EAR NOSE THROAT | Griffith AMS

The Griffith AMS has visiting ENT specialists on a monthly basis.

A referral is required to make an appointment with the specialist.

The services are provided for Aboriginal clients of the GAMS and

are bulk billed via Medicare (Free to clients)

Dr Nirmal Patel

MBBS (Hons), FRACS (OHNS) MS (UNSW)

Special Interests: Minimally Invasive (Endoscopic) Ear Surgery for Cholesteatoma and Chronic Ear Infection, Eustachian Tube Surgery, Cochlear Implant and Lateral Skull Base Surgery

Other interests: Childrens ENT Surgery, The Blocked Nose

Nirmal grew up in Newcastle and moved to Sydney for Medical School. He graduated from medical school with honours from the University of Sydney and completed his ENT Training in 2002 graduating from the New South Wales ENT Training programme. Nirmal then completed a higher degree in surgery (a Master of Surgery) with training at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and New York University, USA under the guidance of Professor Anil Lalwani. His Master of Surgery Thesis was undertaken in Gene and Stem Cell Therapy of the Inner Ear. Following this period Nirmal undertook his second post training sub-speciality period with Professor Clough Shelton (the President-Elect of the American Neuro-otology Society) learning advanced ear surgery at the University of Utah, USA.

Since returning back to Australia Nirmal has:

Founded and is the director of the Kolling Deafness Research Centre, with his lab located at North Shore Hospital, 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.
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.
Along with the SEES group runs an International Surgical Fellowship on Endoscopic Ear Surgerywith the fellow located at Nirmal’s lab at the Kolling Deafness Research Centre.
Is invited faculty and tutor at Endoscopic Ear Surgery courses and meetings around the world including Italy, Scotland, Japan, Dubai, Sharjah and the USA
Committee member for the Indigenous Health Committee for the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
Runs regular Indigenous Outreach services to Western NSW.
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.

In his spare time Nirmal enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys. Nirmal is also keen on photography, design and loves skiing.

Dr Nicholas Jufas

Dr Nicholas Jufas was born and raised in Sydney, and graduated with honoursfrom University of Sydney Medical School in 2006. He then undertook Specialist Training in Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery through the NSW training program, and subsequently became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Otolaryngology and a Member of the Australian Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
He has completed a Master of Surgery in Otolaryngology at the University of Sydney and has also undertaken Advanced Cochlear Implant Training through ICIT. He actively teaches and supervises trainee surgeons and medical students and has been appointed as a Senior Clinical Lecturer at both Sydney University and Macquarie University.
He has undertaken post-training subspecialisation, with a clinical fellowship in Endoscopic Ear Surgery in Australia. He has travelled overseas to complete a number of Observerships including Middle Ear Surgery at the Causse Clinic, France and also to the American Hospital, Dubai and the University of Verona, Italyto collaborate with world experts who have pioneered Totally Endoscopic Ear Surgery internationally. He then completed a Clinical Fellowship in Otology, Implant and Lateral Skull Base Surgery supervised by Prof Manohar Bance and Prof David Morris at Dalhousie University in Canada.
Dr Jufas has been invited to speak and attend as faculty at conferences, courses and workshops in Australia and internationally. He has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, many with international collaboration. He is a member of the International Working Group of Endoscopic Ear Surgery (IWGEES)and founding member of the Sydney Endoscopic Ear Surgery (SEES) Research Group and is a supervisor of the first Endoscopic Ear Surgery fellow in the world.
Nicholas has an interest in Indigenous ear health and works closely with the Aboriginal Medical Service and Base Hospital in Griffith, undertaking ENT outreach clinics and performing surgery on a regular basis.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, adventure racing, playing squash and occasionally flying planes.