Year of Award: 2020
Professor Dr. Jacek Składzień, MD, was born in Poznań in 1951. He studied medicine from 1969 to 1975 at the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Krakow. During his studies, he participated in the Scientific Club at the Allergy, Immunology, and Otolaryngology Clinics of the Medical University of Krakow. After completing a postgraduate internship, he began working at the Otolaryngology Clinic of the Medical University of Krakow as a medical assistant at the State Clinical Hospital. In October 1978, he became an employee of the Medical University of Krakow. He progressed through all levels of his scientific and professional career at this Clinic and continues to work as Head of the Department and Clinic. He passed his first-degree specialization exam in otolaryngology in 1978 and his second-degree exam in 1981. In 1988, he defended his doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Krakow, with a dissertation entitled “Factors influencing the postoperative healing process in laryngeal cancer.” His supervisor was Prof. Jan Sekuła. He obtained his postdoctoral degree in otolaryngology based on his dissertation entitled “Nasal, maxillary, and antrochoanal polyps. Clinical and morphological studies” in May 1997.
In March 1999, he won a nationwide competition for the position of Head of the Department and Clinic of Otolaryngology at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, and since October 1, 1999, he has served as its head. By decree of November 18, 2002, the President of the Republic of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, awarded him the academic title of Professor of Medical Sciences.
His main research interests include the physiology and pathology of the nose and paranasal sinuses, research on the morphology of epithelial surfaces and vascular system as assessed by scanning electron microscopy, the diagnosis and treatment of orbital tumors, preventing postoperative complications and infections that are a natural risk of certain procedures, improving diagnostic and surgical methods for chronic otitis media, and cancers of the larynx, pharynx, neck, paranasal sinuses, and orbit, optimizing the treatment of conditions in elderly and long-lived patients, rehabilitation treatment, and the pathophysiology of the voice in opera singers.
His scientific achievements include approximately 300 original and review articles published in peer-reviewed journals, 22 other articles, and 13 chapters in textbooks. He was one of the editors of the standard textbook for otolaryngologists. A further 410 papers were presented at international and national conferences.
He supervised 4 completed habilitation and 17 doctoral dissertations. He reviewed 23 professorships, 21 habilitation and 64 doctoral dissertations.
Since 1975, he has been a member of the Polish Society of Otolaryngology and Rehabilitation (PTORL ChGiSz), a member of the Main Board of the Polish Society of Otolaryngology (PTORL ChGiSz), and a member of the Krakow Branch Board for many terms since 1979. He also served as a member of numerous Polish and international scientific societies. He initiated the creation of the Association for the Support of Krakow Otolaryngology – a Public Benefit Organization. From 2012 to the present, he has served as Vice-Chairman of the Krakow Branch of the Polish Medical Society.
He is Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Polish Otolaryngology. He serves on the scientific boards of five medical journals.