Professor Nirmal Patel

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

Nirmal’s special interests include: Minimally Invasive (Endoscopic) Ear Surgery for Cholesteatoma and Chronic Ear Infection, Eustachian Tube Surgery, Cochlear Implant and Lateral Skull Base Surgery.

Other interests include Children’s ENT Surgery and 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 (Past President of the American Neurotology Society). 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 Past President of the American Neuro-otology Society) learning advanced ear surgery at the University of Utah, USA. He returned to Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney in 2006 as an Otologist/ Neurotologist. Since then he has performed over 800 endoscopic ear surgeries. He is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at Macquarie University and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney.

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.
  • 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.
  • Elected the General Secretary of the International Working Group on Endoscopic Ear surgery in June of 2019.
  • Elected as Board Member of the Pan Asian Working Group on Endoscopic Ear Surgery.
  • 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.
  • Nirmal is the Surgical Supervisor of Training at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney.
  • Along with the  SEES group runs an International Surgical Fellowship on Endoscopic Ear Surgery with 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 USA, Italy, Hong Kong, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, New Zealand, Scotland, Dubai and Sharjah, UAE.
  • 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 85 National or international meetings, written more than 80 journal articles and 5 book chapters in major ENT Textbooks.  His authorship interest is in Endoscopic Ear Surgery, Eustachian tube treatment, Cholesteatoma, Superior Canal Dehiscence and Health Informatics.

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

Click here to see a surgical audit of Nirmal’s work.

Need to get in touch?

Our team will be happy to answer any ENT related questions you may have.

EASTER CLOSURE ~ 2024

Sydney Hills ENT will be closed:
Good Friday – 29th March – CLOSED
Easter Weekend – 30th & 31st March – CLOSED
Easter Monday – 1st April – CLOSED

We will reopen Tuesday 2nd April.
Our emails/phonelines will be un-monitored during this time.

In an emergency, please contact your GP, ring 000 or present to your nearest emergency department.