Incoming otolaryngology residents

Zebrafish hair cell genes from the Raible lab

Incoming faculty - Andrea McQuate, PhD

Message From the Chair

Dear friends and colleagues,

Neal Futran, MD, DMD

Allison T. Wanamaker Professor and Endowed Chair

In Seattle, we circle the date of the first day of summer knowing the beauty of living here will shine. There is still plenty of light after long days in the hospital. Life is good. The life cycle of academic otolaryngology renews with our amazing chief residents and fellows moving to new opportunities, others moving up, and welcoming a new group of trainees joining the UW family. This summer, as we really start to feel emergence from the Covid pandemic, it is also a time to reflect, celebrate, and admire the dedication, resilience, and grit of all in the department. Our mission has never wavered. 

Our contributions to research and education excelled throughout, and the innovative clinical care we provide to our patients has never been stronger. UW Otolaryngology people and efforts are represented at every major meeting, in journals for our specialty and beyond, and in the household of every patient we treat.

For the first time in almost three years we were able to celebrate these accomplishments in person. The newsletter highlights these, including our chief residents who have spent 6 or 7 years with us, and the interns just starting on their otolaryngology journey. With new faculty, new fellows, and lots of new babies, we are expanding and enriching our diverse department and bringing a new vibrancy. The pandemic has reminded us that life is never constant and we must always be dedicated and flexible in order to thrive. We are lucky to be in this place, with these people - and with your support we will continue to push the boundaries of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and always do better. Lots of other fun in the spectacular Pacific Northwest sunshine, too!

Sincerely,

Neal

Futran Addresses Israeli Society

Neal Futran, MD, DMD, delivered a talk on advances in midface reconstruction at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Israeli Society of Otolaryngology-HNS, held in March 2022. Dr. Futran is shown receiving honorary membership in the society.

Stone and Phillips on Hearing and Balance

Jenny Stone, PhD, and Jim Phillips, PhD, co-wrote an article in the special Balance Issue of Hearing Health magazine titled “One Ear, Two Systems,” about the similarities and differences between the hearing and balance systems. The other major contributor to this article was Yishane Lee of the Hearing Health Foundation (HHF). This article was a followup to a webinar given to the lay public on behalf of the HHF in October 2021. The general goal of both the article and the webinar was to raise awareness about the vestibular system, which shares many features with the hearing system, and to explain how studies in each system can accelerate scientific advances in the other system.

AWARDS FROM AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Congratulations to our residents and fellows for awards received at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) held this past May in Dallas, TX. 

Best Video Presentation:

Jonathan "Nate" Perkins, DO, our 2021-22 UW  pediatric otolaryngology fellow and new Acting Instructor

with

Grace Wandell, MD, current UW Oto-HNS resident

In collaboration with resident Grace Wandell, Dr. Perkins produced the winning video titled "That is one hairy polyp!" 

Basic Science Poster Award:

Clare Richardson, MD, our 2021-22 UW pediatric otolaryngology fellow

2nd place for "Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Changes in Tracheal Airflow After Slide Tracheoplasty in 3D Printed Models;" and

3rd place for "Advanced Surgical Planning for Slide Tracheoplasty Using Patient Specific 3D Printed Models."

We also just learned that Dr. Richardson's project (with PI Kaalan Johnson) titled "3-D Printed Tracheal Models for Multidisciplinary Advanced Surgical Planning of Complex Airway Surgery" was selected as a Top 3 Finalist to compete in 2022 SIM Tank at the AAO-HNS conference in Philadelphia in September.

William Potsic Basic Science Award:

Kaitlyn Zenner, MD, current UW Oto-HNS resident

1st Place for "Characterization of single and double TEK mutation in unifocal and multifocal venus malformation."

Jo Bellairs, MD, current UW Oto-HNS resident

3rd Place for "An in vivo biomarker for evaluating the biologic characteristics of ototoxic drugs and novel therapeutics that mitigate ototoxicity."

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

Dr. Bellairs also won a poster blitz award at the meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) in February 2022 for "Development of an In Vivo Biomarker for Evaluating the Biologic Characteristics of Ototoxic Drugs and Novel Therapeutics that Mitigate Ototoxicity."

Resident Harrison Cash, MD, under the mentorship of former Oto assistant professor Jeff Houlton, MD, presented on Feb. 25, 2022, at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium: “A Novel Intratumoral Microdosing Approach for Simultaneously Evaluating Multiple Drugs and Combinations in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).”

Resident Sherise Epstein, MD, was lead author (with UW Oto professor Kathy Sie, MD, and others) on an article published in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology titled "Sensitivity to Deaf Culture Among Otolaryngology and Audiology Trainees." 

RESIDENTS BECOME REVIEWERS

CORE Study Section Reviewers

Allison Ikeda, MD

Resident Allison Ikeda, MD, and Sebastian Jara, MD, former UW Oto-HNS resident and new Acting Instructor, have been selected to serve as CORE Study Section Resident Reviewers. Among several objectives of the CORE program is to prepare surgeon-scientists to serve as peer reviewers from all the collaborating societies. The CORE review follows a process similar to the one utilized by the NIH.

Drs. Jara and Ikeda were chosen among 10 highly competitive applications per spot for the study section. Having been past recipients of the coveted resident research grants, they were able to provide critical insights and are highly motivated to protect the integrity of the process. About 180 grants will be reviewed during this cycle. 

Sebastian Jara, MD

Resident Reviewer Development Program

Ricky Pulido, MD

Allison Ikeda, MD, and resident Ricky Pulido, MD, were selected to participate in AAO-HNS' Resident Reviewer Development Program. The program gives residents the opportunity to work with a seasoned peer reviewer and is often the first step toward a position as a journal editorial board member or associate editor.

University of Washington Ranked 5th Worldwide Among Public Institutions

The University of Washington now ranks No. 25 in the world and fifth among U.S. public institutions, according to the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR).

Incoming Residents Settle In

UW Otolaryngology-HNS and Ophthalmology Launch New Endoscopic Lacrimal and Orbital Clinic

In April 2022, a new collaborative program between UW Departments of Otolaryngology-HNS and Ophthalmology was launched to provide comprehensive, team-based, and minimally invasive care for patients with lacrimal and orbital disorders including nasolacrimal duct obstruction, thyroid eye disease, and orbital tumors – the first of its kind in the region. 

Drs. Jafari (Oto-HNS, right) and Zhang (Ophthalmology, left), surgeons at the UW Endoscopic Lacrimal and Orbital Clinic.

The UW Endoscopic Lacrimal and Orbital Clinic, led by surgeons Aria Jafari, MD (Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery) and Matthew Zhang, MD (Oculoplastic Surgery), provides high quality, innovative surgical care for conditions affecting the lacrimal system and eye sockets utilizing a small camera through the nose and sinuses (endoscopically). The patients are seen in one location on the same day by both surgeons within the Eye Institute at UW Harborview.  

Dr. Jafari (Oto-HNS) demonstrating the endoscopic approach to the lacrimal system and orbit to a patient. 

Drs. Jafari (Oto-HNS, middle right) and Zhang (ophthalmology, middle left) seeing patients with ophthalmology resident Dr. Laura Selby (left) and medical student Andy Nguyen (right) at the UW Endoscopic Lacrimal and Orbital Clinic.

The clinic brings together fellowship-trained expertise from both departments to provide the best possible outcomes to patients through state-of-the art surgical techniques and research. “It represents a key step forward to meet the needs of these highly complex patients,” says Dr. Zhang. “Our goal in creating the clinic was to improve the quality of life of our patients by bringing the very latest advances here to UW,” adds Dr. Jafari. “Endoscopic endonasal lacrimal and orbital surgery minimizes the need for external incisions, allowing for less pain and faster recovery.”

Click here to read more about the collaboration between Drs. Jafari and Zhang and the new Endoscopic Lacrimal and Orbital Clinic at Harborview Medical Center.

Video: Rare EXIT Procedure at SCH

Dr. Jake Dahl was interviewed on Seattle’s local TV station KING 5 about a rare procedure called Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment, or EXIT, performed by a team of 30 medical professionals at UWMC. The team established an airway for their tiny patient, baby Oliver, in the midst of his birth via Caesarian section. Oliver was found to have a rare congenital condition known as Pierre Robine sequence which would have made it nearly impossible for him to breathe after birth. See the full video interview here. 

Peds Faculty Earn 1st Complex Peds Oto Certification

Congratulations to four members of our pediatric otolaryngology faculty who were among the inaugural class to be certified by ABO-HNS for Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology (CPO). Kathy Sie was integral to the development of the exam in her role as steering committee chair and president-elect of ABOHNS. 

Seattle Magazine's Top Doctors Are Us!

Farewell to the Chiefs

Dr. Cash is our new Head & Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction fellow (UW Otolaryngology-HNS). 

Dr. Noble, together with her fiancé and her cat, Jamón, are living in Cincinnati, where she is pursuing a fellowship at the Children's Hospital.

Dr. Jauregui is pursuing a pediatric fellowship at Children's Hospital, Colorado. He recently became engaged to Mia Palmisano.

Dr. Qureshi will be doing a fellowship in rhinology and endoscopic skull base surgery at Johns Hopkins. 

Dr. Qureshi sums it up best: "I am extremely grateful for the training I have received at UW. Residency has truly been a transformative period for me, and I am proud of my growth in the program both from a clinical and research standpoint. I am honored to have trained under such an esteemed group of faculty, who always encouraged me to maximize my potential. Outside of work, I have enjoyed my time in Seattle and the greater PNW. I acquired many new outdoor hobbies during my time here, including hiking, skiing, and backpacking. Overall, I am very thankful for my time at UW and feel well prepared for what lies ahead in my future career."

Raible Awarded R21: "Zebrafish Inner Ear Regeneration”

David Raible, PhD, has been awarded an R21 from NIH/NIDCD titled "Zebrafish Inner Ear Regeneration." The project launched in January 2022 and is currently funded through December 2023.

Dr. Raible is the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Professor and Professor of Otolaryngology-HNS and Biological Structure. He has been awarded numerous NIH grants during his ~25 years at the University of Washington, but this is his first since joining the faculty of Otolaryngology-HNS.

Mechanosensory hair cell loss in the inner ear is a leading cause of hearing and balance disorders. Unfortunately, hair cell loss in humans is permanent, as we have little or no capacity for regenerative recovery of hair cells. However, regeneration does occur in other species, including zebrafish. Dr. Raible and his colleagues will be developing tools to study hair cell regeneration in the zebrafish inner ear, leading to a new model for genetic and molecular analysis of hair cell regeneration.

Here’s an image of gene expression in zebrafish inner ear hair cells, from graduate student Marielle Beaulieu in Dr. Raible's lab.

Three New Oral Cancer Studies from the

Head & Neck Team

Brittany Barber, MD, MSc

Our Head & Neck team is at work on three newly funded research projects exploring oral tongue cancer in the young population.

Brittany Barber, MD, MSc, joins investigators from UW Edpidemiology, the Cancer Consortium, and the UW School of Dentistry to try to understand factors that may contribute to a concerning increase in the incidence of these head and neck cancers among the young.

Trang VoPham, PhD, MS, MPH

Dr. Barber and Trang VoPham, PhD, from the Department of Epidemiology, were awarded the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Seed Grant to investigate the role of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and dietary fructose in development of oral tongue cancer in young non-smokers. The study will further investigate possible etiologies for a growing cancer epidemic in young patients.

Martin Prlic, PhD

Jeffrey McLean, PhD

A collaboration among Dr. Barber, Martin Prlic, PhD, from the Cancer Consortium, and Jeff McLean, PhD, from the UW School of Dentistry, resulted in a grant from the Pathogen-Associated Malignancies (PAM-IRC) at Fred Hutch for a project titled “Chronic inflammation, oral dysbiosis, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: investigating 2 global epidemics in young patients.” 

Dr. Barber received additional funding from the Cancer Consortium's New Investigator grant to pursue an offshoot project - again with Drs. McLean and Prlic - examining the interplay between chronic oral periodontic pathogens and the tumor-immune micro-environment, specifically in the young oral tongue cancer population.

The study concludes that the effort is feasible and provides “new and influential information beyond the ERAS application alone.”

Sherise Epstein, MD, MPH

Neeraja Konuthula, MD

PREGNANCY DURING RESIDENCY

Resident Eve Champaloux, MD, PhD, (pictured below, with Vincent) is lead author in a recent article published in Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology. 

The study, titled “Otolaryngology residents' experiences of pregnancy and return to work: A multisite qualitative study,” was designed to “understand the experiences of childbearing otolaryngology residents and support them during this major life event.” It captured perspectives from 16 current and former otolaryngology residents who were pregnant or gave birth during their residency.

EXPLORING GENDER BIAS AND MICROAGGRESSIONS

Amanda Hu and Tanya Meyer together at COSM 2014.

A poster titled “Exploring Female Otolaryngologists’ Experiences with Gender Bias and Microaggressions” has been accepted for presentation at AAO-HNS's 2022 annual meeting in Philadelphia in September. The poster reports on a project funded by AAO–HNS' Governing Council of the Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Section. The project used survey tools and a qualitative interview process to explore how female otolaryngologists manage gender bias in the workplace. It revealed strategies and tools that women (and all individuals) can employ to not only survive, but thrive, in surgical specialties.

Tanya Meyer, MD, was co-investigator and mentor for the project with PI Amanda Hu, MD. Dr. Hu is an associate professor at the University of British Columbia and medical director for the Pacific Voice Clinic affiliated with UBC. She is a graduate of our laryngology fellowship (2012) and is a member of the American Laryngological Association (ALA), which is of particular distinction when awarded this early in a career.

Some of our UW Oto-HNS women otolaryngologists thriving at COSM 2022 in Dallas (clockwise from top left): faculty Maya Sardesai and Tanya Meyer, alum Hitomi Sakano (2016), resident Kaitlyn Zenner, alum Patricia Purcell (2018), residents Anisha Noble, Eve Champaloux, and Allison Ikeda, and alum Victoria Lee (2018)

UW is EVERYWHERE at AAO-HNS Annual Meeting!

Once again, UW Otolaryngology-HNS will have a strong presence at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) in September. Below are members of our faculty who are presenting at the "Oto Experience" in Philadelphia: 

Physician Assistant Training Coming to UWMC-NW Otolaryngology Clinic

The Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Clinic at the UW Northwest campus is now a site for PA (physician assistant) training! We are now one of the clinical rotation sites for the Medex Northwest program, a section within the UW Department of Family Medicine which has since 1969 been training PAs to practice primary care in medically underserved and rural areas of the UW School of Medicine service region. We also have family practice residents rotating through our clinics once or twice a year. 

From left: Karen Lin, MD; Nilesh Shah, MD; Sebastian Jara, MD; Sunil Ummat, MD.

Our Northwest campus clinic provides trainees with an excellent experience in a broad spectrum of ear, nose, and throat disorders. We manage diseases such as hearing loss, vertigo, chronic ear disease, eustachian tube dysfunction, allergic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum and sinus disorders, chronic tonsillitis, snoring, sleep apnea, thyroid and parathyroid disorders, neck masses, swallowing and speech disorders. Currently staffed by four otolaryngologists and three audiologists, the clinic accommodates between 100-120 patients a day. It also provides for a robust surgical experience, with each surgeon spending time in the operating room once a week. 

Our physicians love to teach! We’re able to provide a comprehensive learning experience in a smaller, less stressful environment. Otolaryngology is a specialty that has great work-life balance and is highly rewarding. We look forward to working with students in the PA program and showing them just how wonderful the specialty is!

Early Mentorship is Key to Success

UW Oto-HNS recognizes its responsibility to provide mentorship in our field, including for members of under-represented groups and for undergrads who may not be aware of academic medicine as a career choice. One member of our faculty is particularly devoted to this effort: Maya Sardesai, MD, MEd. Dr. Sardesai is Assistant Dean for Student Development at UW Medicine and also serves as associate director of our residency program. She is well known for mentoring undergraduates (and others) towards careers in academic medicine and graduate medical education. 

Maya Sardesai, MD

Ryan Tiu

Mentoring leads to success! One of Dr. Sardesai’s undergraduate mentees, Ryan Tiu, just learned that her paper, "Tracheotomy Care Simulation Training Program for Inpatient Providers," has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Investigative Otolaryngology. Ms. Tiu graduated in December 2020 from UC Berkeley and has begun medical school at UCLA. She is the daughter of UW Oto-HNS associate professor Tanya Meyer, MD, who is also the daughter of a woman otolaryngologist, Ipbi Kim, MD (see 14:10 on video). Co-authors for the article are Ross Mayerhoff, MD (a former UW Laryngology fellow), Tanya Meyer, MD, and Al Merati, MD. 

Pediatric Otolaryngology-HNS

Clare Richardson, MD, completed a second year of research training funded by the department's T32 training grant under Alberto Aliseda, PhD, from Mechanical Engineering. She is heading to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology – HNS, and will have an academic appointment as an assistant professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.

Dr. Richardson writes, "I'm so thankful for everyone at Seattle Children’s and UW for supporting me and mentoring me through both a clinical fellowship and a research fellowship. I also want to give a special shoutout to all of our amazing clinical nurses, medical assistants, and administrative staff without whom I could not have gotten through it! I’m looking forward to the next chapter, which includes continued collaboration with my mentors in Seattle."

Rhinology

Nathan Reeve, MD, will be joining the faculty as an assistant professor at the New Mexico School of Medicine in the fall.

Pediatric Otolaryngology-HNS

Madeleine Drusin, MD, will be joining the faculty at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) as an assistant professor.

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Anish Abrol, MD, has joined TOC Eye & Face in Austin, TX, as its facial plastic surgeon.

Dr. Abrol writes, "I had a truly tremendous experience during my fellowship at UW. I learned an extraordinary amount, and I am extremely grateful to Drs. Bhrany, Moe, and Lu (in addition to all of the other faculty) for their education. Special thanks to all of the ancillary staff who made this year enjoyable as well!"

Two of our graduating fellows - Jonathan "Nate" Perkins, DO, and Emily Marchiano, MD - will be joining our own UW Oto faculty! Read more below.

Welcome New UW Oto-HNS Faculty!

Welcome New Fellows!

Abbey Carlson, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathology

Harrison Cash, MD, MS

Head and Neck 

Enrique Gorbea Dolagaray, MD

Facial Plastics

Melissa Zheng, MD

Laryngology

Jennifer Siu, MD, MPH

Pediatrics

Maxwell Newby, MD

Pediatrics

Dhruv Sharma, MD

Rhinology 

Our Newest Family Members

Evander James Legocki, born to Brittany Barber and Alex Legocki on February 18, 2022. 

Cecilia Grace Brady, born to Sara Joy and Jake Brady on June 13, 2022.

Viviana Zhou, born to Nicolette and Peiran Zhou on July 5, 2022.  

Manny Jauregui, MD, became engaged to Mia Palmisano. The couple were vacationing in Playa del Carmen, Mexico when it became official. Congratulations!

In Memory of Tom Rees, PhD

A Message From the Editor:

ARE WE THERE YET?

Does this line bring back memories from summer car trips? As a department we continue to work towards that ideal community for training, investigation, and clinical care in Otolaryngology-HNS – a true world leader. Locally, we continue to work towards better understanding and communication in our time together. Guided by our trainees and expected by our future leaders, I am filled with optimism for Otolaryngology-HNS and for our program in particular.

My professional journey has taken a different road as of this summer. While I continue to head our top-tier Laryngology program, I have moved on from 5 years as Service Chief for Otolaryngology-HNS at UWMC-Montlake; It was quite a ride as we had unprecedented expansion and clinical activity despite the pandemic as well as substantial physical plant issues. My new role will be as Associate Medical Director for Perioperative Quality and Safety across UW Medical Center campuses. Why would an inveterate clinician electively sign up for more zooms and safety dashboards? I believe that ultimately it will take an experienced surgeon to partner with Anesthesiology and Nursing to work on culture and process change in our UWMC-ML and NW ORs. And I wanted to do something new as I look to the back half (quarter?) of my career. I am thrilled with the prospects of convening folks, scrutinizing data and making sense of it in a way that continues to modernize and refresh our experiences for patients and our teams that work in our ORs.  

So - are we there yet? How will we know when we are there? While specific metrics and goals are key for project success and annual reports, for now I am just aiming for “Betterville” as I get my bearings and prepare for this part of my journey. 

-Al Merati, MD