The Gold Medal Award is given to one of our esteemed colleagues for furthering the goals of the Prosper Meniere Society through research excellence, scientific innovation, and far-reaching contributions to the investigation of inner ear disorders.
PYYKKÖ Vilho Ilmari
Vilho Ilmari PYYKKÖ (born November 17, 1944) is currently an emeritus professor and the head of the Hearing and Balance Research Unit at Tampere University School of Medicine. He is a specialist in Oto-, Rhino-, and Larynogology. Dr. Pyykko has been awarded numerous awards and grants for research including an Honor Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology in 2000.
Education:
Dr. Pyykkö attended the University of Helsinki and received his Licentiate of Medicine (1971) and later his Doctor of Medical Sciences (1974). In 1981 he received the qualification of Docent Associate professor) in Oto-, Rhino-, and Laryngology from the University of Lund and again in 1984 from the University of Helsinki. He was granted by British Council a fellowship at The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, England in 1978, by Japanese Government at Kyoto University, Department of Otolaryngology in Japan and (Scholarship from), and in1980 from ASLA-Fullbright at Department of Otolaryngology and Maxillofacial surgery, University Hospital
and Clinics of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Work:
Vilho Ilmari Pyykkö began his career as a research associate at the University of Helsinki under the Department of Physiology from 1971-1973. From 1977-1983 he was a resident at in the University of Helsinki and later in the University Hospital of Lund where the later half of his time there was spent as a specialist and senior physician. Next he spent a year as a senior researcher at the Institute of Occupational Health. He held various positions with University Hospital of Helsinki from 1991-1995 including clinical teacher, professor, and Vc. Professor of Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases. In 1995 he started working as a professor and the Head of the section of Otorhinolaryngology at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and continued this position until 2002. During this time he acted as prefect of the Institute of Ear and Skin at Karolinska Institute from 1997-1999. In 2002 he accepted a position as professor in the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Disease at Tampere University Hospital where he currently is retired from the position and acts as head of the hearing and balance research unit.
He is a member of 8 editorial boards and has supervised of 25 doctoral dissertations.
Research and Publications:
Dr. Pyykkö has been awarded numerous research grants and has published more than 500 scientific publications.