Prof.dr. Fons J.M. Balm

Head and Neck Surgeon

A.J.M. Balm

Prof.dr. A.J.M. Balm, MD PhD FRCS FACS
Otolaryngologist/Head & Neck Surgeon  (Chairman Workgroup head and neck)
Born: December 8, 1950, Haarlem (The Netherlands)

Fields of interest

  • chemoradiation for organ sparing therapy
  • translational research (prognostic markers, immunotherapy)
  • pediatric head and neck oncology
  • head and neck melanoma
  • Functional operability

Training

  • 1978 – 1982 Postgraduate training Otolaryngology, dept. ENT/Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital VU, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Prof. dr G.B. Snow/Prof. dr L. Feenstra)
  • 1982 – 1987 Surgical oncology training Head and Neck, Reconstruction and Skull Base Surgery, dept. ENT/Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital VU, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Mr R.M. Tiwari/Prof. dr G.B. Snow)

Fellowship and Clinical Experience

  • March 1984 – August 1984, Visiting Research Scientist, University of Michigan, dept. ENT/Head and Neck Surgery, Ann Arbor, USA
  • June 1985 – June 1987, Chef de Clinique, Dept. ENT/Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital VU, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • January 1988 – August 1989, Chef de Policlinique, dept. ENT/Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital VU, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • Since August 1989, Staff Surgical Oncology Head & Neck, NKI/AvL, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Academic Thesis

1982 Thesis on “Mononuclear phagocyte function in head and neck cancer”, Free University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Memberships

  • 1982: Netherlands Society for Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery
  • 1982: Dutch Working Party on Head and Neck Tumours (NWHHT)
  • 1991 – 1998: American Society for Head and Neck Surgery (corresponding member)
  • 1992 – 1998: Melanoma working party IKA (Comprehensive Cancer Center Amsterdam)
  • 1993: British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists (corresponding member)
  • 1993: Head and Neck Cancer Cooperative Group (EORTC)
  • 1994: The Dutch Society for Surgical Oncology
  • 1994 – 1998: The Society of Head and Neck Surgeons (corresponding member)
  • 1995: Dutch Society of Oncology
  • 1995: American College of Surgeons (FACS)
  • 1998: American Head & Neck Society (corresponding member)
  • 1998: Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngologicum Amicitiae Sacrum (ORLAS)
  • 1998: Royal College of Surgeons of England (FRCS)
  • 2000: European Society of Surgical Oncology

Main Research

  • Cyclin D1 as a prognostic marker for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (in collaboration with RJAM Michalides)
  • Perioperative immunotherapy (IL-2, IFN-a, GM-CSF) (in collaboration with CG de Gast)
  • Development third generation Provox voice prosthesis (in collaboration with FJM Hilgers)
  • Hypoxia and perfusion in human tumors: quantification and implication for treatment outcome (funded by NKB/KWF) (in collaboration with AC Begg and K Haustermans)
  • Prognostic markers predicting response after intensive chemoradiation (in collaboration with MWM vd Brekel, CRN Rasch)
  • Models predicting functional inoperability

Publications