Research

Ogura Lectureship highlights ENT research at WashU Medicine

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photo of Al Merati with voice and airway group
Al Merati, MD (back row, far left), with the Voice and Airway Division at WashU Medicine.

The 43rd annual Ogura Lectureship and 38th annual Resident Research Day were held June 27 to a capacity crowd at the Eric P. Newman Education Center.

The event, hosted annually by the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at WashU Medicine, celebrates progress in research and patient care broadly in the field of otolaryngology. This year’s guest speaker was noted laryngologist Al Merati, MD, professor and chief, Division of Laryngology, Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery at University of Washington School of Medicine.

photo of Al Merati, MD
Al Merati, MD, answers a question from the audience during his presentation on vocal fold paralysis.

Merati has earned two Distinguished Service awards from the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery and is Past-President of the AAO-HNS and the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, one of only a few who have held both posts. In 2023, he was selected to join the AAOHNS Hall of Distinction as a “Living Legend” for his contributions to the AAO-HNS and to the field of otolaryngology.

Merati provided two presentations as part of the lectureship:

  • What have I learned in 25 years of managing vocal fold paralysis?
  • Aim True: Careers, Leadership and the Future of Otolaryngology

In a poignant discussion on medical careers, Merati stressed the importance of personal understanding why a surgeon’s work is important to them. He stressed the need for work-life balance, and challenged attendees to remember that, “every yes at work was a no at home”.

Resident Research Day

A number of residents and medical students shared highlights of their research in a variety of disciplines covering basic, clinical and outcomes research. Topics included head and neck cancer; ear disease and hearing loss; facial plastic surgery; and smell disorders.

photo of Prith Roychowdhury
Otolaryngology resident Prith Roychowdhury, MD, delivers his presentation on lateral line injury in the zebrafish.

Winners of the annual Paparella Research Awards for basic and clinical science were announced by Vice-chair for Research Jay Piccirillo, MD, during the graduation celebration that evening:

1st Place in Basic Science Research

Prith Roychowdhury, MD
Live Imaging of the Macrophage Response to Excitotoxic Injury in the Zebrafish Lateral Line

2nd Place in Basic Science Research

Daniel Romano, MD
Pediatric and Adult Cholesteatomas Show Distinct Transcriptional Profiles at the Single Cell Level

1st Place in Clinical Science Research
photo of Andrew Peterson
Otolaryngology resident Andrew Peterson, MD, takes a question from the audience during his presentation on tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma.

Andrew Peterson, MD
Outcomes of Unilateral vs. Bilateral Transoral Surgery for HPV+ Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Retrospective Cohort and Meta-Analysis

2nd Place in Clinical Science Research

Theresa Tharakan, MD, MSCI
Efficacy of Nasal Theophylline Irrigation for COVID-19-Related Olfactory Dysfunction: The SCENT3 Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial