Dr Katherine Pollaers is a specialist Otologist and Lateral Skull Base Surgeon, specialising in the ear and hearing, providing patient-centred care to achieve the best outcomes.
ABOUT
Katherine's Story
Katherine’s fascination with ear surgery began during a medical student elective placement while studying at the University of Western Australia.
As a junior doctor, she completed a Master of Surgery and was accepted into the Ear, Nose and Throat surgical training program. She was mentored by exceptional local ear surgeons, the highlight of this time being her first cochlear implantation. Katherine was awarded a fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2023 and went on to complete two years of subspecialty training in surgery of the ear, hearing, balance and lateral skull base.
At St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, under the guidance of Assoc. Professor Nigel Biggs, she built on a strong surgical foundation, solidifying hearing implantation, complex otological and skull base surgical techniques.
This was followed by a year at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the United Kingdom, where she was mentored by leading Otology and Skull Base Surgeon, Mr Richard Irving. During this time, she acquired extensive experience and refined her expertise in advanced neurotology as well as lateral skull base surgery.
Katherine returns to practice in Perth, Western Australia with public appointments at Sir Charles Gairdner and Royal Perth Hospitals and private rooms at Hollywood Medical Centre.
SERVICES
Tailored solutions for our patients.
01
Hearing Implantation
We offer the full range of implantable hearing solutions. Cochlear implantation, middle ear implants and bone-anchored hearing implants each have a unique role to play in hearing restoration.
02
Chronic Ear Disease / Cholesteatoma
The burden of chronic ear disease spans a lifetime, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatments are offered to maximise hearing and balance outcomes and minimise the impact of ear disease.
03
Stapedotomy & Ossicular Chain Reconstruction
Otosclerosis and diseases affecting the three tiny hearing bones can be surgically treated to improve hearing without the need for an external hearing aid or implant.
04
Lateral Skull
Base Surgery
Vestibular schwannoma/acoustic neuroma, facial nerve tumours, temporal bone tumours and paragangliomas are some of the complex lateral skull base conditions managed in conjunction with our Neurosurgery and Radiation Oncology colleagues.
05
Facial Palsy
Katherine coordinates WA’s first multidisciplinary Facial Nerve Clinic. Patients with facial palsy are seen by a team of experts to streamline and coordinate care. Referrals to SCGH ENT Department via Central Referral Services.
06
Balance Surgery
We specialise in the diagnosis and management of vertigo caused by ear conditions such as Meniere’s disease and superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome.
07
Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Ear Surgery
Surgical repair of the eardrum through the ear canal provides a minimally invasive approach to eardrum perforations without external scars and reduced downtime after surgery.
APPROACH
"The Ear is the Avenue to the Heart."
- VOLTAIRE
INTERESTS
Education, Research & Outreach Interests
Teacher
Teaches Ear, Nose and Throat surgical trainees and international fellows.
Researcher
Active researcher and International speaker, visit her ResearchGate profile.
Chair
Chair of the Western Australian Skull Base Multidisciplinary Team Meeting.
Founder
Founded WA’s first dedicated Facial Nerve Clinic at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
Faculty
Faculty member on the Perth Temporal Bone & Otology Course.
Outreach
Surgeon on Indigenous outreach trips to the Pilbara and Kimberley.
ORGANISATIONS
