pathophysiology of nasal and sinus disease to innovations in surgical techniques.
He is the current president of the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery (EAFPS) and past president of the British Society of Facial Plastic Surgery (BSFPS). He is also the past president of the section of Laryngology & Rhinology in the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) and previous council member of the British Rhinological Society (BRS).
He has published more than 150 peer reviewed articles, international guidelines and book chapters. He is an invited speaker worldwide and co-directs an annual endoscopic sinus surgery and rhinoplasty course.
