Frank Hölzle


Frank Hölzle is a German surgeon. He is a professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the RWTH Aachen University. He is chairman and head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Hölzle is known for his work in the fields of plastic facial reconstruction with a focus on micro surgery. He is also specialised for the treatment of tumor diseases in the head and neck region, and of malformations like cleft lip and palate.

Biography

Hölzle was born in Calw and grew up in the Black Forest. In Calw he was educated at the Herrmann-Hesse-Gymnasium. He studied medicine and dentistry at the Free University of Berlin, at the Humboldt University of Berlin, at the University of Glasgow and at the University College London Medical School from 1989 to 1998. He received his doctoral title in human medicine in 1995. In 1998, he was promoted to doctor of dentistry. From 1999 to 2000, Hölzle was a scientific employee at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Hospital Charité, Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin. Hölzle worked at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum-Langendreer at the Ruhr-University Bochum from 2000 to 2007, from 2004 as deputy director. In 2002, he received recognition as a medical specialist for oral and maxillofacial surgery, and in 2005 he achieved the additional qualification as a plastic and reconstructive face surgeon. In 2006, he received venia legendi for oral and maxillofacial surgery. In 2006, he also became a Fellow of the European Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. Between 1992 and 2010, Hölzle was influenced positively by Klaus-Dietrich Wolff, culminating at the Rechts der Isar Hospital of the Technical University of Munich. From 2007 to 2011, he was senior physician and deputy director of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Rechts der Isar Hospital of the Technical University of Munich. Since 2011 he has been a professor and head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Hospital at the RWTH Aachen University.

Scientific contribution

Hölzle worked on the following subjects:
The research of microsurgical tissue transplants was a focus of Hölzle's scientific work. Scientific publications appeared on objectifying valuation of the viability of the transplanted tissue and on the monitoring of different compound composite flaps. Furthermore, Hölzle worked on micro circulatory characteristics of these transplants and with the phenomenon of the reperfusion injury.
After the implementation of computer planning and surgical guides technique in microsurgical bone reconstruction, Hölzle dealt with the utilisation of meaningful clinical indications and improvement of these techniques.
In Hölzle´s department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery the first computer planned, microsurgical and less invasive deep circumflex iliac artery flap was raised via a medial approach using cutting guides.
Until then only the lateral approach has been described. In addition, he advanced the further development of automation in microsurgical bone flaps and their utilization also for osteoplastic cranioplasty.

Memberships in international organisations

Books
Hölzle is coeditor of three textbooks in the field of dental surgery and of oral and maxillofacial surgery:
Articles in scientific journals
Hölzle published more than 200 scientific peer reviewed papers. He presented > 400 scientific posters and presentations and raised > 4 Mio € for Research Grants. He organized and conducted > 100 national and international courses, workshops and meetings in the fields of flap raising, microsurgery, head & neck oncology and implantology. He educated > 1.000 medical doctors and dentists in reconstructive surgery and implantology since 1994.