News

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery is excited to share a significant advocacy success that will greatly benefit individuals living with a total laryngectomy across Alabama.

UAB Medicine's Leadership Development Office (LDO) recently celebrated the graduation of a group of clinical and operational leaders who successfully completed the High Performing Care Collaborative (HPCC) program.

As winter illnesses circulate, UAB experts warn about the impact of untreated sinus infections.

Twenty providers in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery were recently recognized by the UAB Office of Patient Experience and Engagement for the exceptional care they delivered to patients during fiscal year 2025. These providers achieved a rating of 95 percent or higher in care satisfaction, based on patient feedback in Medallia.

As sniffle season sets in, sinus infections are among the most common illnesses seen in doctors’ offices. For most people, they’re nothing more than an inconvenience and a few days of congestion, but, according to experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a sinus infection can become dangerous in severe cases.

A rare fungal sinus infection that used to affect mostly people in tropical countries is now showing up in the Southeastern United States, and doctors are learning how to better recognize and treat it thanks to new research from UAB.

October 2025 marked the 10th anniversary of the UAB Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, which became the 26th department in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine in October 2015.

In honor of our 10th anniversary as a department in 2025, we've been highlighting top headlines from throughout the past decade. Here's a roundup of the historical headlines we've featured!

This spring, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees awarded the rank of Distinguished Professor to five and the rank of University Professor to four faculty members.

Three UAB professors offer expertise on springtime allergies and ways to mitigate pollen’s grip.

Dean Stovall, MHA, CPAR, was recently announced as the new Executive Administrator for the UAB Department of Otolaryngology.

Written by: Amy JonesMedia Contact: Adam Pope The first six projects funded by the new Blazer Bridge Fund include, among others, potential new therapies for viral infections, designed protein nanopores, AI-based solutions for lung function assessments and a social app for teachers.

Written by: Teresa Hicks Media contact: Micah Hardge Click image to enlarge. Graphic by: Jody PotterAs temperatures drop, our ears become more sensitive to cold, leading to discomfort, earaches and temporary hearing changes.

Written by: Teresa Hicks Media contact: Micah Hardge A UAB expert offers practical tips to help fans minimize the risk of vocal overuse and protect their voice during sporting events.With football season in the air, fans spend weekends cheering on their favorite teams. Yet, amid all the excitement, a less obvious concern often gets overlooked: the strain on the voice.

Written by: Ivy Brewster Media contact: Savannah Koplon Illustration by Jody PotterDo I have a cold or the flu? It is a question that millions of people ask themselves throughout the fall and winter seasons.

UAB’s Jessica Grayson, M.D., clears the confusion on how to tell COVID-19 from other respiratory illnesses.As fall arrives, so does another allergy season, as well as rhinitis and influenza.

Written by: Teresa Hicks Media contact: Micah Hardge Click image to enlarge. Graphic by: Jody PotterWith the holiday season in full swing, so is the overlap of colder weather and allergy season.

In grateful recognition of a transformational $95 million lead gift from longtime University of Alabama at Birmingham supporter Marnix E. Heersink, M.D., the UAB School of Medicine will now be named the UAB Marnix E.

As the winter months transition into spring, the lingering dry air can still have a significant impact on your voice. This dryness can lead to common issues like hoarseness, vocal fatigue, and throat irritation.

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology is pleased to welcome Michael J. Sillers, M.D., FACS, back to the faculty as clinical professor as of January 2025. He had previously been in private practice at the Alabama Nasal & Sinus Center.

Sixteen remarkable faculty members have been named winners of the 2023 Dean’s Excellence Awards for Faculty. This award recognizes their exceptional achievements in teaching, research, service, mentorship, and fostering diversity within the Heersink School of Medicine.

This year, October 2025 will mark the UAB Department of Otolaryngology’s 10th anniversary as a department. To celebrate, the department will be featuring alumni throughout the year.

Akhilesh Wodeyar, M.D., postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Otolaryngology, was recently selected among the incoming cohort of “Innovate Fellows” by the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

As temperatures drop, our ears become more sensitive to cold, leading to discomfort, earaches, and temporary hearing changes.

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology welcomed Natalie Derise, M.D., to the faculty as an assistant professor in October 2024.

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology welcomed Stefania Goncalves, M.D., to the faculty as an assistant professor in October 2024.

With the holiday season fast approaching, so is the overlap of colder weather and allergy season. Taking proactive steps to manage these challenges is essential to fully enjoying the celebrations with family and friends.

Eight faculty members recently graduated from UAB Medicine’s LEading Advancing Developing (LEAD) Fall 2024 leadership development program. The program, presented by UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO), recognized its graduates at a ceremony on Oct. 24, 2024.

William Boswell, a speech pathologist-voice therapist in the UAB Voice Center, explains some of the innovative treatments available, why patient numbers are rising and what sets UAB apart.

Key takeaways on retraining the nose after COVID, a drug that can take away persistent bad smells and more from Do-Yeon Cho, M.D., director of UAB’s Comprehensive Smell and Taste Clinic.