Dr. Jamal Kassouma is a renowned otolaryngologist with extensive experience in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery. He graduated from Aleppo University in 1981 and completed his surgical training in Damascus. Dr. Kassouma further honed his skills during his high surgical training in Manchester Deanery Rotation from 1991 to 1998.
Then he moved to Bradford, UK, to have experience in cochlear implant surgery until 2001, when he worked as a consultant before he moved back to Syria.
In 2002, Dr. Kassouma returned to Syria, where he introduced cochlear implant surgery to the country. He performed the first-ever CI surgery in Syria on May 5, 2002. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Faculty of Medicine at Damascus University as a professor, where he focused on advancing the field of ENT surgery.
Dr. Kassouma’ s dedication has led to the performance of 2000 CI surgeries, serving the deaf communities in Syria, Iraq, and neighboring Arab countries. He has trained over ten surgeons from Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Sudan, extending his expertise throughout the Middle East. In 2012, Dr. Kassouma moved to the UAE, where he continued his work as a consultant at Dubai Hospital, performing around 700 CI surgeries and several Bone Conduction Hearing Implant surgeries in dubai and Al Zahra Hospital. He joined Al Zahra Private Hospital Dubai in December 2016, and recently he is a full time in Al Zahra.
Through his career, which extends over 32 years, he has performed more than 10,000 complicated ear surgeries.
In his own words: “I have lived my life with the dream of restoring hearing for my community. I can finally say that I have reached my goal – and I still get the thrill with each patient I meet and hope to continue helping as many people as I can”.
He is passionate about reducing the stigma associated with hearing aids, believing that his patients wearing cochlear implants or hearing aids are empowered and equal members of society.
Awards and Recognition
- Middle East Doctor of the Year (2009 & 2022) for contributions to the Deaf Community.
- Ibn ElBalad Award (Patriotic Award) from Syria.
- Distinguished Employee Award (2017) from the Dubai Health Authority, presented by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
- Award in medical education from Dubal Medical College (2021), where he works as an associate professor.
Specializations
- Complicated microscopic ear surgery: myringoplasty, ossiculoplasty, stapedectomy, mastoidectomy
- complex pediatric otolaryngological surgeries
- Cochlear implant and implantable hearing aids
- Nasal blockage solutions using advanced techniques
- Endoscopic sinus surgery for treating various forms of sinusitis
- Reconstruction of the larynx and trachea
Qualifications
- MD – Aleppo University, Syria
- FRCS – The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK
- FRCS (ORL-HNS) – Intercollegiate Board, UK
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in Edinburgh in 1997
- Fellowship of the Intercollegiate Board in Otolaryngology in 2001
- Professor and Head of the ENT Department in 2007, and the Faculty of Medicine in 2011
- Examiner and member of the accreditation panel in the Arab Board Otolaryngology Specialization (2007–2017)
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