I am honoured to have known and enjoyed a close relationship with Prof. Roland Laszig since 1989. In that year, I received his assistance during our first cochlear implant operation at the University Clinic of Navarre, and that was the start of our relationship. Ever since, and to this day, I have had the privilege of relying on his support in a large number of scientific collaborations that not only strengthened our own friendship, but that of our departments in Freiburg and Pamplona. This has allowed me to appreciate the respect and affection he has received from the members of his department over the course of more than two decades.

I will not go into detail on Prof. Roland Laszig’s extensive scientific CV. Anyone who has had the chance to do so will quickly realise that we are faced with an outstanding figure in the global scientific community in the field of otorhinolaryngology. Instead, I would like to highlight some details that, in human terms, stand out in his career and in our relationship and that will help draw us closer to the extraordinary personality of Roland Laszig.

Generosity. There are dozens of centres all over the world that have benefitted from Roland Laszig’s altruistic direct help in implementing our cochlear implant programmes. This would undoubtedly not have been possible without a large helping of generosity in terms of the time and knowledge he invested in an effort to promote the use of a treatment that, over time, has proven to be among the most successful in auditory rehabilitation.

Innovation. As a restless individual, with a healthy dose of scientific curiosity, he has been at the forefront in the search and application of new techniques to treat hypoacusis. His contributions in the field of auditory brainstem implants, of techniques to improve minimally invasive surgery in the field of cochlear implants, and the expansion of indications in the application of these techniques to patients with unilateral hypoacusis are some examples that illustrate Roland Laszig’s innovative character and that unquestionably helped to improve the quality of life of a vast number of patients.

High standards. Roland Laszig has carried out his scientific and clinical endeavours with rigor, making decisions based on the evidence of the findings obtained after applying a methodology in compliance with the scientific method. He has thus set the standard for the rest of the scientific community, which has considered his opinion before adopting and implementing specific actions.

Teamwork. Nowadays, everyone realises the importance of teamwork in any area of life. In Freiburg, Roland Laszig has been able to bring together an excellent team of professionals who will, in all certainty, continue with the work that he started. The respect and affection he receives from the people who work in his department speaks volumes to his character as a person.

Universality. Roland Laszig spent part of his youth in a closed environment within the context of a fragmented nation. He managed to overcome the physical barriers of separation, and throughout his career, he has also been able to overcome other multicultural barriers, which has allowed him to be approachable by many people from different countries. Roland Laszig is particularly respected and valued as a figure in Latin American society, as evidenced by his role in the Spanish–German Society and GICCA (Grupo Iberoamericano de Implantes Cocleares y Ciencias Afines).

I would be remiss to conclude without mentioning his wife, Christine. As the saying goes, “they make a lovely couple”. Thank you, Christine, for sharing Roland with all of us. As you well know, being the spouse of a doctor leaves little time for married life. I hope that both of you, Roland and Christine, have a happy life ahead of you. You can rest assured that you have exceeded all expectations and I hope and wish that life is generous to you from here on out.

Warm regards,

Prof. Manuel Manrique

Director of the Otorhinolaryngology Department

Clínica Universidad de Navarra

Pamplona, Spain