Krzysztof Zbytniewski, the editor of \u201eSuper Express\u201d described this event: „(…) The health service is barely alive, and prof. Henryk Skar\u017cy\u0144ski opens the International Center of Hearing and Speech – a clinic of the 21st century near Warsaw. Not for the rich, but for all of us – ordinary patients. (…) This slim 49-year-old man sleeps 5.5 hours a day, eats lunch with his family only once a week. But he performs a dozen operations per day and restores hearing to people. At the same time, prof. Skar\u017cy\u0144ski „got in” over 43mln zlotys to build the Center. The most of this amount he made by himself and his young team. They work twice as much as in other hospitals do. And us, patients now have a „cosmic” clinic and proof that the Polish people can do things.”<\/p>\n
From the beginning the special mission of the International Center was associated with our aspirations to be a part of European Union. The clinical program of the Center included an extensive cooperation with practically all European countries in regards to costs optimization and treatment results in relations to such issues as: deafness, hearing loss, speech disorders in stuttering people, voice disorders, tinnitus, dizziness and balance disorders, the reconstructive surgery to treat congenital and acquired malformations.<\/p>\n
– On this round anniversary, we can proudly say that we have not missed a chance. Already in the first year of the International Center operation, exceptional events took place: I carried out the first implantation of a cochlear implant in a child with partial deafness and the first implant in the middle ear in Poland, the telemedicine program „Home Rehabilitation Clinic” was developed, we have launched a series of National Conferences for People with Tinnitus and Auditory Hypersensitivity – prof. Henryk Skar\u017cy\u0144ski recalls – Each subsequent year brought new challenges, great international scientific events and interesting research projects. Our scientific, research, implementation, didactic and organizational achievements are regularly awarded by Polish and international medical, economic and scientific communities, and even the media. I decided to use it, because we should always aim higher. That is how the World Hearing Center was created. From the beginning I saw it in many dimensions. Through scientific activity I wanted this institution to guarantee building a new image and position of Polish science and medicine in the world as well as showing new directions of development \u2013 says prof. Skar\u017cy\u0144ski<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The opening was preceded by media meeting, when the mission of the International Center was presented, the scientific, clinical and didactic program presented, and the journalists had a chance visit this ultramodern facility.<\/p>\n
The ceremonial opening was honored with presence of: prof. Wies\u0142aw Chrzanowski \u2013 Marshal of the Sejm, prof. Andrzej Stelmachowski \u2013 Marshal of the Senate, Bishop Alojzy Orszulik, prof. Barbara B\u0142o\u0144ska-Fajfrowska \u2013 Parliament Health Comission, dr Maciej Tokarczyk \u2013 Prime Minister\u2019s representative and Deputy Minister of Health, Sergiusz Najar \u2013 Undersecretary at Infrastructure Ministry, Sylweriusz Kr\u00f3lak \u2013 Undersecretary at Ministry of Justice, Marek Kossowski \u2013 Deputy Minister of Economy, Labor and Social Policy, Barbara Misterska-Dragan \u2013 Deputy Minister of the Treasury, Krzysztof Szama\u0142ek Ph. D. \u2013 State Sectretary at Ministry of Environment, Leszek Juchniewicz Ph. D. \u2013 President of the Energy Regulatory Office, Leszek Mizieli\u0144ski \u2013 Mazovia Governor, Roman Sroczy\u0144ski \u2013 PFRON President, J.E. Patrick Lawless \u2013 Ambassador of Australia in Poland, Ambassador W\u0142odzimierz Konarski \u2013 Co-Chairman of Polish-German Cooperation Foundation, Zdzis\u0142aw G\u00f3ralczyk Ph. D. \u2013 Ambassador of Poland in China, prof. Ryszard Zimak \u2013 Rector of Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw, prof. Ryszard Tadeusiewicz \u2013 Rector of AGH University of Science and Technology in Krak\u00f3w, prof. Leszek P\u0105czek \u2013 Vice-Rector of Medical Academy in Warsaw, prof. Grzegorz Opolski, prof. Andrzej Strzelecki, prof. Stefan Kru\u015b, prof. Walerian Staszkiewicz and many others. Among foreign guests \u2013 the world\u2019s top otologists and audiologists from all continents, representatives of world and European scientific societies, the most important centers from Europe, America, Asia and Australia.<\/p>\n
The editor Irena Fober also wrote about the phenomenon of the International Center of Hearing in the \u201eTechnical Review\u201d: \u201eWe have a medical facility that the entire Europe can be jealous of. Opened couple of weeks ago in Kajetany near Warsaw, the center for people with speech and hearing disorders is one of the largest and most modern facilities in the world. If we are able to see the future, then we can say that it is the 21st century establishment. The Center can host about 500 patients in one day and perform several operations. 11 years ago after conducting the first operation in Central-Eastern Europe to restore hearing to a completely deaf person, the team of prof. Henryk Skar\u017cy\u0144ski found himself in the elite of world-wide otolaryngology – it was clear that something great had to be done to avoid wasting this achievement. (…) The center has its own water intake, a gas-oil boiler room and a local wastewater treatment plant. Although everything here – hotel rooms, bathrooms, buffet table, forest around, tennis courts and horses for hippotherapy sessions – looks like a clinic for very rich people, the medical care in the Center is available to everyone who just needs to have the family doctor\u2019s referral.”<\/p>\n
The late Maciej Tokarczyk \u2013 former Deputy Minister of Health \u2013 reading the letter from the Prime Minister during the opening ceremony said: \u201eCongratulating Professor Henryk Skar\u017cy\u0144ski on creation of the International Center, I am truly convinced that the ambitious and comprehensive Center program, which is a continuation of the outstanding achievements of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, headed by Professor Henryk Skar\u017cy\u0144ski, will become an intended and long expected showcase of Polish medicine in Europe and in the world. (…)\u201d<\/p>\n
Particularly important moment of this ceremony was the unveiling of „Friends for all times” plates, which show that the International Center has many supporters who contributed to its creation both through organization and their authority. The commemorative board holds many names of great people.<\/p>\n
There are among others: Polish Prime Ministers: Hanna Suchocka, J\u00f3zef Oleksy, W\u0142odzimierz Cimoszewicz, Waldemar Pawlak and Prof. Jerzy Buzek, Jolanta Kwa\u015bniewska \u2013 \u201ePorozumienie bez barier\u201d Charity Foundation, Danielle Mitterand Foundation, W\u0142odzimierz Konarski \u2013 The Foundation of Polish-German Cooperation, prof. Leszek P\u0105czek \u2013 Rector of Medical Academy in Warsaw, prof. Ryszard Zimak \u2013 Rector of Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw, prof. Andrzej Czy\u017cewski \u2013 Head of Sound and Vision Engineering Department of Gda\u0144sk University of Technology, Zdzis\u0142aw Stachura \u2013 Glass & Ceramics Institute Director, Ryszard Konwerski \u2013 President of PERN Group \u201cPrzyja\u017a\u0144\u201d, Medicine Development Foundation \u201eCz\u0142owiek-Cz\u0142owiekowi\u201d: prof. Stefan Kru\u015b, prof. Henryk Skar\u017cy\u0144ski, prof. Janusz Cianciara, Roman Chojnowski, prof. Jaros\u0142aw Deszczy\u0144ski, Jolanta Herman, Maciej Jesionek Ph.D., Waldemar Mysiak Ph.D., Micha\u0142 Niemczyk Ph. D., prof. Grzegorz Opolski, prof. Janusz Piekarczyk, prof. Walerian Staszkiewicz, Stanis\u0142aw W\u00f3jcikiewicz Ph.D., Leszek Sikorski \u2013 Minister of Health, prof. Aleksander \u0141uczak \u2013 Chairman of the Scientific Research Committee, Prof. Micha\u0142 Kleiber \u2013 Minister of Science, Jan Krzysztof Fr\u0105ckowiak Ph. D., \u2013 Secretary of the Committee for Scientific Research, prof. Wies\u0142aw Chrzanowski \u2013 Marshal of Sejm, prof. Andrzej Stelmachowski \u2013 Marshal of Senate, Fr. Bishop Alojzy Orszulik \u2013 Deputy Secretary of the Polish Episcopate, prof. Bronis\u0142aw Geremek \u2013 Foreign Affairs Minister, Jacek Kuro\u0144 \u2013 Minister of Labor and Social Policy, dr Leszek Juchniewicz \u2013 President of the Energy Regulatory Office, Gra\u017cyna Andrzejewska-Sroczy\u0144ska \u2013 Government Plenipotentiary for Persons with Disabilities, Joanna Star\u0119ga-Piasek \u2013 Government Plenipotentiary for Persons with Disabilities, Roman Sroczy\u0144ski \u2013 PFRON President, Leszek Mizieli\u0144ski \u2013 Mazovia Governor, Jerzy Ko\u017ami\u0144ski \u2013 Podsekretarz Stanu Urz\u0119du Rady Ministr\u00f3w, Polish Ambassador, Zdzis\u0142aw G\u00f3ralczyk \u2013 Polish Ambassador, prof. Longin Pastusiak \u2013 Marshal of Senate, prof. Ryszard Tadeusiewicz \u2013 Rector of AGH University of Science and Technology in Krak\u00f3w, prof. Krzysztof Szama\u0142ek \u2013 Secretary of State at Ministry of Environment, prof. Samuel Whitaker \u2013 Pacific Neuroscience Institute (Los Angeles, CA, USA), prof. Rudolf Probst \u2013 Universitatsklinik Basel, (Switzerland), MED.-EL GmbH \u2013 Innsbruck (Austria), Ingeborg Hochmair Ph. D., Prof. Erwin Hochmair \u2013 Universit\u00e4t Innsbruck (Austria), Cochlear Ltd. \u2013 Sydney (Australia), Basel (Szwajcaria), prof. Christoph von Ilberg \u2013 Universit\u00e4tsklinik Frankfurt (Germany), prof. Ernst Lehrnhardt \u2013 Medizinische Hohschule (Hannover, Germany), prof. Jeane Marie Sterkers \u2013 Hospitaux de Paris, (France), prof. J\u00f3zef Zwis\u0142ocki \u2013 Syracuse University (NY, USA), prof. Paul van den Broek \u2013 University Hospital Nijimegen (Holandia), prof. Goran Bredberg \u2013 Stockholm Soder Hospital (Sweden), prof. George Tavartkiladze \u2013 Research Center for Audiology and Hearing Rehabilitation Moscow (Russia), prof. Robert Behr \u2013 University of Marburg Fulda (Germany), prof. Milan Profant \u2013 Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia), prof. James W. Hall \u2013 University of Florida (Gainesville, FL, USA), prof. Stefaan Peeters \u2013 Univeristy of Antwerp, (Belgium), prof. John D. Durrant \u2013 University of Pittsburgh (PA, USA); Artists for Children: Gra\u017cyna Augu\u015bcik, Danuta B\u0142a\u017cejczyk, Gaw\u0119da, Reni Jusis, Andrzej \u201ePiasek\u201d Piaseczny, Ryszard Rynkowski, Tytus Wojnowicz, Julita and Paula Soko\u0142owski, Jacek W\u00f3jcicki.<\/p>\n
Today, the World Hearing Center is the showcase of Polish medicine. The achievements of the team are being recognized and rewarded by the highest authorities in Poland. The Center was visited by representatives of the government, parliament and foreign delegations as well as the First Ladies of Poland, Slovakia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Estonia. The Presidents of World and European Scientific Societies, Ambassadors of many countries in the world, also paid a visit to WHC.<\/p>\n
During the last 15 year Professor Henryk Skar\u017cy\u0144ski has launched several dozen of pioneering implantation programs for new auditory implants, including: the first in Poland implantation of the auditory implant into the middle ear, the first in the world implantation of the cochlear implant in a child with partial deafness, the first in Poland implant and device application in one ear (Duo System), the world’s first bilateral implantation of brainstem implants, the first in Poland application of the SRA apparatus and implant system, the first in Poland, implantation of the newest middle and inner ear implants – the CODACS system, the first in Poland implantation of a pioneer implant BONEBRIDGE, the first implantation of the Baha\u00ae 4 Attract System2 hearing implant in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland’s first implantation of the Cochlear \u2122 MET\u00ae middle ear implant, Poland’s first implantation of a new generation of the\u00a0 type cochlear implant SYNCHRONY, which allows you to perform MRI, and then follow the changes in the brain after acoustic and electrical stimulation, the world’s first implantation of the Vibrant Soundbridge middle ear implant with LP-Coupler, the first HCT implantation in Europe Ultra with a new straight HiFocus SlimJ electrode, and the first in Poland and in parallel with five other centers in the world, implantation of Cochlear OSIA OSI100 auditory implants.<\/p>\n
In practice, this means that Polish patients of the Center have access to the latest technologies as the first or one of the first in the world. This is a very tangible proof of the clinical and scientific position of the Center.<\/p>\n
Currently, patients, doctors, scientists, students have over 20,000 m2 of space, where there are, among others: 6 operating rooms, several dozen diagnostic offices where several hundred patients are admitted daily, 2 multimedia studios of the first in the world of the National Teleaudiology Network, 7 conference rooms, where 800 people can be trained as well as the Education Center.<\/p>\n
At the Center’s clinics, otolaryngologists, audiologists, phoniatricians, speech therapists, surdopedagogues, psychologists, clinical engineers and technicians provide and conduct more than 200,000 consultations and examinations annually. Since over 15 years, there are about 60-70 hearing-improving surgeries are carried out every day \u2013 that is the most in the world in the field of otorhinolaryngology, audiology and phoniatrics. Particularly noteworthy is the implantation of over 6,500 auditory implants, which places the center at the forefront of the world. Over 3.5 million people have already benefited from various forms of assistance. This is also a well-functioning and organized enterprise that gives work to over 450 employees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
May 22nd marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of World Hearing and Speech Center (WHC). After seven years of collecting funds \u2013 mainly from own resources \u2013 by the team led by prof. Henryk Skar\u017cy\u0144ski \u2013 the World Hearing ..<\/p>\n