Professor David Friedland
Professor David Friedland M.D., Ph.D. is Professor & Vice-Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Professor Friedland is a board-certified neurotologist and otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon with extensive clinical expertise in disorders of the ear and temporal bone, and his specialisms include surgery for hearing restoration including placement of cochlear implants and bone-anchored aids, treatment of cholesteatoma and chronic ear disease, vestibular disorders, and all disorders of hearing. Professor Friedland completed residency training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and a fellowship in neurotology and skull base surgery at Johns Hopkins University. He joined the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2002 and has advanced to full professor, vice-chair of the department, and chief of the division of otology and neuro-otologic skull base surgery. He is a member of the Triological Society, American Otological Society and American Neurotology Society.
Professor Christina Runge
Professor Christina Runge PhD., CCC-A, FAAA, is a licensed audiologist and specialist on hearing impairment at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she has been director of the Koss Cochlear Implant Program since 2005. Professor Runge received her doctorate from the University of Iowa focusing in auditory neurophysiology, and has received extensive training in hearing disorders and cochlear implants in both adults and children. Her research interests include genetics of hearing loss, auditory electrophysiology, novel sound processing strategies, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, speech and music understanding in adults and children, and the effects of aging on cochlear implant performance. Professor Runge has published manuscripts and book chapters in these areas and has presented research findings at many international and national conferences in cochlear implants and hearing disorders.
Dr. Herbert Bächler
Dr. Herbert Bächler is a passionate electrical engineer and former CTO of Phonak/Sonova AG, the market leader in hearing instruments. He is an expert in complex multidisciplinary systems and leading-edge technologies with focus on sensors, signal processing and wireless communication. Dr. Bächler has a Ms. & Ph.D from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich. During his 27 years at Phonak/Sonova, he had responsibility for basic research, technologies and future hearing systems. Over the same period Phonak/Sonova AG developed from 50 to over 5000 employees, and from 1 to over 300 in R&D, cementing its position as market leader. Since 2008, Dr. Bächler has been a management member of ARfinance Holding AG (family office of Phonak AG co-founder Andy Rihs), advancing technical innovations and funding and coaching start-up projects. He is a member of the board of several small and midsize companies.
Professor Ryoichi Nagatomi
Professor Ryoichi Nagatomi M.D. Ph.D. is Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering at Tohoku University, Board member of the Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine, a Fellow of the European College of Sports Science (ECSS) and previously President of the International Society of Exercise and Immunology. Professor Nagatomi has made significant contributions to exercise and sports science using a multidisciplinary approach covering molecular and cellular biology, immunology, and epidemiology. Professor Nagatomi’s research interests include the cellular basis of skeletal muscle adaptation focusing on satellite cells, investigation of risk factors for sarcopenia in diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and depression, and the investigation and prevention of chronic sports injuries.