On June 13, 2025, the Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences (HNS&CS) welcomed alumni, faculty, trainees, and guests to the annual Alumni Research Symposium and William Hudson Lecture. Each year, the event highlights the department’s academic achievements and fosters meaningful connections with alumni.
The day was made possible by the William R. Hudson, MD, Endowed Lectureship Fund, which supports annual lectures in the field of otolaryngology by distinguished scientists or clinicians, in memory of Dr. William Hudson. A special moment was set aside to honor and remember Samuel R. Fisher, MD. His two children, Randall and Sam Jr. presented loupes to junior residents, helping to offset the high cost of equipment that will help them excel as surgeons in training. The tradition of gifting loupes is supported by the Samuel R. Fisher, MD, Memorial Fund for Resident Education.
The morning began with an opening from Dr. Bradley Golsdtein, the Vice Chair of Research at HNS&CS, which was followed by the William Hudson Lecture, delivered by Charles J. Limb, MD, who presented “Music for Deaf Ears: Cochlear Implant-Mediated Perception of Music.” Dr. Limb is the Francis A. Sooy Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and Chief of the Division of Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco.
The symposium continued with a series of compelling resident and student research presentations, including:
- “Interpretable Machine Learning for the Diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease” by Connor Pratson, MD
- “Impact of Hearing Loss Asymmetry on Odds of Falling” by Debbie Pan, MD
- “Disparities in Receipt of Immunotherapy and Outcomes in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer” by Tariq Omer, R25 Medical Student
Following a mid-morning break, the program shifted to presentations on rhinology and olfactory research:
- “Quantifying Patient Preferences for Treating Nasal Polyps: Biologic vs Surgery” by Somtochi Okafor, MD
- “Dynamics of Nasal Irrigation After Maxillary Sinus Surgery” by Harry Chiang, MD
- “Effects of Nasal Cycling on Drug Deposition” by Michelle Kim, BA, R25 Medical Student
- “Analysis of Local Mucosal Immune Dysregulation to Guide Pilot Directed Therapy for Long-COVID Olfactory Loss” by Sarah Kim, MD, R25 Resident
The afternoon resumed with the Alumni Keynote Lecture, “Scalpel to Source Code: Lessons from an Otolaryngologist Turned AI Product Chief,” delivered by Matthew G. Crowson, MD, MPA, MASc, MBI (2018). Dr. Crowson is a Neurotologist at Mass Eye and Ear and an Assistant Professor in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School.
The final session featured a faculty keynote presentation by Kristal Riska, AuD, PhD, titled “Current Perspectives on the Association Between Hearing Loss and Falls.” Dr. Riska is an Associate Professor and Director of the 5-year Resident Research Track at Duke HNS&CS.
At the conclusion of each year’s Alumni Research Symposium, two outstanding residents are honored by the department with special recognition. First, the Joseph D. Siefker, MD Resident Teaching & Leadership Award is presented to a member of the house staff who exemplifies the core values of our department and health system. This individual leads by example and fosters a positive learning environment. This year’s recipient is Harry Chiang, MD. Second, the Daphne Logue Citizenship Award is awarded to a department member who embodies the spirit and dedication to patient care that Daphne so passionately demonstrated. This individual is a true advocate, a team player, and someone who consistently does the right thing. This year’s recipient is Hannah Martin, MD.
Each year, current residents nominate a faculty member for the annual Faculty Award, which recognizes outstanding mentorship within the HNS&CS department. This year’s honoree is Dr. Ramon Esclamado, the Richard Hall Chaney, Sr. Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Otolaryngology and the fifth Division Chief of HNS&CS, serving from 2006 to 2017.
The 2025 Alumni Research Symposium and William Hudson Lecture served as a vivid reflection of the department’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community. From groundbreaking research to inspiring keynote addresses, the event captured the vibrant intellectual spirit of the HNS&CS family. With deep appreciation for the alumni, faculty, trainees, and supporters who make this tradition possible, the department looks forward to building on this momentum and welcoming everyone back next year.