Patrick Gullane

Gullane was born in Ireland and received his medical degree from National University of Ireland, Galway, in 1970. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. In 1975, he was selected as the McLaughlin Fellow and then pursued advanced Fellowship training in Head and Neck Oncology in Pittsburgh and New York.^[3]

In 1978, Gullane was appointed to the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.^[4] While there, he focused on integrating multidisciplinary cancer care into surgical practice and initiated several clinical training programs for residents. In 1983, he was recruited to the University of Toronto, where he expanded the head and neck oncology program and contributed to developing fellowship opportunities for international surgeons.^[5]

In 1989, he was appointed Otolaryngologist-in-Chief at the University Health Network, which includes the Toronto General Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Toronto Western Hospital. In 2002, he became Professor and Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Toronto, serving two terms until June 2012.^[6]

Gullane’s research focuses on head and neck oncology, including oral cavity, salivary gland, and skull base cancers, as well as microvascular reconstruction. He has published over 384 peer-reviewed articles, 98 textbook chapters, and 10 books, including Principles and Practice of Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology. He serves on the editorial boards of ten journals and has trained more than 100 fellows from over 30 countries.^[7]

He has been an invited visiting professor in more than 85 countries, delivering over 830 keynote and invited lectures worldwide. These have included the Eugene Myers International Lecture in 2006, the Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture in 2009, the John J. Conley Lecture in 2012, the Hayes Martin Lecture in 2014, and the Gunnar Holmgren Lecture in Sweden in 2018. In 2008, he was one of six international faculty members to lead the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS) Head and Neck World Tour Program.^[8]

He has held leadership positions in professional organizations including the American Head & Neck Society, the North American Skull Base Society, the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and the Triological Society.^[9]

Gullane has been a strong advocate for HPV vaccination policies in Canada to prevent oropharyngeal cancers. His clinical and academic leadership has directly influenced public health policy related to cancer prevention and treatment.^[10]