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December 2023 ENT Newsletter

A Letter from the Chair

Coming of Age with Philanthropy

Our dedication this year has been toward enhancing education via our residency and fellowship programs, complemented by the recruitment of academically accomplished faculty members. The generous donations from our community to support our mission serve as a poignant reminder of philanthropy's vital role in this journey.

Philanthropic support is the testament of a thriving academic environment, signaling a program with passionate supporters of excellence. This recognition of our evolving stature attracts top talent to Houston Methodist, eager to learn from faculty who set high benchmarks and foster innovation. Thus, philanthropy is a cornerstone in sustaining our department's evolution and our collective aspiration for excellence.

Research, especially, thrives on philanthropy, which dares to back ventures traditional funds may eschew. Our innovative work in artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality, particularly at the Methodist Institute for Technology Innovation and Education (MITIE^SM) lab, is a beacon of such progress. In addition, our pioneering research in chronic rhinitis — exploring posterior nasal nerve ablation— has the potential to revolutionize quality of life, an endeavor philanthropy greatly aids by enabling the exploration of groundbreaking ideas.

Mas Takashima, MD, FACS

Sylvia and James E. Norton Distinguished New Century Chair Professor and Chair Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Houston Methodist Academic Institute

I am grateful for community contributions to the department, such as a recent generous gift from the late Dr. Samuel C. Weber and his wife, Simone, which will bolster our residency training program. Dr. Weber's legacy, shaped under luminaries like heart surgeon Michael E. DeBakey, MD, and distinguished otolaryngologist Bobby Alford, MD, resonates powerfully within the Texas Medical Center, inspiring future leaders in our field.

Another recent gift to the department was an endowed chair from Sylvia and James E. Norton, both strong supporters of education. Sylvia was a math teacher at West University Elementary for almost 40 years. Their generous endowment is a testament to the faith placed in our department's mission to educate the next generation of otolaryngologists.

For an academic department to be successful, it needs to have support from varying sources. We are extremely grateful for the role that philanthropy plays in our cycle of growth.

Here is the link to the recently released interactive version of the Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation’s Annual Report on giving.

And, if you know someone who wants to make a gift to our department, share the Houston Methodist Giving Form.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome New Faculty

Welcome to the new hires of ENT faculty for the Texas Medical Center, The Woodlands and Clear Lake.

Ran “Annie” Wang, MD Texas Medical Center Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

Luis D. Neve, MD, MS The Woodlands Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

Stephanie Chen, MD Clear Lake Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

in the news

Kain to Help Lead Clinical Trials Board

Joshua Kain, MD, FACS, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, has been named Vice Chair of the Data Safety and Monitoring Board for Clinical Trials for Houston Methodist’s Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center.

Wang Initiates Hospitalist Role

The role Wang created for herself focuses on inpatient and emergency room consults and patient needs. She is the go-to faculty for any doctor or care provider to discuss ENT needs including emergency or urgent ENT surgery for their patients.

Feature story

Faculty Share Knowledge at National Meetings

Houston Methodist Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery faculty members spent the spring and summer presenting to contemporaries in Las Vegas, Nashville and Washington, DC, on current research, new strategies for treating patients and some basics about office procedures, insurance questions and how to best serve a range of patients.

Read now

The Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

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Physicians & Faculty

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Departmental Education

Our mission is to provide the best patient care experience while training students, residents, fellows and physician scientists

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