Professor Laura Viani Consultant Neurotological surgeon at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Fellow of RCSI and member of the RCSI Council, has been awarded the international Cpl World-Class Talent Award for her pioneering work in the field of cochlear implants.
Professor Viani founded the National Hearing Implant and Research Centre at Beaumont Hospital. She carried out Ireland’s first cochlear implant surgery in 1995 and remained Ireland’s only cochlear implant surgeon until 2009.
Her team at the National Hearing Implant and Research Centre has grown from two to 30 and now carry out 200 cochlear implant surgeries a year.
Prof Viani has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of euros for cochlear implants in Ireland.
Speaking personally, Prof Viani said: “I’d like to take on a role as a global ambassador for hearing loss, especially in countries where they are having difficulties setting up their own cochlear implant programmes.”
“Perhaps when I retire,” she continued, “I’d like to take on the role of national ambassador for disability.”
