Otolaryngologists Present Research and Clinical Insights at Triological Society Meeting

Half of the Miller School’s otolaryngology faculty are Society members, proof of excellence in research and clinical care.

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s rich legacy with otolaryngology’s premiere academic organization was unmistakable at the Triological Society Combined Sections Meeting in West Palm Beach Jan. 25-27.

“The Triological Society is the oldest academic organization within the specialty and requires a published thesis for full fellowship into the society,” said Fred F. Telischi, M.E.E., M.D., the Miller School’s James R. Chandler Chair in Otolaryngology and professor of neurological surgery and biomedical engineering. “The Miller School’s Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery faculty enjoy one of the highest levels of membership in this society, based on our culture of attaining academic achievement nationally. As our department has grown in size and stature, so too has our recognition and participation in the Triological Society.”

Resident Bowl Champions Again

University of Miami residents Eshita Singh, Luke Pasick and Christine Mei won the meeting’s annual Resident Bowl academic competition, besting 12 programs from around the country. UM also prevailed in 2021 and became the second program to win two Resident Bowls.

“We came up against heavy hitters, including UCLA, Georgetown, Harvard, Columbia, Cornell and many others, but the UM otolaryngology resident team was up to the challenge!” Dr. Telischi said.

Michael Hoffer, M.D., professor of otolaryngology and neurological surgery at the Miller School and president-elect of the Triological Society, helped create the Resident Bowl about 15 years ago while he was Western Section vice president for the Triological Society.

“The Resident Bowl is an annual event that pits residents from different programs against one another—a knowledge bowl type thing,” Dr. Hoffer said. “It remains a meeting highlight. Residents come in school garb and march into the competition to cheering crowds. Faculty ask the questions, trying to keep things fun, but it’s quite competitive.”

Miller School Otolaryngology Front and Center

The Miller School’s legacy was evident in every aspect of this year’s meeting.

“We had a huge representation by our entire department at the most important academic meeting of the year in the specialty,” Dr. Hoffer said. “Faculty presented and moderated sessions ranging from neurotology and otology, speech, and head and neck surgery to sleep and facial plastics. Our residents presented on the podium and posters.”

Speakers, moderators and panelists representing the Miller School/UHealth—University of Miami Health System included:

• Simon I. Angeli, M.D., director of the UHealth Ear Institute and professor of clinical otolaryngology and neurosurgery at the Miller School, who debated during “Point‐Counterpoint: Endoscopic Versus Microscopic Otologic Surgery.”
• Christine Mei, M.D, a Miller School resident, who presented “Evaluating Morphologic and Functional Differences between Autograph and Hydrogel Tube Repair in a Facial Nerve Injury Animal Model.”
• Maria V. Suurna, M.D., a professor in the Miller School Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Sleep Division, who was a panelist during “Harnessing Technology to Identify and Manage Sleep Issues”
• Adam Lloyd, SLP-D, CCC-SLP, a voice pathologist, singing health specialist and assistant professor in the Miller School Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Speech Pathology Division, who was a panelist during the “Transgender Voice” session.
• Ramzi Younis, M.D., professor of clinical otolaryngology in the Miller School Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Pediatric ENT Division, who presented “The Impact of Ozempic and Other Weight Loss Drugs on Otolaryngology.”
• Christine Dinh, M.D., associate professor of clinical otolaryngology in the Miller School Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Otology Division, who served as a panelist for “Establishing and Growing a Research Program in Your Residency Training Program.”
• Dr. Telischi, who moderated a session on otology and neurotology.
• Donald Weed, M.D., vice chair for academic affairs and W. Jarrard Goodwin Professor–Head and Neck Surgical Oncology in the Department of Otolaryngology as well as co-leader of the Head and Neck Site Disease Group at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, who was a panelist discussing salivary gland cancer.
• Roy Casiano, M.D., vice chairman of clinical affairs and professor of clinical otolaryngology in the Miller School Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Rhinology Division, who moderated the concurrent session “General, Rhinology, Allergy, Sinus.”

The Miller School was represented during several poster presentations, including:

• “Firefighter Occupational Hazards—Effect of Noise Exposure on Hearing and Balance,” presented by medical student Nedi Ferekides, B.S.
• “Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Readability and Comprehension Levels of Otolaryngology Patient Education Materials,” presented by Miller School resident Luke J. Pasick, M.D.
• “Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Ibuprofen in Pediatric Tonsillectomy,” presented by resident Zachary Helmen, M.D.

Society Membership: Patient Care and Research Excellence

Miller School faculty members have won prestigious awards for their thesis presentations in the Triological Society. Many have served as scientific directors at the society’s conferences while others have garnered leadership roles, including Dr. Telischi as sectional vice president.

“The Miller School is annually recognized as being one of the most active programs in this society, which is the ENT honor society dedicated to scholarship and excellence in patient care,” Dr. Hoffer said.

About half of the Miller School’s otolaryngology faculty are Triological Society members, which speaks volumes about the department’s quality, according to Dr. Hoffer. Society admission requires recognition for excellence in patient care, community outreach or scientific achievements.

“Our department at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has one of the highest percentages of Triological Society members of any U.S. academic institution. That symbolizes that our faculty are recognized by our own specialty as being experts in what they do,” Dr. Hoffer said.

Tags: Department of Otolaryngology, otolaryngology, Triological Society