MBBS, FRACS

Professor Marcus Atlas is a surgeon scientist specialising in ear and hearing disorders by combining applied clinical and scientific research. He holds the Foundation Chair in Otolaryngology at the University of Western Australia and is the Head of the Ear Science Centre (since 2000) and Director of Ear Science Institute Australia (since 2001). Under his directorship ESIA and the ESC have created three major research groups involved in clinical research, computer and information science and molecular and cellular otolaryngology.

He is a key member of the team that has developed a telemedicine system for otology which has been placed in a number of sites around Australia and is now undergoing commercialisation and internationalisation. He is presently a principal investigator in two major multicentre trials utilising cochlear implants and implantable hearing devices including the round window application of the Vibrant Soundbridge for mixed hearing loss and the evaluation of the surgical suitability of a new cochlear implant (the HEARing CRC). His other current scientific research concentrates on the field of molecular and cellular tympanic membrane research working on a bioengineered tympanic membrane.

Professor Atlas graduated in medicine in 1982 and received the Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Surgeon's in 1989. He received the Athelstan and Amy Saw Scholarship from the University of Western Australia (1990-1992) to undertake a Fellowship in Cambridge, United Kingdom and Pittsburgh, USA. He was invited to join St Vincent’s Hospital and Clinic in 1992 and was involved in collaborative research programs with the Garven Institute of Medical Research.

Professor Atlas has received international recognition in the areas in the areas of ear and skull base surgery. He was invited to join the Court of Examiners, Royal Australian College of Surgeons in 2006. His innovative surgical education book and 3 volume DVD is used throughout the world to teach ear and skull base surgery and his surgical dissection courses have attracted hundreds of international surgeons for over 10 years. The clinical and research fellowship program at Ear Science Institute Australia has a 2 year waiting list. He has taken leadership roles in research as Director of the Ear Science Centre at the University of Western Australia and as primary supervisor of PhD candidates and senior author of publications.

Professor Atlas was the editor of the Australian Journal of Otolaryngology (2001-2008) and has restructured the journal to create a large international readership, especially in the USA, in addition to establishing agreements with the leading otolaryngology journal, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He is on the editorial board of both Australian and international otolaryngology journals. He has represented Australia at numerous international clinical and basic research scientific meetings, international advisory boards, and has delivered over 100 invited lectures.