Town Hall celebrates growth, innovation and service

photo of Buchman speaking at Town Hall event

The Department of Otolaryngology held its annual Town Hall last month where Lindburg Professor and Chair Craig Buchman, MD, shared his annual review of department activities and plans for the future. Growth in the clinical space and expanded research efforts were highlighted as some of the many avenues to success of the department’s mission to […]

Clinical trial to restore smell in long COVID patients

Washington University ENT surgeons have launched a clinical trial to help patients who have lost their sense of smell due to COVID-19. The study, led by Department of Otolaryngology rhinologist Nyssa Farrell, MD, hopes to help patients recover olfactory function with injections of a local anesthetic. The study has reached its recruitment goal of 20 […]

Renowned neurotologist Lenarz offers ENT lectureship

photo of WashU neurotologists

Thomas Lenarz, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the department of Otolaryngology at Hannover Medical School (Germany) provided a stimulating Senturia Lecture to the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University School of Medicine on Oct. 26. His talk, “Hearing4All: functional restoration of hearing using auditory devices,” highlighted the broad advances in medicine and technology that […]

WashU researchers one step closer to understanding cisplatin-induced hearing loss

photo of Sheets with zebrafish

The laboratory of Lavinia Sheets, PhD, at Washington University School of Medicine may have discovered the cause of hearing loss due to cisplatin, a common chemotherapy agent used to treat many cancer patients. Sheets serves as assistant professor of otolaryngology at WashU. The work was largely conducted by otolaryngology resident David Lee, MD, who presented […]

More than a surgical trainee: Clinical Fellow Kevin Zhan

As Kevin Zhan, MD, enters the second year of his neurotology fellowship, he shares his thoughts on the importance of a trainee also serving as trainer. Why did you pursue a fellowship in neurotology? I pursued otology and neurotology simply because I love ear and lateral skull base surgery, and I’m passionate about hearing healthcare. […]

Introducing pediatric otolaryngologist Jennifer Brinkmeier

Jennifer Brinkmeier, MD, recently joined the pediatric otolaryngology team at Washington University. Here she shares the motivation behind her choice of specialty and her abundance of hobbies. Where are you from originally?  I’m originally from Saint Louis. I’m not a fan of thin-crust pizza, but I do love baseball. Where are you joining us from? […]

Q&A with Medical Secretary Patty Tampow

phto of Dr. Buchman and Patty Tampow

Patty Tampow has retired after 35 years of service to the Department of Otolaryngology. Here she shares her thoughts on the many years of service and some advice for her colleagues. How would you describe your career in the Department of Otolaryngology? I was a medical secretary in the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology for 35 […]

Lenarz to give Senturia lecture

Thomas Lenarz, MD, PhD, will give the 2022 annual Senturia Lectureship to the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University School of Medicine. The title of his presentation will be, Hearing4All: functional restoration of hearing using auditory devices. Lenarz studied medicine and biochemistry at universities in London and Tübingen, Erlangen, and Heidelberg, Germany,  from 1975 until […]

New FDA ruling approves over-the-counter hearing aids

In August, the FDA issued a final ruling to allow access to safe, effective, and affordable hearing aids for millions of Americans. The rule, Establishing Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids, enables consumers 18 years of age and older – with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss – to purchase hearing aids directly from stores or online retailers. […]

Serving the deaf and hard of hearing for more than a century

Washington University’s Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences or PACS has a long and storied history of serving the deaf and hard of hearing community. Now, during National Audiology Month and National Protect Your Hearing Month, we take a historical look at this nationally recognized program that continues to supply the community with top-trained audiologists […]