Professor C. René Leemans, MD, PhD is chair of the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Amsterdam UMC. He is Director of the Otolaryngology Residency Program and the Advanced Fellowship Program in Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology at Amsterdam UMC. His special interests include head and neck oncology, reconstructive and microvascular surgery, and basic research. René Leemans has made a sustained and internationally recognised contribution to cancer care and research in the field of head and neck oncology over the past decades. His scientific standing has been recognised by election as President of the Netherlands Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and the Dutch and European Head and Neck Societies. He also serves on the Leadership of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS). He (co-)authored more than 400 papers and book chapters on head and neck oncology and is regularly invited to speak at international conferences and tutor at courses. He leads the successful Make Sense Awareness Campaign.