Introduction
Department and its facilities
The history of Turku University Central Hospital started in 1759, when a 9 bed facility, opened its doors to patients. In 1933 Faculty of Medicine was established in the University of Turku and a regular university training program for medical students begun in 1945. As the first professor in otorhinolaryngology at Turku University acted Professor Urpo Siirala (1947-1958). His successor was Professor Otto H. Meurman (1959-1987), Professor Erkki Virolainen (1988 - 2001) and Professor Reidar Grénman (2001 - current). The Professor and chairman has carried full responsibility for both the university activities and the clinical duties of the Otorhinolaryngological Department. The position of Associate Professor of Otorhinolaryngology was founded at Turku University 1967 when Aatto Kortekangas started his Associate Professorship in the clinic. He was followed by Heikki Puhakka (1989-1994) and Jouko Suonpää (1996 - current).