New technology expands use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS)

The use of robotic-assisted surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University has increased steadily over the past few years, and recent advances in the DaVinci robotics platform should promote even greater usage. Surgeons value the technology for its ability to facilitate difficult surgery through high-resolution 3D visualization, tremor filtration, motion scaling, and a […]

Q&A with Staff Scientist Grady Phillips

What is your title and role in the Department of Otolaryngology? My title is staff scientist, and I specialize in electron microscopy imaging. I worked at WashU for 30 years before moving over to SLU for a few years. Now I’m back. My earlier work here was at the Cancer Research Center, working on viruses, […]

Physician-scientist trainees say choice of mentor is most important

Two of the five otolaryngology residents who match each year at Washington University are selected into an NIH-funded physician-scientist training program. As they launch into what is called the T32 Physician-Scientist Training Program, choosing a mentor is perhaps the most important decision they make. Although a trainee advisory panel assists each resident in choosing a […]

ARO Midwinter Meeting succeeds in virtual format

The lingering COVID pandemic forced the largest meeting of hearing scientists worldwide to adopt a completely virtual format. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) had to move quickly to accomplish the feat which was viewed as very successful by participants. ARO Past-President Keiko Hirose, MD, recently hosted a panel of otolaryngology researchers to discuss […]

Otolaryngology faculty present research, clinical innovations across US

With the wide acceptance of virtual presentations during COVID, Department of Otolaryngology faculty have been invited to share their research and clinical innovations to audiences around the world. Recent highlights include: Craig Buchman, MD Grand rounds at the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh: “Electrocochleography in cochlear implantation” Grand rounds at the Department of Medicine […]

Shew receives award to study benefits of cochlear implants using AI

Neurotology Fellow Matthew Shew, MD, was recently named one of four recipients of the Dean’s Scholars Award from the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Shew’s research efforts are focused on optimizing the benefits of cochlear implants by using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.  The Dean’s Scholars program supports outstanding […]

Otolaryngology researchers prepare for first virtual ARO Meeting

Researchers preview poster session virtually

The hearing science community is tackling the COVID-19 pandemic like everyone else – going virtual. But, that’s no easy task for the Midwinter Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO), which has attracted more than 1,200 attendees in recent years.  To allow greater participation in online activities, poster sessions will open almost two […]

Researchers seek to correct COVID-19-related loss of smell

Loss of smell, also known as anosmia, is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. The Clinical Outcomes Research Office led by Washington University Professor of Otolaryngology Jay Piccirillo, MD, and Assistant Professor Dorina Kallogjeri, MD, has been conducting olfactory research for the past four years. The lab has investigated several treatments for persistent […]

ENT researcher works to optimize benefits of cochlear implants in children

Nearly all parents of children born with severe-to-profound bilateral hearing loss want their child to develop spoken language and literacy skills commensurate with those of their peers with healthy hearing.  This is important for social and academic development. Lisa Davidson, PhD, and her lab are determined to help optimize the benefits of cochlear implants (CIs) […]

ENT researcher Angela Mazul strives to understand health disparities

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a greater impact on minority populations than others. Unfortunately, health disparities like this are not uncommon. Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology Angela Mazul, PhD, hopes to better understand why these disparities exist and how they can be resolved. Dr. Mazul’s research is focused on health disparities in head and neck cancer […]