Trio Meeting: Recognizing Excellence in Otolaryngology

At this year’s Combined Sections Meeting, held in Orlando, Fla., January 23-25, the four sections of the Triological Society took the stage to recognize and appreciate otolaryngologists from across the country. The section vice presidents—Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA, FACS, eastern, Valerie A. Flanary, MD, FACS, middle, Jimmy J. Brown, MD, FACS, southern, and Michael M. Johns III, MD, western—acknowledged guests of honor and citation winners from their respective sections.

Western Section, Citation Awardees

Justin S. Golub, MD, MS, New York

Dr. Golub is an associate professor of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and vice chair of faculty development at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York–Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed research publications and has co-edited four books, including a bestseller among trainees. Dr. Golub has a National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded research program investigating the brain effects of age-related hearing loss. He has lectured internationally, and his research has been reported in The New York Times and The Washington Post. He is also a leading pioneer in minimally invasive endoscopic ear surgery. Clinically, he is interested in optimizing the treatment of age-related hearing loss and improving outcomes using endoscopic ear surgery.

Francis X. Creighton, MD, Baltimore

Dr. Creighton is an associate professor of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and a surgeon-scientist in the division of neurotology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. His clinical practice focuses on endoscopic ear surgery, cochlear implantation, and lateral skull base tumors. He is an NIH-funded scientist focused on the adaption of computer vision and intelligent robotic systems for surgical interventions and diagnostics in the lateral skull base. He has authored numerous publications in surgical robotics and artificial intelligence within otolaryngology.

Guest of Honor, Norman D. Hogikyan, MD, FACS, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Dr. Hogikyan is professor and associate chairman of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Michigan (UM), professor of music at the UM School of Music, Theatre and Dance, and faculty in the UM Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine. He serves as chief of the division of laryngology, director of the Vocal Health Center, and faculty ethicist with the Clinical Ethics Service. He is fellowship-trained in both laryngology and clinical medical ethics and is a Certified Healthcare Ethics Consultant. His clinical interests span the full range of laryngology, and his academic interests include medical and surgical education, voice-related quality of life, the doctor/patient relationship, and the role of trust in the surgeon/patient relationship.

Eastern Section, Citation Awardees

Mary J. Hawkshaw, RN, BSN, CORLN, FCPP, Philadelphia

Ms. Hawkshaw is a research professor and vice chair for academic initiatives in the department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine. She has been associated with Dr. Robert Sataloff, Philadelphia Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates, and the American Institute for Voice and Ear Research (AIVER) since 1986. In addition to her specialized clinical activities, she has been involved extensively in research and teaching. She mentors medical students, residents, and laryngology fellows, and has been involved in teaching research, writing, and editing for more than three decades. In collaboration with Dr. Sataloff, she has co-authored 188 articles, 111 book chapters, and 22 textbooks. She is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Voice and Ear, Nose and Throat Journal. She has served as secretary/treasurer of AIVER since 1988 and was named executive director of AIVER in January 2000. She has served on the board of directors of the Voice Foundation since 1990. Ms. Hawkshaw has been an active member of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head–Neck Nurses since 1998. She is recognized internationally for her extensive contributions to the care of the professional voice.

James C. Denneny III, MD, FACS, Alexandria, Va.

Dr. Denneny was the executive vice president and CEO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and its foundation from 2014 to 2024. He is a past president of the AAO–HNS/F, with 17 years of service on the Boards of Directors and 22 years on the Board of Governors, including a term as chairman. Dr. Denneny has held leadership positions in many partnerships, coalitions, and workgroups such as the Academy’s Physician Payment Policy Workgroup and the Ad Hoc Payment Model Workgroup. He was also the Academy’s Coordinator for Socioeconomic Affairs on two occasions.

His career has spanned both private and academic practice. Before serving the Knoxville, Tenn., community for 24 years as a private practitioner, he held academic appointments in Houston and Indianapolis. In 2011, he left private practice to join the department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Missouri. He was also a faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Denneny has a specific interest in investigating social determinants of health through the clinical data registry established several years ago. He initiated a campaign to educate and recruit medical students from underrepresented minorities into the specialty. He’s authored two books, three book chapters, 45 articles, presentations, and two grants.

Guest of Honor, Malcolm D. Graham, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, Atlanta

Dr. Graham is professor emeritus in the department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. Before relocating to Georgia, he practiced in British Columbia, at the University of North Carolina, at the House Ear Research Institute and Otologic Medical Group in affiliation with the University of Southern California, as professor and vice chair at the University of Michigan, at the Michigan Ear Institute, and the Georgia Ear Institute. He created and directed a fellowship in Ann Arbor from 1980 through 1986. Dr. Graham has trained 25 neurotology fellows, and he has published more than 140 peer-reviewed articles, 42 book chapters, and six books. He is the quintessential mentor!

Southern Section, Citation Awardees

James K. Fortson, MD, MPH, MBA, FACS, Tucker, Ga.

Dr. Fortson is a diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology, a fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and a member of the American College of Surgeons. Over the years, he has held many chief surgical positions, been involved in research activities, and written book chapters, papers, and abstracts in the field of otolaryngology.

Wesley Hicks, Jr., MD, FACS, Buffalo, N.Y.

Dr. Hicks joined the staff of Roswell Park Cancer Center in August 1991, as an attending surgeon, in the department of head and neck section of plastic and reconstructive surgery, where he is currently the chairman. He is a professor of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery and a professor of neurosurgery and bioengineering at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Hicks’ research interests focus on tissue engineering, wound healing, and mechanisms involved in wound repair. His laboratory is studying novel work in bioengineered devices for enhanced wound repair and the cellular microenvironment and tissue remodeling, and he has been issued several patents related to his interest in tissue engineering and wound healing.

He belongs to many professional organizations, including the National Medical Association, the National Dental Association, the Triological Society, the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the American Head and Neck Society, and the Society of Black Academic Surgeons. He is a past member of the editorial board of The Head and Neck Journal and is an ad hoc reviewer for the Laryngoscope and Journal of Clinical Oncology. He’s won several awards, including Buffalo Business First’s, 2024 Excellence in Health Care award, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award presented by the departments of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Columbia and Weill Cornell Campus. He was named one of the top 100 physicians in the nation by Black Enterprise magazine and one of the top cancer doctors in America by Newsweek. Dr. Hicks has authored or co-authored more than 250 journal publications, book chapters, and abstracts.

Guest of Honor, David J. Terris, MD, FACS, Augusta, Ga.

Dr. Terris is regents professor of otolaryngology and endocrinology and surgical director of the Thyroid/Parathyroid Center at Augusta University. He was an associate professor at Stanford University before being recruited to Georgia to become chairman of the department, a post he held for 12 years. Dr. Terris is a pioneer in robotic and minimally invasive thyroid surgery and has a busy clinical practice that is now limited to parathyroid surgery. He has edited seven books and authored more than 250 publications, with most devoted to parathyroid topics.

Middle Section, Citation Awardees

Kathleen L. Yaremchuk, MD, MSA, Detroit

Dr. Yaremchuk is the past president of the AAO–HNS. She is a professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine’s department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and a professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She is chair emeritus of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at Henry Ford Health and the first female to serve as the chair of the Henry Ford Medical Group Board of Governors. Dr. Yaremchuk was also the first physician to serve as chair of the Henry Ford Health System Quality and Safety Committee.

Dr. Yaremchuk has received the Jerome C. Goldstein, MD Award for Public Service and served as president of the Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) section. She received the Helen F. Krause, MD Trailblazer Award from WIO for leadership in mentoring and advocating for women in otolaryngology and is a coach for women seeking leadership positions. She has served as chair of the Sleep Disorders Committee for AAO–HNS and represents the American Board of Otolaryngology on the ABIM Sleep Advisory Co.

Stacey L. Ishman, MD, MPH, Cincinnati

Dr. Ishman is an academic career coach, a real estate investor, and the founder of Medical Mentor Coaching. She became a full professor of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Cincinnati in 2016 and currently works at Dayton Children’s Hospital and Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. She is the market chief medical officer for AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio and is the past president of the International Surgical Sleep Society.

She has authored more than 220 original research papers, as well as 20 book chapters, and she coedited the book entitled Essential Sleep Medicine, published in 2023. She has been involved in multiple clinical trials focused on the care of children and adults with obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Ishman is the winner of the AAO-HNS Distinguished Service Award (2015, 2018, 2023), Women in Otolaryngology Helen F. Krause, MD Trailblazer Award (2017), Young Physician Section Model Mentor Award (2020), and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Mentorship Award (2019).

Guest of Honor, Joseph E. Kerschner, MD, FACS, Milwaukee

An alumnus of the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Dr. Kerschner joined the faculty in 1998, became dean of the School of Medicine and executive vice president of MCW in 2011, assumed the role of provost in 2017, and transitioned to emeritus dean of the School of Medicine this year. He remains a professor in the departments of otolaryngology and communication sciences, and microbiology and immunology. His past executive positions include CEO of Children’s Specialty Group and executive vice president of Children’s Hospital and Health System.

As a surgeon at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, his clinical focus is on otitis media and other otologic conditions. Dr. Kerschner’s research includes studies to identify causes of and potential new treatments for pediatric ear infections; the Kerschner laboratory has been continuously funded by the NIH since 2001, and he has served on numerous NIH Study Sections and Special Emphasis Panels. Dr. Kerschner has published more than 165 peer-reviewed articles, contributed to multiple book chapters and reviews, and presented extensively on his clinical, research, and leadership areas of expertise. He has been a reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed publications and is currently the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.

Dr. Kerschner has served in numerous national leadership roles, including as president of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, president of the International Society for Otitis Media, senior examiner for the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Council of Deans, and chair of the Board of Directors of the AAMC. He’s won numerous awards, including The Ruben Scientific Achievement Award, Jerome C. Goldstein, MD Public Service Award, Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, MCW Chapter, Best Doctors in America, Alumnus of the Year, MCW, and the Cotton–Fitton Lectureship.

George Adams, MD Young Faculty Award

Matthew A. Shew, MD, St. Louis

Dr. Shew is an assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis. He has quickly established himself as a leader in the field, with more than 66 peer-reviewed publications and numerous awards, including the Triological Society Career Development Award. Most recently, he received a prestigious NIDCD K23 Career Development Award to study precision medicine in cochlear implantation by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques and novel biomarkers to improve cochlear implant outcomes.

Dr. Shew’s research focuses on applying AI and machine learning to otolaryngology, with a particular emphasis on cochlear implantation. His work seeks to advance precision medicine by integrating big data and developing decision-support tools for pre-operative risk stratification and personalized cochlear implant care. His lab also explores the role of perilymph biomarkers in understanding active auditory pathophysiology.

Dr. Shew is the Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare section editor for JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

Dr. Shew specializes in treating patients with hearing-related disorders, chronic ear disease, and complex skull base pathology in his clinical practice. His commitment to innovation and excellence in patient care, research, and education underscores his dedication to advancing the field of otology and neurotology.

12th Annual Patrick E. Brookhouser, MD Award of Excellence

Harold C. Pillsbury, MD, FACS, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Dr. Pillsbury became emeritus chair of the University of North Carolina department of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery in 2018. He joined the UNC faculty in 1982 as an associate professor. He served as chief of the division of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery from 1983 to 2001 when UNC Otolaryngology–HNS officially became a department that he led as chair for 36 years. In 2018, Dr. Pillsbury received the “The Order of the Long Leaf Pine” for his dedication and service to the patients of the State of North Carolina.

Dr. Pillsbury has completed an 18-year term on the American Board of Otolaryngology, where he served as exam chair and president. He is also past president of AAO–HNS, The American Laryngological Association, The Society of University Otolaryngologists, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allery, and the Triological Society. He is also a past CME coordinator and vice president of the Southern Section of the Triological Society.

He has written and contributed to more than 300 publications and 49 textbooks, given more than 500 presentations, and has been the primary or co-investigator on more than 20 grants. His special field of interest is neurotology and, most especially, cochlear implantation.

Binderup Prize

Beth Slovinski, Triological Society, Omaha, Neb.

Ms. Slovinski has happily worked for the Triological Society for 24 years. She manages the membership database, oversees dues collection, reviews submitted abstracts, and contributes to website development. Additionally, she produces promotional materials for TRIO meetings and assists in organizing the grant process. Ms. Slovinski oversees the Continuing Medical Education (CME) process for TRIO meetings. She collaborates with abstract submitters, the program committee, and program speakers to ensure they have all the necessary information related to the program.