News

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology hosted its 21st Annual Ann B. & Julius N. Hicks Lectureship in Otolaryngology and 2026 Residents’ Research Day on April 18 at Valley Hotel in Homewood. 

How dedicated guidance shaped Brenton Bicknell’s path to medicine and research

Faculty members in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery recently earned praise from medical students after a week-long STP2308 Special Topics course for women in surgery.

UAB recently recognized 10 individuals for their years of service in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, ranging from five years to 30 years. The UAB and UAB Medicine Service Awards honor employees who have made a significant career commitment to UAB, with recognition happening at every five-year milestone.

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.

Spring allergies can disrupt daily life and sleep by triggering immune reactions to airborne allergens that cause inflammation and fatigue.

The Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM) 2026 Annual Meeting is Wednesday, April 22, to Sunday, April 26 at the Phoenix Convention Center/ Sheraton Phoenix Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Allergies can be a frustrating aspect of the spring season. Allergies affect daily life, but they can also significantly affect sleep. In fact, those with allergies are typically more likely to suffer from sleep issues. Allergies can also make it harder to wake up and can cause symptoms such as headaches, facial pain, and pressure. 

Justin H. Turner, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair, John S. Odess Endowed Chair in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, presented the 2026 State of the Department on Tuesday, March 10.

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.

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is thrilled to announce the results of our 2026 residency match!

UAB researchers are developing a new at-home cervical cancer screening device aimed at increasing access to screening and improving early detection.

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

UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office would like to welcome 19 individuals in its 12th cohort of the Institute for Leadership in the spring of 2026. The goal of the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership is to enhance existing personal, leadership, and management competencies while leveraging current leadership strategies and trends.

A pioneering initiative at UAB is transforming care for patients with tracheostomies. Spearheaded by Harishanker Jeyarajan, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UAB’s first dedicated Tracheostomy Management Clinic was born out of a growing need for consistent, specialized care for patients with complex airway conditions.

Glenn Peters, M.D., professor emeritus in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, reflects on a long career marked by leadership roles, mentorship, and the continued success of the department.

John W. Poynor, M.D., a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Medicine class of 1966, established a connection to the UAB Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery that would lead him to a legacy of giving, one that his wife, Nancy, continues to this day.

For more than two decades, Alice Rhodes, who served on the administrative staff, was a steady presence in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. She was admired for her professionalism, work ethic, and the warmth and laughter she brought to those around her.

Due to his positive experience with the UAB Voice Center team, Bill Goodrich generously chose to support the center’s mission with a $50,000 gift to the UAB Voice Center Acceleration Fund, specifically in honor of Blake Simpson, M.D., and his excellence in care.

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.

Two speech-language pathologists in the UAB Voice Center were recently awarded Distinguished Early Career Professional (ECP) Certificates from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

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!

Mollie Perryman, M.D., joined the UAB Department of Otolaryngology in October 2025. She earned her undergraduate degree in Spanish from Tufts University before spending a year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she taught English.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) 2025 Annual Meeting and OTO EXPO is Saturday, Oct. 11, to Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the Indiana Convention Center and JW Marriott Indianapolis Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Benjamin Greene, M.D., has been promoted from associate professor to professor in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, effective Oct. 1, 2025.

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology welcomed Anne Kane, M.D., in August 2025 as an associate professor and surgeon-scientist in the Division of Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery.

A UAB otolaryngologist offers five key tips for travelers to help protect their ears and sinuses.