Message From The Chair

UNC Department of Otolaryngology ⁄ Head and Neck Surgery 21-22 Annual Report

MESSSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

In 2022, the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery celebrated its 70year anniversary. Dr. Newton Fischer founded Otolaryngology as a Division of Surgery in 1952 when the medical school transitioned to a 4-year medical school. Since its founding, the Department has experienced tremendous growth, and the excellence of the faculty has positioned the Department as one of the Nation’s leading program for clinical care, research, and education.

As we look back at the last year with continued COVID challenges, I am proud of our exceptional faculty, staff, and learners who have displayed remarkable resiliency to continue providing excellent care for our patients, to make groundbreaking discoveries advancing care, and to excel during training. In addition to excelling in learning and training activities, our residents continue to have amazing academic productivity - being ranked 1st in the South. Translational and basic researchers in our Department continue to innovate to improve patient outcomes and have increased our research funding from the National Institute of Health where we now rank in the top 20 in the Nation. We are also expanding clinical research with several divisions now engaging in new and innovative clinical trials. We are actively increasing patient access as our new Wake County Pediatric Otolaryngology Clinic has rebounded from effects of the COVID pandemic, and we opened a Head and Neck Surgical Oncology clinic at the UNC Health/Rex Cancer Center.

I am truly thankful to lead such an outstanding Department and hope that you enjoy learning about the leading role that we play within the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health. In partnership with these entities, we will no doubt continue to provide the highest quality of care to patients while we innovate and advance care through research and education.

Wendell G. Yarbrough, MD, MMHC, FACS Thomas J. Dark Distinguished Professor and Chair Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery UNC School of Medicine

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UNC Department of Otolaryngology ⁄ Head and Neck Surgery 21-22 Annual Report

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