Gerd Fabian Volk | Cognitive Rehabilitation | Outstanding Scientist Award

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Dr. Gerd Fabian Volk | Cognitive Rehabilitation | Outstanding Scientist Award

apl. Prof. Dr. med. habil. Gerd Fabian Volk (šŸ‘¶1978, Wertheim am Main) is a leading German otolaryngologist šŸ‘Øā€āš•ļø, currently serving as Senior Physician and Head of the Facial Nerve Center in Jena šŸ„. With a deep commitment to clinical excellence, academic teaching šŸ“š, and innovative research šŸ§Ŗ, he has significantly contributed to the fields of neurolaryngology, facial nerve disorders, and ultrasound diagnostics šŸ§ šŸ—£ļø. His work bridges cutting-edge imaging šŸ–¼ļø and functional diagnostics for head-neck disorders. Living in Jena with his family šŸ‘Øā€šŸ‘©ā€šŸ‘§ā€šŸ‘§, he actively supports patient education through YouTube šŸ“¹, coordinates national workshops, and advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration šŸ¤. Volk is a respected speaker šŸŽ¤, faculty member at international dissection courses āœ‚ļøšŸ§ , and an initiator of hybrid symposia. He balances leadership with education, translating research into real-world clinical impact šŸŒšŸ’”.

Profile

Education šŸŽ“

Studied human medicine at WestfƤlische Wilhelms UniversitƤt MĆ¼nster (1999ā€“2006) šŸŽ“šŸ©ŗ, earning his state exam. In 2007, he completed his doctorate (Dr. med.) with a thesis on axonal regeneration in retinal ganglion cells in primates and rats šŸ§¬šŸ’šŸ€. He achieved board certification in ENT (2012) šŸ‘‚šŸ‘ƒšŸ§  and earned his postdoctoral qualification (habilitation) in 2017 with pioneering research on quantitative imaging of facial muscles šŸ–¼ļøšŸ’Ŗ. His venia legendi was granted by Friedrich Schiller University Jena in otorhinolaryngology šŸ“œšŸ‘Øā€šŸ«. Further qualifications include DEGUM Level II (2018) for ultrasound, clinical trial leadership certification (2009), animal research leadership certification (2002), and interdisciplinary leadership training at UKJ šŸ…šŸ“Š. His broad educational background underpins his medical, scientific, and didactic work, combining clinical care, diagnostics, and teaching for the next generation of ENT specialists šŸ‘Øā€āš•ļøšŸ‘©ā€āš•ļøšŸ‘Øā€šŸ«.

Experience šŸ‘Øā€šŸ«

Since 2013, Dr. Volk leads the Facial Nerve Center in Jena and co-founded the Tinnitus Center šŸ‘Øā€āš•ļøšŸ”Š. He is currently Senior Physician at the ENT Department, University Hospital Jena and member of the steering committee for the Center for Rare Diseases Jena (since 2024) šŸ§©šŸ§¬. He previously held rotational research fellowships in radiology and neurology (2008ā€“2013) and has organized national ENT courses since 2009 šŸ§ šŸŽ“. With consistent academic teaching since 2012, he has led cadaver dissection courses, neurolaryngology workshops, and ultrasound diagnostics trainings šŸ§‘ā€šŸ«šŸ’». He is an active contributor to ethics commissions and rare disease networks šŸ‘„āš–ļø. His work merges clinical ENT practice, surgical skill, and educational outreach through digital platforms (e.g., YouTube, www.lemg.org) šŸŒšŸ“¹. A devoted mentor, he organizes monthly PhD symposia and integrates hybrid teaching formats, balancing high-level medical care with forward-thinking academic initiatives šŸ“ššŸ„šŸŽÆ.

Awards & Recognitions šŸ…

Recipient of multiple national prizes, including the 1st Poster Prize by the German Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (2019) šŸ„‡šŸ“Š for Parkinson-related facial muscle imaging, and the DEGUM Head-Neck Section Award for his habilitation research (2018) šŸ§ šŸ…. Awarded competitive IZKF research fellowships in neurology and radiology (2008ā€“2013) šŸ§¬šŸ”¬. Recognized leader in rare disease diagnostics and member of Germanyā€™s CRANIO-Net for rare craniofacial disorders (since 2022) šŸ§©šŸ‘¶. Since 2020, he contributes to the Ethics Commission of the University Hospital Jena āš–ļø. He is speaker for ENT indications in the Botulinumtoxin Working Group of the German Society of Neurology (since 2022) šŸ’‰šŸ§ . Nominated for professorial posts in Bielefeld, Halle, and CharitĆ© Berlin between 2019ā€“2023 šŸ›ļøšŸ“š. Volkā€™s sustained excellence across clinical care, diagnostics, research, and education has earned him national recognition and leadership roles in academic ENT medicine šŸ§ šŸ„āœØ.

Research Interests šŸ”¬

Prof. Volk’s research centers on facial nerve diagnostics and therapy šŸ§ šŸ§‘ā€āš•ļø, neurolaryngology, and ultrasound imaging of head-neck structures šŸ–¼ļø. He specializes in quantitative imaging of facial muscles for conditions like facial paralysis and Parkinsonā€™s disease šŸ¤–šŸ§ . His work combines clinical neurophysiology, MRI analysis, and laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) šŸ“ˆšŸ’¬. He also pioneers educational innovations in hybrid learning, simulation-based teaching, and cadaver dissection techniques for ENT and neurology professionals šŸ§‘ā€šŸ«šŸ§Ŗ. Through platforms like www.lemg.org and dedicated YouTube channels šŸ“¹, he disseminates knowledge on advanced diagnostics such as salivary duct endoscopy, voice disorders, and botulinum toxin use šŸ’‰. A strong advocate for interdisciplinary networks and rare disease research, he leads initiatives in patient-centered care, including organizing the ā€œFazialis-Nerv-Tagā€ and supporting patient education šŸ¤ā¤ļø. His translational research aims to enhance diagnostic precision and develop novel rehabilitation strategies for complex craniofacial disorders šŸ§¬šŸ”§.

PublicationsĀ 

  • Electromyography as an Objective Outcome Measure for the Therapeutic Effect of Biofeedback Training to Reduce Post-Paralytic Facial Synkinesis

    Healthcare
    2025-03-04 |Ā Journal article
    DOI:Ā 10.3390/healthcare13050550
    CONTRIBUTORS:Ā Isabell Hahnemann;Ā Julia Fron;Ā Jonas Ballmaier;Ā Orlando Guntinas-Lichius;Ā Gerd Fabian Volk

  • Evaluation of the Effects of an Electromyography-Based Bio-Feedback Training of Patients with Post-Paralytic Facial Synkinesis Using Electromyography Amplitudes as Objective Outcome Measure

    2024-12-16 |Ā Preprint
    DOI:Ā 10.20944/preprints202412.1326.v1
    CONTRIBUTORS:Ā Isabell Hahnemann;Ā Julia Fron;Ā Jonas Ballmaier;Ā Orlando Guntinas-Lichius;Ā Gerd Fabian Volk

  • Deceleration of denervated facial muscle atrophy through functional electrical stimulation: a sonographic quantification in patients with facial nerve paralysis

    European Journal of Translational Myology
    2024-11-13 |Ā Journal article
    DOI:Ā 10.4081/ejtm.2024.13162
    CONTRIBUTORS:Ā Gabriel Meincke;Ā Johannes KrauƟ;Ā Maren Geitner;Ā Anna-Maria Kuttenreich;Ā Dirk Arnold;Ā Jonas Ballmaier;Ā Thomas Lehmann;Ā Winfried Mayr;Ā Orlando Guntinas-Lichius;Ā Gerd Fabian Volk

Bailey Bennett | Cognitive Rehabilitation| Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Bailey Bennett | Cognitive Rehabilitation| Best Researcher Award

 

Emporia State University, United States

Profile

 

Education

She completed her Masterā€™s in Art Therapy and Clinical Counseling at Emporia State University from August 2021 to May 2024, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Her studies included a focus on Mental Health.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Pittsburg State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in December 2020. Her studies emphasized Substance Abuse Services.

Additionally, she completed her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts at Johnson County Community College from January 2015 to May 2017, also graduating with a 4.0 GPA and as a member of the Honors College.

WORK EXPERIENCE

She has extensive experience in the mental health and art therapy fields. Since January 2021, she has been working at Minds Matter LLC as a Cognitive and Behavioral Therapist, as well as an Art Therapy Consultant. In this role, she provides therapy to individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), helping them live independently, while also offering consultations and support for integrating art into therapy sessions. She presents on various topics, including research and art therapy, and assists clients in reaching their individual goals. Additionally, she attends weekly supervision sessions to deepen her knowledge of TBI.

From August 2023 to May 2024, she completed an internship at the Emporia State University Counseling Center, where she provided therapy to students, administered assessments, and contributed to treatment plans. She adhered to ethical standards and confidentiality in her work.

She also interned at Corner House Inc. from August 2022 to April 2023, where she provided therapy, participated in client screening and assessment, and assisted in treatment plan development. She provided both individual and group counseling, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and confidentiality.

During her time at Crawford County Mental Health in Pittsburg, KS, from January to December 2020, she completed 400 hours of internship, working at the Addiction Treatment Center and the Women’s Renewal House. She facilitated various client groups and observed counselors in different settings.

Additionally, from August 2019 to May 2020, she served as the Media Manager and Vice-President for Students for Violence Prevention at Pittsburg State University. In this position, she created media content and worked with university staff to educate students on topics such as sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence, and unhealthy relationships. She was awarded the NASPA-BACCHUS Region IV-W Peer Educator Award for her efforts in educational outreach.

Awards

She has received several notable awards throughout her academic and professional career. In 2023, she was honored with the Research Award at the Capital Graduate Research Summit at Emporia State University. She also earned 3rd place at the Research and Creativity 2023 Peopleā€™s Choice Award. In 2020, she received the NASPA-BACCHUS Region IV-W Peer Educator Award for Excellence for her contributions to peer education on campus. Additionally, she was awarded the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholarship for Pittsburg State Universityā€™s Psychology Program in 2020.

Educational Opportunities & Research Experience

She has conducted significant research and contributed to various academic projects. In 2022, she conducted human subjects research to study the effects of art therapy on individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), finding significant results regarding reduced anxiety in this population. Her research was presented at the Capital Graduate Research Summit in Topeka, KS, in 2023, where she was awarded the Research Award for ESU.

From 2019 to 2020, she worked as a Research Assistant for Dr. Warner, focusing on visual attention and conducting human subjects research, which was submitted to the APA National Conference.

Additionally, she served as the Vice-President/Social Media Coordinator for Students for Violence Prevention (SVP) from 2019 to 2020, where she played a key role in organizing and promoting initiatives focused on preventing violence and raising awareness on campus.