Swiss Head and Neck Dissection Courses

Welcome

Dear participant, dear colleague

The Swiss Head and Neck Basic Dissection and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery Courses are intensive hands-on training courses and will be held under the direction of the Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and the Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern in collaboration with the Swiss Working Group of Head and Neck Surgery. They include instructional sessions for a theoretical background by experts and supervised whole-body cadaver dissection. A major feature is to investigate the anatomy relevant to an array of head and neck surgical procedures and the techniques of regional and free flap raising on specimens, which have been specifically prepared to preserve tissue planes and simulate real surgery.

16 hours of hands-on training on head and neck surgery and flap raising (per course)
Lectures by well-known Swiss faculty and international head and neck surgeons
High-quality whole-body specimens due to the Thiel fixation technique
Personal step-by-step basic head and neck dissection and regional/free flap raising
Supervised training (1 instructor – 2 participants per specimen)
Swiss style social event
Full catering
CME accreditation: 16 points (per course)

Prof. Dr. med. Roland Giger
Course Director
Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery
Inselspital, Bern University Hospital
Switzerland

Program

Basic Head and Neck Surgery: 3 & 4 September 2026

Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery: planned for 2027

These intensive Head and Neck Dissection Courses are held under the direction of the Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital Bern, University Hospital Bern, and the Institute of Anatomy of the University of Bern, in collaboration with the Swiss Working Group of Head and Neck Surgery. Lectures will cover the theoretical background and frame the individual dissection sessions. These courses are designed to give maximal exposure of the faculty to the participants in the anatomy lab, with ample time to learn the details of the surgical management of head and neck surgery dedicated to standard procedures, tumor ablative techniques, and regional/free flap raising for reconstruction. It is appropriate for surgeons in training.

The official course language is English.

Download Course Flyer (PDF)

Registration

Registration for the Basic Head and Neck Dissection Course (3 & 4 September 2026) will open soon.

For a place on the waiting list, further questions, or assistance, please email julia.spyra@spyrapartners.ch.

The next Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery Course will probably take place in 2027.

Faculty

Course Directors

Prof. Dr. Roland Giger ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Valentin Djonov Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Marco Caversaccio ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Bern

Invited Faculty

PD Dr. Iona Lese Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Dr. Benoît Schaller Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Bern

Distinguished Faculty

Prof. Dr. Andreas ArnoldENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Bern
PD Dr. Urs BornerENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Bern
PD Dr. Martina Broglie DäppenENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Bethanien Clinic Zurich
PD Dr. Patrick DubachENT, Head and NecK Surgery, Solothurn Hospital
Dr. Nicolas DulguerovENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Geneva
Prof. Dr. Pavel DulguerovENT, Maxillo-Cervico-Facial Surgery, MCF La Tour, Geneva
Dr. Sandra GunserENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Stephan HaerleHead and Neck Surgery Center, Hirslanden Clinic, Lucerne
Dr. Sara-Lynn HoolENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Gerhard HuberENT Center, Hirslanden Clinic, Zurich
Dr. Jens JakschaENT, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Basel
Prof. Dr. Florian LangInterdisciplinary ENT Center, Daler Hospital Fribourg
Dr. Thomas ManteiENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Aarau Hospital
PD Dr. Yan MonnierLemanique ENT Center, Vevey
PD Dr. Grégoire MorandENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Zurich University Hospital
Dr. Simon MüllerENT, Head & Neck Surgery, Zurich University Hospital
PD Dr. Laurent MullerENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Basel
Prof. Dr. Philippe PascheENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Hirslanden Clinic Lausanne
Prof. Dr. Gunesh RajanENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Lucerne Hospital
Dr. Adrian SchubertENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Neuchâtel Hospital
Prof. Dr. Christian SimonENT, Head and Neck, University Hospital Lausanne
Prof. Dr. Sandro StöckliENT, Head and Neck Surgery, St. Gallen
Dr. Domenic VitalHead and Neck Surgery, Hirslanden Clinic Cham

Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Supporters

We are grateful for the generous support of our partners.

Bern

Accommodation

Bern offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit every preference and budget—from charming boutique hotels in the Old Town to modern business hotels near the train station or conference venues. Please book hotel accommodation directly with your preferred hotel, travel booking website, or via your institutional travel booking system.

Recommended areas to stay:

Old Town (Altstadt): Perfect for those who want to stay in the heart of Bern, surrounded by medieval architecture, restaurants, and cultural sites.
Near the train station (Bahnhof Bern): Ideal for convenience and quick access to public transport and the conference location.
Langgasse & Kirchenfeld: Quiet residential neighborhoods with easy tram connections.

We recommend booking early, as availability can be limited during conference periods. For more accommodation options and planning tools, visit the official Swiss tourism platform: Where to stay – Bern Welcome.

Contact

Course Director

Prof. Dr. med. Roland Giger Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery Inselspital, Bern University Hospital Switzerland Email: roland.giger@insel.ch

Organization

Julia Spyra, M.A. (USA) Spyra & Partners GmbH Switzerland Email: julia.spyra@spyrapartners.ch