Planning Committee

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Planning Committee Members

Dr. Anastasios Hantzakos

Staff Physician
Otolaryngology (ENT)
Integrated Surgical Institute
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

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Dr. Anastasios Hantzakos

Dr. Anastasios Hantzakos, MD, is a Staff Physician within the Otolaryngology (ENT) Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Surgical Institute. He is also Program Director of the Otolaryngology Residency.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Hantzakos was a Consultant at the Hellenic National Health System, followed by a fellowship in Phonosurgery and Laryngeal Laser Surgery. He also served as Consultant and Director of the Voice Clinic at NUKA and as a Clinical Associate Professor at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, US.

Dr. Hantzakos received his medical degree from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (NUKA) in 1991. He completed his basic surgical training at Emory University, Atlanta, US and received his specialist certification in Otorhinolaryngology from NUKA at Hippocration General Hospital of Athens. Subsequently, he received additional training as a Senior Registrar in the UK, with special interest in Rhinology and Otology. He went on to receive a PhD from the NUKA in 2003, as well as a master’s degree in Health Administration (MHA) from the Hellenic Open University in 2015.

Dr. Hantzakos has been featured in numerous papers in international journals and textbooks. He is an active member of member of various study groups within the European Laryngological Society (ELS) and an examiner and fellow of the European Board Examinations in otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery since 2010. He is also a member of the International Association of Phenosurgeons, the Voice Foundation and European Society for Swallowing Disorders.

Dr. Hantzakos enjoys spending his free time with his family. He is an avid long distance runner and triathlete and enjoys playing the guitar and drums.

Dr. Kurt Schlemmer

Staff Physician
Otolaryngology (ENT)
Integrated Surgical Institute
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

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Dr. Kurt Schlemmer

Dr. Kurt Schlemmer, MD, is a Staff Physician within the Otolaryngology (ENT) Department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Surgical Institute.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Schlemmer worked as a Consultant ENT Head and Neck Surgeon at Harley Street Medical Centre and Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi.

Prior to this he worked as a Consultant ENT Head and Neck Surgeon at Hillcrest Private Hospital, Durban, South Africa, and was the Director of the Durban Cochlear Implant Program.

Dr. Schlemmer received his medical degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He completed a masters degree (MMED ENT) at the University of Kwazulu Natal, Durban and a fellowship in Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa FCORL (SA) with distinction.

Dr. Schlemmer has had further training in otology, neurotology and skull base surgery in Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, the UK and many others.

Dr. Schlemmer has delivered more than 40 academic presentations and has published numerous articles in peer reviewed journals such as the Journal of Laryngology and Otology and the Journal of International Advanced Otology. He is a recognised reviewer for the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology and serves on the international editorial board of Cochlear Implants International.

Dr. Schlemmer resides in Abu Dhabi with his wife and two children and enjoys camping in the desert and cycling in his spare time.

Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani

Division Chair
Otolaryngology (ENT)
Integrated Surgical Institute
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

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Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani

Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani, MD, is Division Chair of Otolaryngology (ENT) within Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Surgical Institute.

He is also a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Learner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. Also, Dr. Shkoukani is the Medical Director for Supply Chain Operations at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Shkoukani is a double American Board-certified surgeon in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, as well as in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Shkoukani served as an Associate Professor and Chief of Craniofacial Surgery at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, US. Additionally, he was the chief of otolaryngology at the John D. Dingell Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, US.

He received his Medical Degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine with high distinction. He then completed a general surgery internship and residency in Otolaryngology at Wayne State University. Following his residency, he completed a Craniomaxillofacial/ Skull Base and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US.

Dr. Shkoukani’s clinical interests included treating cranial/skull base pathology, head and neck cancer, congenital craniofacial anomalies, craniofacial trauma, management of cutaneous malignancies, the functional and reconstructive aspects of facial plastic surgery as well as sinus disease.

Dr. Shkoukani has been active in clinical research in both fields of Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery. He has numerous publications in these fields and has given lectures at local and national scientific meetings. Dr. Shkoukani has been very involved in residents education as he served as the Residency Program Director for 3 years at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi prior to becoming the Department Chair.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

The planning committee, faculty, and others in control of content (either individually or as a group) have disclosed relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships have been reviewed and mitigated in accordance with ACCME standards

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi for Continuing Education In accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence issued by Accreditation Council for continuing Medical Education (ACCME), has mitigated all faculty conflicts of interest to ensure CME activities are free of commercial bias.