– I am an ordinary doctor, and it is not modesty. I did and do what I can do best and what I felt an inner calling, Prof. Henryk Skarżyński said, receiving the “Merit for the Protection of Human Rights” Badge of Honor from the hands of Prof. Marcin Wieniek.

During the 31^st Forum of Research Institutes, held on June 26 at the World Hearing Center in Kajetany, Prof. Marcin Wiącek, the Ombudsman, honored Professor’s long-standing achievements – the totality of his scientific, professional, and charitable activities. – Today, I have the great honor of presenting the Ombudsman’s “Merits for the Protection of Human Rights” Badge to Professor Henryk Skarżyński. For years Mr Professor has been helping children and adults return to the world of sounds. His achievements include numerous implementations of surgical methods, authoring screening programs and developing modern concepts of hearing treatment. They also deal with new methods and technologies in ear reconstruction, hearing-enhancing surgery, and telemedicine solutions in diagnosis, implant fitting and rehabilitation. Many of these solutions are milestones in Polish and world medicine and are the foundation of the Polish school of otosurgery, Prof. Marcin Wiącek enumerated.

He noted that one could go on for hours listing all the achievements and essential and valuable activities of Professor Skarżyński. He stressed that he was an outstanding doctor and an exceptional person. At the same time, he addressed words of appreciation and thanks to the medical community and people associated with medicine. – I would very much like today’s decoration of Professor Skarżyński to be perceived also as an expression of the highest respect and gratitude to all those working and acting in this area, for scientists, doctors, medical and administrative staff, for organizations and associations whose activity contributes to improving health and treatment conditions, he noted.

– In the fight for human rights, you, dear ones, are our most important “weapon” and ally. We are fighting for a common cause, which is dignity. The dignity of every human being, the Ombudsman pointed out.

–I am an ordinary doctor and it is not modesty that speaks through me. I did and do only what I could do best and what I felt an inner calling to do. I do it all with passion and commitment. I am honored to receive the Ombudsman’s “Merits for the Protection of Human Rights” Badge of Honor. – Prof. Henryk Skarżyński said after receiving the decoration. – In my life and work, I am guided by values such as protecting life, liberty, personal safety and dignified life. I am grateful for recognizing it, Prof. Henryk Skarżyński emphasized.

The Ombudsman’s “Merits for the Protection of Human Rights” Badge of Honor was established in 2009. It is an honorary award for special achievements in human rights protection.

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Prof. dr hab. n. med.  Henryk Skarżyński, MD, is a world-renowned otosurgeon, otolaryngologist, founder, organizer and director of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in Warsaw and the World Hearing Center. With his scientific and professional achievements and charitable activities, the Professor attests that human rights in Poland must be more protected. The fight for human dignity translates into specific help for those needing support.

Prof. Henryk Skarżyński’s achievements include numerous implementations of surgical methods, original screening programs and development of modern concepts of hearing treatment, new methods and technologies in ear reconstruction, hearing-improving surgery and telemedicine solutions in diagnosis, implant fitting and rehabilitation. They are milestones in Polish and world medicine and the foundation of the Polish school of otosurgery.

For years Professor has been helping children and adults return to the world of sounds. As a result of research and implementation, it has been possible to expand the indications for treatment with hearing implants for the first time in the world, and thus help not tens of thousands, but tens of millions of patients, especially among seniors in ageing societies. Globally, such patients, including this latest expansion of indications, now number more than 100 million.

Professor has already personally performed more than 230,000 surgeries and introduced more than 150 innovations in otology, ear surgery and audiology.