Marcus Atlas AM is a surgeon scientist specialising in ear and hearing disorders by combining applied clinical and scientific research. He holds the Foundation Chair in Otolaryngology at The University of Western Australia and has held the positions of Head of the Ear Sciences Centre (ESC) since 2000 and Director of the Ear Science Institute Australia (ESIA) since 2001. Under his directorship the ESIA and ESC have created three major research groups involved in clinical research, computer and information science and molecular and cellular otolaryngology.
Winthrop Professor Atlas graduated in medicine in 1982 and received the Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons in 1989. He was awarded the Athelstan and Amy Saw Scholarship from The University of Western Australia (1990-1992) to undertake a fellowship in Cambridge, UK, and Pittsburgh, USA. He was invited to join St Vincent’s Hospital and Clinic in 1992 and was involved in collaborative research programs with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
Winthrop Professor Atlas has received international recognition in the areas of ear and skull base surgery. He was invited to join the Court of Examiners, Royal Australian College of Surgeons, in 2006. His innovative surgical education book and three-volume DVD are used throughout the world to teach ear and skull base surgery.
Winthrop Professor Atlas was a 2014 Western Australian of the Year finalist in the professional category, and a Western Australian finalist in the 2015 Australian of the Year awards.
In June 2022, he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to tertiary medical education, and to otolaryngology.