NOVEMBER 2025

Transforming Otolaryngology Excellence

Congratulations to Dr. Peter Santa Maria, MD, PhD, for receiving the Social Impact Investment Award for Earflo from the Richard King Mellon Foundation! Watch the WTAE coverage of EarFlo above.

In The News

Shadyside Expansion Centralizes Head & Neck, Advances Facial Plastics

Construction has started on the expansion of the Shadyside ENT office’s clinic, which will be the new home of the Head & Neck Division and allow for the long-awaited expansion of the Facial Plastics Division into a brand new, state-of-the-art space. Read More

The Voice, Airway & Swallow Center's Novel Technology for HNC Patients

The Voice, Airway & Swallow Center has novel technology for head and neck cancer patients and is working with the UPMC Head & Neck Cancer Survivorship Clinic and speech language pathologists to implement them. Read More

Mission of Mercy 2025

Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh’s October event shattered the previous record, surpassing 2,000 patients. In fact, the free dental, vision, and hearing clinic reached capacity by early afternoon on its second day. The Eye & Ear Foundation in partnership with Call to Care hosted the two-day event, which took place October 24-25. Read More

Finding Balance: Susan George's Journey

After practicing as a physical therapist at UPMC for over 38 years, Susan George was enjoying being a grandmother. Suddenly, she began losing her balance a little bit here and there, which never used to happen. Despite being born with one leg, she was surprisingly sure-footed. Read More

UPMC Swallow Disorders Center Seeks Funding for Mobile HNC Screenings

Sandra Stinnett, MD, hopes to collaborate with the Communication Van for head and neck cancer screenings. But a few things need to happen first, including lining up some funding for necessary expenses. Read More

Journey to Excellence

The UPMC Center for Cranial Base Surgery has released a Journey to Excellence 13-part series on YouTube, thanks to the Global Rhinology Network (GRN). Read More

Faculty News

Jenny Kim, MD, (mentor Noel Jabbour, MD) was the Surgical Simulation SIM Tank winner at AAOHNSF.

Kevin Contrera, MD, MPH, received the 2025 UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Emerging Scholar Award.

Carl Snyderman, MD, MBA, will win the 2025 Al Muse Award.

Marci Nilsen, PhD, MSN, RN, CHPN, FAAN, will win the 2025 Al Muse Research Prize.

Garret Choby MD, is now the Vice Chair for Patient Safety and Quality in the Department and Associate Chief of Quality for PUH-SHY.

Developmental Start-Up Success

Flotherm (Peter Santa Maria)- Won first prize at the American Society of Anesthesia entrepreneurship event.

Droplet Biosciences (Zevallos)- Launched LymphDetect in 2025.

Echogenesis Therapeutics (Cunningham, Tzounopoulos, Zevallos)- Was awarded a $1.5M STTR grant.

Respair (Snyderman)- Was awarded Phase II SBIR.

A Vital Partner

The Eye & Ear Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1985 to foster philanthropic support for the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. The goal is to keep moving forward, expanding EEF’s support network, and helping the Departments achieve unparalleled distinction in research, education, outreach, and patient care.

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