At the end of each academic year, faculty, trainees, and alumni eagerly anticipate the William R. Hudson, MD Lecture, which takes place during graduation week. Since 2011, prominent leaders in otolaryngology have come to Duke to share their insights as part of the Hudson Lectureship.
“The Hudson Lectureship occurs at the pinnacle of the academic year, when our most seasoned trainees prepare to launch their careers or transition to further training elsewhere. At the same time, we are welcoming the newest members of the Duke family, the interns, many of whom have just moved to Durham,” said Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA, Chair of the Department. “The lectureship is an opportunity for our learning community to focus intently on the central tenet of training the leaders of our specialty”.
In 2023, Debara L. Tucci, MD, MS, MBA, Director of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, delivered both the Hudson Lecture and the Kenan Lecture.
“I think it's important to give a message — especially to trainees — that there's a role for all otolaryngologists, no matter their practice setting, to contribute to the scientific knowledge base that advances patient care. I believe very strongly that's the foundation of what we do.”
Resident Nick Frisco, MD, attended Dr. Tucci’s lecture. “ I learned about how one's formative experiences during their career shape their outlook on the future of the sphere that they work in,” Dr. Frisco said. “It was exciting to hear an NIDCD leader's thoughts on the leading edge of our field — one in which technology has become so intimately integrated with.”
The Hudson Lectureship honors William Hudson, MD, and is focused on leadership. Dr. Hudson joined the Duke Division of Otolaryngology in 1961 after completing training at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He would become division chief and an international leader in the field. He helped train many otolaryngologists who have made substantial contributions to the field and to their communities several of whom donated funds to establish this permanent endowment.
Dr. Tucci said the timing of the Hudson Lectureship is ideal. Coming at the end of the year, it’s an opportunity to provide a parting message to the residents. “All physicians are leaders, and they're well respected in their communities. It’s important to talk about leadership as a deliberate, thoughtful, and privileged position.”
“It's a special opportunity for residents to get to know people in the field and hear their perspectives about important topics,” Dr. Tucci said.
The Hudson Lecturer also gets to hear research presentations from the residents, which allows the residents to interact with visiting faculty.
Alumni are encouraged to participate as well. The lectureship brings together generations of the Duke family and helps foster and continue community building. It’s a win for everyone.
“I think that lectures such as the Hudson Lectureships are important because they celebrate the progress of our field and inspire the minds of otolaryngologists in training, which is how new ideas are created,” Dr. Frisco said. “It is really worthwhile for all trainees and faculty to make it a priority to sit in on lectures such as the Hudson Lectureship.”
If you’d like to support the mission of the Hudson Lectureship, please consider making a donation.