Muaaz Tarabichi

Muaaz Tarabichi
Born (1959-12-09) December 9, 1959
CitizenshipSyria
OccupationOtolaryngologist
Academic background
EducationDamascus University School of Medicine
McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Websitewww.drmuaaztarabichi.com

Muaaz Tarabichi is a Syrian American otolaryngologist, lecturer, researcher, and author. He is recognized as the father of endoscopic ear surgery.[1] He is the co-founder of Tarabichi Stammberger Ear and Sinus Institute in Dubai, UAE. He was elected as the chairman of the International Advisory Board of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.[2]

He is the recipient of the Annual Clinical Resident Research Award.[3]

Early life and education

Tarabichi enrolled at the Damascus University School of Medicine, Syria in 1977, and in 1981, he went to AUC, BWI, where he studied for two years.[4][5]

In 1984, Tarabichi started his residency training at McGill University, Montreal, Canada.[6] He did a residency in General Surgery for a year, and after that, in Otolaryngology for four years and obtained certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology in 1991.

Career

Tarabichi started his career in 1988 when he opened a private otolaryngology practice in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[7] In 1991, Tarabichi received his specialty certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology. After a decade, Tarabichi moved to Dubai, where he joined the American Hospital as the Head of Otolaryngology in 1998.[8]

Professor Tarabichi is widely recognized as the father of endoscopic ear surgery and he spent much of his life advocating for this technique and teaching it by conducting courses around the globe.[1][7][2]

In 2020, Tarabichi co-founded Tarabichi Stammberger Ear and Sinus Institute in Dubai with Heinz Stammberger.[9][10] This institution aims to bring forth advancement in endoscopic ear and sinus surgery. To facilitate such advancements, TSESI offers fully-funded fellowships to the trainees. The institute consists of a wet lab and broadcasting and video production facilities as well as surgical and clinical patient care.[11][12]

He is also the founder of the Tarabichi ENT Clinic Tarabichi ENT Clinic, which provides specialized care in the management of ear, nose, and sinus disorders.

Tarabichi has published many articles and was the editor of two North American otolaryngological clinics on EES.[13] He travelled and lectured around the world on Endoscopic Ear Surgery and Transtympanic Eustachian.[14]

Endoscopic ear surgery

He pioneered and disseminated the practice of exclusive Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery during the late 1990s. Dr. Tarabichi challenged the microscopic paradigm, earning him recognition as the "father of endoscopic ear surgery."[15]

Dr. Tarabichi employed rigid Hopkins rod endoscopes with wide-angle and angled lenses such as 30° and 45°, bypassing the need for external incisions.

This approach known as transcanal Endoscopic ear surgery (TEES), allowed the surgical team to operate through the external auditory canal, minimizing trauma and eliminating surgical scars.[16]

Tarabichi mapped out hidden structures within the tympanic cavity, such as the micro-conformations of the protympanum and the protiniculum.

This mapping facilitated a shift to functional ear surgery. Otologists were equipped to inspect and restore the mucosal tympanic ventilation pathways that are critical to preventing chronic middle ear infections and cholesteatoma recurrence.[17]

Global advocacy

Dr. Tarabichi cataloged operational data, illustrating that the "one-handed" endoscopic technique could achieve equal or superior functional and audiological outcomes compared to traditional microscope techniques.

The global otolaryngology literature witnessed from six endoscopy-related publications in 1990 to hundreds of peer-reviewed articles tracking the widespread clinical adoption of TEES.

Dr. Tarabichi also founded dedicated international working groups and established foundational training institutes.[18]

Appointments & membership

  • Chairman of the Middle East Academy of Otolaryngology
  • Editorial Board of Journal of International Advanced Otology
  • Chair elect of the International Advisory Board at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
  • Past member editorial board of The Laryngoscope
  • Past Coordinator for Continuing Medical Education at the ORL-HNS Society, Emirates Medical Association

Selected publications

  • Deafness in the Developing World: The Place of Cochlear Implantation. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 2008:122:877-880
  • Endoscopic Management of Limited Attic Cholesteatoma. Laryngoscope, 2004;114:1157–1162
  • Endoscopic Management of Cholesteatoma: long-term results, 2000 Jun; 122(6):874-81
  • Characteristics of sinus-related pain, 2000 Jun; 122(6):842-7
  • Endoscopic Middle Ear Surgery, 1999 Jan; 108(1):39-46
  • Endoscopic Management of Acquired Cholesteatoma, 1997 Sep; 18(5):544-9
  • Comparison of short nozzle and long nozzle spray in sinonasal drug delivery: a cadaveric study
  • Ear, Nose & Throat, 2019; 10.1177
  • Feasibility and Safety of Transtympanic Balloon Dilatation of Eustachian Tube
  • Otology & Neurotology, 2018
  • Cochlear implants in developing countries: practical and ethical considerations
  • Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery,[19] 2018
  • The Role of Transtympanic. Dilatation of the. Eustachian Tube During Chronic. Ear Surgery.
  • Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, 2016

Awards

  • 1988- AAO-HNS Award for Excellence in Original Investigation for his study on application of finite element methods[13]
  • 1986- Montreal Medico-Surgical Society Annual Resident Research Award

References

  1. 1 2 Coulson, Chris (May 2016). "In conversation with Muaaz Tarabichi". ENT & Audiology News. p. 2.
  2. 1 2 "At the forefront". AAO-HNSF Bulletin. 2020-05-28.
  3. ↑ "The pioneer of "Endoscopic Ear Surgery" Dr. Muaaz Tarabichi continues to make medical breakthroughs with TSESI". ZAWYA.
  4. ↑ "Il prof. Livio Presutti nominato professore ordinario". Sassuolo 2000 (in Italian). Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  5. ↑ Tarabichi, Muaaz (2016). "Site of Eustachian Tube Obstruction in COM: Presenting Author: Muaaz Tarabichi". The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 130 (S3): S61. doi:10.1017/S0022215116002875. S2CID 79005853.
  6. ↑ "The pioneer of "Endoscopic Ear Surgery" Dr. Muaaz Tarabichi continues to make medical breakthroughs with TSESI – UAE Business Magazine". Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Muaaz Tarabichi│Guest of Honor│EES 2022 4th World Congress on Endoscopic Ear Surgery". www.ees2022.umin.jp.
  8. ↑ "Ve fakultce bude mezinárodní kurz miniinvazivní ušní chirurgie". Hanácký Večerník | Zpravodajství z Olomouce a okolí (in Czech).
  9. ↑ "Dr. Muaaz Tarabichi". World Congress on Endoscopic Ear Surgery. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  10. ↑ "Best ENT Doctor in Dubai | Dr Muaaz Tarabichi". 2025-11-28. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  11. ↑ "Specialist/Consultant ENT | Gargash Hospital Jumeirah, UAE". Gargash Hospital. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "5th International Conference of the Saudi Oto-Rhino-Laryhgolgy Society on 14-16th October 2004 King Fahd Military Medical Complex Dahran, Saudi Arabia". Saudi Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. 6 (1): 19. 1 January 2004. doi:10.4103/1319-8491.289580 (inactive 12 July 2025). Retrieved 2 January 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
  13. 1 2 "International Outreach". American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Tarabichi, Muaaz (29 June 2016). "Endoscopic Middle Ear Surgery". Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. 108 (1): 39–46. doi:10.1177/000348949910800106. PMID 9930539. S2CID 40931362. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  15. ↑ Tarabichi, Muaaz; Arsiwala, Zainab (February 2021). "History of Endoscopic Ear Surgery". Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 54 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2020.09.002.
  16. ↑ Shrestha, B. L. (2021-12-31). "Endoscopic Ear Surgery in Nepal: The Shift of Paradigm?". Kathmandu University Medical Journal. 19 (4): 408–409. doi:10.3126/kumj.v19i4.49751. ISSN 1812-2078.
  17. ↑ Najam, Muhammad Atif; Sarwar, Urwa; Raza, Maqbool; Khan, Khalid Azam; Saleem, Humaira; Niazi, Najm u Saqib; Rashid, Muhammad; Riaz, Naeem (2021-12-28). "ENDOSCOPIC CARTILAGE TYMPANOPLASTY. OUR TECHNIQUE AND EXPERIENCE OF 157 CASES". PAFMJ. 71 (Suppl-3): S440–444. doi:10.51253/pafmj.v1i1.7935. ISSN 2411-8842.
  18. ↑ Kapadiya, Mustafa; Tarabichi, Muaaz (June 2019). "An overview of endoscopic ear surgery in 2018". Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology. 4 (3): 365–373. doi:10.1002/lio2.276. ISSN 2378-8038. PMC 6580051. PMID 31236473.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  19. ↑ "Editorial introductions". Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery. 26 (3): v–vi. 2018. doi:10.1097/MOO.0000000000000456. ISSN 1068-9508. S2CID 243930627.
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