A leading ear, nose and throat specialist has been appointed Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Chair in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) at The University of Western Australia.
Professor Peter Friedland, from UWA’s Medical School, has more than 25 years’ experience as an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) and has contributed to clinical and innovative research in otology, rhinology, laryngology and head and neck cancer.
“I have a vision for our speciality. The core is stimulating and motivating the next generation of otolaryngology medical students, researchers, and colleagues at UWA”Professor Peter Friedland
The WA chair of the OHNS Regional Surgical Trainee committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Professor Friedland’s interests include hearing loss and rehabilitation and Indigenous ear health and he is currently involved in three WA middle ear infection trials.
The Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Chair is a collaboration between UWA, the Passe & Williams Foundation* and the North Metropolitan Health Service, based at Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Hospitals.
The Passe & Williams Foundation has been supporting excellence in OHNS since 1991, following the bequest of Mrs Barbara Williams, in memory of her first husband Garnett Passe and second husband Rodney Williams.
Established in 2000, the philanthropically funded Chair of OHNS at UWA was created by the Passe & Williams Foundation to improve peoples’ lives by advancing ear, nose and throat research, surgery and care outcomes. The first UWA Chair was Professor Marcus Atlas who held the role from 2000 to 2018.
Image: Professor Peter Friedland.
Professor Friedland said he was delighted to take up the position, which had been reactivated following COVID-19-related delays.
“I am honoured to take on this role and grateful to the Passe & Williams Foundation for its commitment to training, teaching and research in our community,” he said.
“I have a vision for our speciality. The core is stimulating and motivating the next generation of otolaryngology medical students, researchers, and colleagues at UWA and advancing a culturally appropriate and sustainable ear health program for all regions of WA.”
Associate Professor Brendan McQuillan, Head of the UWA Medical School, said the Chair was an important position that would bring great benefits to the Western Australian community.
“We are most grateful to the Passe & Williams Foundation and the Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group for their significant support in reactivating the Chair; this is an important position that will bring great benefits to the Western Australian community,” he said.
* Passe & Williams Foundation is the business name for the Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation
