The UAB Department of Otolaryngology hosted its 20th Annual Ann B. & Julius N. Hicks Lectureship in Otolaryngology and 2025 Residents’ Research Day on April 26 at Valley Hotel in Homewood. See photos from the event.
The annual event serves to give Department of Otolaryngology residents an opportunity to showcase their research while also inviting distinguished lecturers from throughout the country to assist in the education of the residents. The Julius N. Hicks Lectureship in Otolaryngology is possible thanks to an endowment from Dr. and Mrs. Julius N. Hicks, who established the endowed lectureship on Sept. 6, 2006, in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. Hicks directed the UAB Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, from 1985 to 1992. He passed away on Jan. 5, 2009, at the age of 80.
This year’s Julius N. Hicks Lecturer was Andrea Vambutas, M.D., FACS, professor and chair of otolaryngology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell, chair of otolaryngology at Long Island Newish Medical Center and North Shore University Medical Center, and senior vice president and executive director of the otolaryngology service line. Vambutas presented, “Linking Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis to Hyper-IgE Syndromes.”
In addition to the lectureship, Department of Otolaryngology residents ranging from PGY3 to PGY5 years gave presentations to attendees and a panel of judges representing distinguished members of the otolaryngology community. This year’s judges included David Alexander, M.D., Kentucky Ear, Nose & Throat; Kristie Brentz, M.D., Southern ENT and Sinus Center; Willie J. Cornay, M.D., ENT & Allergy Associates; Matthew Fort, M.D., Southern ENT and Sinus Center; Robert Swain Jr., M.D., FACS, FARS, Premier Medical Group – Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat; Gary T. Turner, M.D., FACS, UAB; and Andrea Vambutas, M.D., Northwell Health.
Winners for the 2025 Residents’ Research Day are:
1st place: Alabama Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery: Graham Norwood, M.D., PGY5, “Lipopolysaccharide Causes Acquired CFTR Dysfunction in Murine Nasal Airways”
2nd place: Department of Otolaryngology: Delaney Sheehan, M.D., PGY4, “Altered Bacteria Abundance is Associated with Outcomes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma”
PGY2 Resident Research Grant Award: Ari Saravia, M.D., PGY2