Dear Colleagues,
I’m pleased to bring you this year’s Penn Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Newsletter, my first as Department Chair.
What an amazing year! Even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve seen firsthand a tremendous spirit here at Penn. The passion, dedication, and resolve of the entire Penn Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery team is absolutely remarkable. I’m proud of the exemplary clinical, research, and educational advancements we continue to make and look forward to what’s ahead for the Department!
- I have spoken about my admiration for Penn ENT at length, which is reflected in my recent interview. Therein, I discuss the innovations that inspired my interest in Penn ENT, including TORS and fluorescent image-guided surgery, and the pioneering work being done at the Penn Sleep Center. I discuss my vision for the future of the Department as well.
- This newsletter also delves into the suite of gender-affirming services offered at Penn ENT. Natasha Mirza, MD, and Oren Friedman, MD, offer their expert insights, calling attention to the need for sensitivity in their work.
- Karthik Rajasekaran, MD, FACS, is featured in the third article, which examines advances in head and neck surgery at Penn ENT. Dr. Rajasekaran discusses the challenges faced by surgeons maneuvering in the narrow confines of the head and neck, and recent innovations at Penn, including fluorescent image-guided surgery, that are helping surgeons find and safely remove malignant tissue.
There is a buzz here at Penn around growth in our department. We will soon be expanding our exceptional team to include additional experts in sleep surgery, laryngology, neurotology, and scientists in cancer biology and auditory processing. Stay tuned!
I trust you will find this issue engaging and look forward to sharing more exciting advances from Penn ENT in the future.
Sincerely,
D. Gregory Farwell, MD, FACS
Gabriel Tucker Professor & Chair
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery