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DR NIRMAL PATEL

Nirmal was born in England and emigrated to Newcastle, Australia at the age of 5.  He grew up in Newcastle and then moved to Sydney for Medical school.  Nirmal spent 3 years in the USA undertaking advanced Ear surgery training after finishing ENT training in NSW, Australia.

Nirmal loves spending time with his wife, three energetic boys and large extended family.  In his reflective moments he enjoys photography, art, design and skiing.

Dr Nirmal Patel Bio Image
Dr Nirmal Patel ENT Specialist

QUALIFICATIONS

  • MBBS (Hons) – University of Sydney
  • FRACS (OHNS) – 2002 NSW Training Program
  • Master of Surgery – Research Thesis (UNSW) 2003-2005
  • Otology Research Fellowship – Professor Anil Lalwani New York University Gene and Stem Cell Therapy of Inner Ear
  • Otology/Neurotology/Skull Base Clinical Fellowship – 2005 University of Utah; Professor Clough Shelton
  • Clinical Professor of Surgery Macquarie University 2021 onwards

SPECIAL SURGICAL INTERESTS

1

Endoscopic Ear Surgery

For Cholesteatoma, ear drum perforations and hearing loss.
2

Eustachian Tube Surgery

Including Eustachian tube cleaning, unblocking and ballooning.
3

Cochlear Implant Surgery

For the adults with deafness of aging, trauma, single sided deafness treatment.
4

Single Sided Deafness Surgery

BAHA and Cochlea implant surgery.
5

Minimally invasive Lateral Skull Base surgery

Acoustic Tumours (Vestibular Schwannoma) and Meningioma.
6

Children’s Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery

Including grommets (middle ear ventilation tubes) for infection, hearing loss, tonsils and adenoids, blocked nose surgery.

EDUCATION, RESEARCH & OUTREACH INTERESTS

  • Founded and is the director of the Kolling Deafness Research Centre. The lab is located at North Shore Hospital Campus, Sydney.  The lab is focused on advancing minimally invasive (key hole) ear surgery for cholesteatoma, chronic ear disease and eustachian tube surgery.
  • Nirmal was Australia’s first elected member and contributor to the International Working Group of Endoscopic Ear Surgery, which seeks to advance the technique of minimally invasive ear surgery around the world.
  • Runs regular Indigenous Outreach services to Western NSW.
  • Committee member for the Indigenous Health Committee for the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
  • Nirmal is also one of the founding members of the Sydney Endoscopic Ear Surgery (SEES) Research group, Australia’s first dedicated research group on minimally invasive ear surgery techniques.
  • Started an International Surgical Fellowship on Endoscopic Ear Surgery with other SEES group members. The fellow is located at Nirmal’s lab in the Kolling Deafness Research Centre.
  • Has been invited faculty and tutor at Endoscopic Ear Surgery courses and meetings around the world including Italy, Scotland, Japan, Dubai, Sharjah and the USA
  • Nirmal has presented at 53 National or international meetings, written 35 journal articles and 5 book chapters in major ENT Text books.  His authorship interest is in Endoscopic Ear Surgery for Eustachian tube, Cholesteatoma and Lateral Skull Base Surgery.