UAB Otolaryngology Physicians Named to Best Doctors in America® List
By: Morgan Samples
Published Date: Jan 22
University of Alabama at Birmingham doctors make up more than half of Alabama physicians named Best Doctors in America 2017-2018, with 350 from the UAB Health System peer-selected to the list. The Department of Otolaryngology is especially proud of six physicians that are included in the list.
Congratulations to Dr. William Carroll, Dr. Glenn Peters, Dr. Richard Waguespack and Dr. Bradford Woodworth, and to Pediatric ENT Associates Dr. Audie Woolley and Dr. Brian Wiatrak.
Best Doctors in America recognized UAB doctors from 39 specialties and 179 subspecialties, with the total number of national physicians included reflecting only 4 percent of doctors in America. The only way for a physician to be selected is to be peer-nominated and voted in by current Best Doctors winners.
Best Doctors is a global benefits provider and medical information services company that connects individuals facing difficult medical treatment decisions with the best doctors, selected by impartial peer review in more than 450 subspecialties of medicine, to review their diagnosis and treatment plans. Best Doctors prides itself on having more than 40 million members worldwide.
For more information, please visit BestDoctors.com.
Congratulations to Dr. William Carroll, Dr. Glenn Peters, Dr. Richard Waguespack and Dr. Bradford Woodworth, and to Pediatric ENT Associates Dr. Audie Woolley and Dr. Brian Wiatrak.
Best Doctors in America recognized UAB doctors from 39 specialties and 179 subspecialties, with the total number of national physicians included reflecting only 4 percent of doctors in America. The only way for a physician to be selected is to be peer-nominated and voted in by current Best Doctors winners.
Best Doctors is a global benefits provider and medical information services company that connects individuals facing difficult medical treatment decisions with the best doctors, selected by impartial peer review in more than 450 subspecialties of medicine, to review their diagnosis and treatment plans. Best Doctors prides itself on having more than 40 million members worldwide.
For more information, please visit BestDoctors.com.
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Scott Asher
By: Morgan Samples
Published Date: Jan 02
- When did you graduate from UAB?
I completed ENT residency at UAB in 2013. - Where are you now?
I joined a private practice in Tallahassee, Fla. that is affiliated with the FSU medical school, so we also get to mentor med students, general surgery residents, internal medicine residents and family practice residents that rotate through our group. Although it’s not an academic position, we are definitely a hybrid and do a lot of teaching. - What are your clinical/research interests?
After residency I went on to complete a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery with Dr. Dean Toriumi. Our recent publications have been focused on clinical outcomes after rhinoplasty. - How did you choose to practice this area of otolaryngology?
Believe it or not, Dr. McGrew was actually the first to suggest I consider doing plastics… Maybe it was because he saw I paid great attention to detail, or maybe because he thought I was lousy at drilling mastoids. Either way, he was very influential on my developing career, and helped me see that my personality and skill set fit plastics well. - What aspect of your time at UAB do you believe was most valuable as you started your career?
When I was at UAB, Drs. Peters/Carroll/Rosenthal/Magnuson ran one of the busiest head and neck programs in the country. Drs. Wiatrak/Woolley/Hill/Shirley/Kulbersh/Smith took care of some of the most complex pediatric ENT patients in the region. We had fantastic faculty in the other subspecialties as well, and I got great training in rhinology, laryngology, otology, and plastics. When I came out of residency, I felt like I could have concentrated my practice in any of these areas, and I look back with pride as I see all these sections of the Otolaryngology Department at UAB continue to grow. I am extremely grateful that I received such well-rounded training during residency, because general otolaryngology helped put bread on the table for me until I was able to build a healthy plastics practice. - Did you have a particular mentor while at UAB? Why were they a good mentor?
Dr. Cox was extremely supportive in helping me obtain a fellowship in facial plastics, as UAB had never had a resident try to place in this type fellowship before. Drs. Carroll and Rosenthal, who are also ABFPRS boarded, were also influential in my training as they allowed me on the head and neck service to focus more on the reconstructive side of things rather than oncologic, both in research and clinically. Even though I had a very strong rhinoplasty experience during my fellowship, I still do many things in and on the nose that I learned from Drs. Woodworth and Cox during residency. - What is one of your fondest memories from UAB?
Last year my mom was actually a patient at UAB… Even though it’s been a few years since I graduated, I was amazed at how many hugs I received from so many different people from so many different parts of the hospital. I think it shows how strong the relationships are you form during residency, and that the UAB program is really a big extended family. - Give one piece of advice you’d like to share with the current residents or those recently graduated.
Learn as much as you can from as many people as you can. Each of your faculty do certain things a certain way. Don’t just learn how they do something, but why they do it that way. Make notes not only on the critical steps of the operations, but pay attention to all the small details like what type needle your suture was on, how was the room set up, etc. Write down the brand and the serial numbers when you get an instrument in your hand that you really like. Listen closely to your patients, as they know their bodies best and you can learn much from them. Read as much as you can and go to as many national meetings as you can. Learn from your fellow residents, as they can be your most valuable resource (don’t make the same mistakes they made the week before). Love and respect your co-residents, as they will become some of your best friends for life. Finally, don’t underestimate how much you can learn from your fellows, NP’s, PA’s, RNFA’s, nurses, scrub techs, CRNA’s, anesthesiologists, speech pathologists, audiologists, social workers, administrative staff, unit secretaries, etc., as most of them have been around the block for a while and know how things are supposed to run…and often have more time to teach than your attendings who may be more pressed for time. - When you’re not working, how do you spend your time?
When you’re a resident your life is basically: wake, operate, eat, sleep. Repeat.
So, I’ve had to wipe the dust off the golf clubs, start all over accumulating sky miles, shock your body back into exercising, and remind your family and old friends that you do still exist.
Dr. Yoon Woo Koh This Year’s George Barber Lectureship Guest Speaker
By: Morgan Samples
Published Date: Dec 21
Dr. Yoon Woo Koh was the guest speaker at this year’s George W. Barber, Jr. Lectureship in Otolaryngology.
Dr. Koh is a professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Yonsei University College of Medicine – Head and Neck Cancer Center in Seoul, South Korea. He also serves as the general secretary of the International Guild of Robotic & Endoscopic Head and Neck Surgery and Director of Research Committee, Korean Thyroid Association. He completed his training with a clinical fellowship at Yonsei University College of Medicine.
A pioneer in Robotic Retroauricular Neck Dissection for Thyroid and Head & Neck Cancer, the title of his presentation was “Future of Robotic Head and Neck Surgery” Dr. Koh has written over 100 original articles and book chapters regarding endoscopic and robotic thyroid and head & neck surgery. His research interests have focused on clinical outcome research related to thyroid and head & neck patients. His laboratory research focuses on elucidating the mechanism of crosstalk signaling after targeted therapy and development of treatment platform to overcome the drug resistance in thyroid and head & neck cancer.
Mr. George W. Barber, Jr., generously endowed a lectureship in 1993 to attract experts in the field of otolaryngology to share their knowledge with the students and faculty of UAB. The annual George W. Barber, Jr. Lectureship in Otolaryngology is currently held in November.
Dr. Koh is a professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Yonsei University College of Medicine – Head and Neck Cancer Center in Seoul, South Korea. He also serves as the general secretary of the International Guild of Robotic & Endoscopic Head and Neck Surgery and Director of Research Committee, Korean Thyroid Association. He completed his training with a clinical fellowship at Yonsei University College of Medicine.
A pioneer in Robotic Retroauricular Neck Dissection for Thyroid and Head & Neck Cancer, the title of his presentation was “Future of Robotic Head and Neck Surgery” Dr. Koh has written over 100 original articles and book chapters regarding endoscopic and robotic thyroid and head & neck surgery. His research interests have focused on clinical outcome research related to thyroid and head & neck patients. His laboratory research focuses on elucidating the mechanism of crosstalk signaling after targeted therapy and development of treatment platform to overcome the drug resistance in thyroid and head & neck cancer.
Mr. George W. Barber, Jr., generously endowed a lectureship in 1993 to attract experts in the field of otolaryngology to share their knowledge with the students and faculty of UAB. The annual George W. Barber, Jr. Lectureship in Otolaryngology is currently held in November.
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Noble Anderson
By: Morgan Samples
Published Date: Oct 18
- When did you graduate from UAB?
I completed my residency training in Otolarynology – Head and Neck Surgery in 1994. - Where are you now?
I began my medical practice and have continued to practice in Montgomery, my hometown. I grew up here in a medical family and always felt comfortable coming back home to practice medicine and service my community. - What are your clinical/research interests?
I practice general otolaryngology, placing a special interest in rhinology. I am involved in state and medical societies, like Alabama Society of Otolaryngology (Sec/Tres), Montgomery County Medical Society (Sec/Tres), Montgomery Surgical Center (Board) and am a proud member of the Millennium Society of our American Academy of Otolaryngology. - How did you choose to practice this area of otolaryngology?
I felt that practicing general otolaryngology in a smaller setting was ideal for me. After many years of practicing most aspects of our specialty, I tend to focus more on rhinology. - What aspect of your time at UAB do you believe was most valuable as you started your career?
During my training at UAB, we developed knowledge, confidence and skills in treating most patients with otolaryngological conditions. We also developed excellent connections with the staff of the program at UAB, whereby we could ask for assistance with a patient with a more complicated problem, or in a case that may need more intensive tertiary care at UAB. During my years of practice, I have been very impressed with the ability of the staff to help the community-based otolaryngologists. - Did you have a particular mentor while at UAB? Why were they a good mentor?
I had many outstanding mentors at UAB, but I have to admit that Dr. Julius “buddy” Hicks, the former Chair of our division, had the most influence on my career. I initially rotated on his service as a medical student and later interviewed with him prior to my acceptance into the program. He was a most caring and thoughtful physician and he had a unique ability to communicate with his patients. Some of his sayings I continue to use to this day. He treated his residents as family and took a keen interest in their own local family and community. I later had the honor and privilege to sponsor his nomination award to MASA for 50 years of outstanding service in our state. - Give one piece of advice you'd like to share with the current residents or those recently graduated.
Consider practicing community Otolaryngology in a smaller setting. There is no greater reward and privilege than to be able to help those in greatest need, and in so doing, getting to know their family and friends, who also may become your own patients. We as physicians have a unique ability to connect and interact with our patients, which in itself is personally gratifying. Consider being involved in state and local medical societies and engage with teaching residents and medical students. The latter is a fantastic way to connect with your future peers and be able to give back to your local community with education at the same time. And continue to push yourself with knowledge and information and keep learning! This will naturally benefit our patients! - When you're not working, how do you spend your time?
I enjoy traveling and snow skiing with my friends and family and most enjoy attending Alabama football games with my son, who is now a Sophomore at the University.
Carroll Named to the John S. Odess Chair
By: Morgan Samples
Published Date: Oct 06
Dr. William R. Carroll has been named to the John S. Odess Endowed Chair in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
The John S. Odess Chair was established on June 28, 1993 through the generosity of Dr. Odess after his retirement in 1981. Odess, a native of West Blocton, Ala., and a graduate of Vanderbilt University Medical School, was a clinical otolaryngologist on the volunteer faculty for many years at the Medical College of Alabama.
“Dr. Carroll’s compassion for patients and their care has always been his top concern, and he is most deserving of this honor,” said Dr. Selwyn Vickers, senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the UAB School of Medicine. “Providing funding for academic physicians to focus on the advancement of care in otolaryngology will allow the department to reach new levels of excellence in patient care and research.”
Previously titled the John S. Odess Professor and Division Director Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Chair, the Board of Trustees granted approval to rename it on September 15, 2017 to accurately reflect the department status and the holder as the department chair. Carroll is the third holder of the Odess Endowed Chair succeeding Dr. Glenn Peters and Dr. Eben Rosenthal, but the first to hold the title as Department Chair – the ultimate fulfillment of Odess’ vision for Otolaryngology at UAB.
Carroll joined the UAB faculty in 1996. He was named section director for Head and Neck Oncology in 2004, and became director of the Head and Neck Oncology Fellowship Training Program in 2008. In October 2015, Carroll became the interim Chair for the Department of Otolaryngology and accepted the role as permanent Chair in 2017.
He began his career at Medical College of Georgia, where he earned his medical degree before beginning his postdoctoral training in otolaryngology head and neck surgery at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the UAB faculty as an associate professor of surgery, Carroll served as assistant professor of surgery at the University of Michigan Hospitals and as section chief of Otolaryngology at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Ann Arbor.
The John S. Odess Chair was established on June 28, 1993 through the generosity of Dr. Odess after his retirement in 1981. Odess, a native of West Blocton, Ala., and a graduate of Vanderbilt University Medical School, was a clinical otolaryngologist on the volunteer faculty for many years at the Medical College of Alabama.
“Dr. Carroll’s compassion for patients and their care has always been his top concern, and he is most deserving of this honor,” said Dr. Selwyn Vickers, senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the UAB School of Medicine. “Providing funding for academic physicians to focus on the advancement of care in otolaryngology will allow the department to reach new levels of excellence in patient care and research.”
Previously titled the John S. Odess Professor and Division Director Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Chair, the Board of Trustees granted approval to rename it on September 15, 2017 to accurately reflect the department status and the holder as the department chair. Carroll is the third holder of the Odess Endowed Chair succeeding Dr. Glenn Peters and Dr. Eben Rosenthal, but the first to hold the title as Department Chair – the ultimate fulfillment of Odess’ vision for Otolaryngology at UAB.
Carroll joined the UAB faculty in 1996. He was named section director for Head and Neck Oncology in 2004, and became director of the Head and Neck Oncology Fellowship Training Program in 2008. In October 2015, Carroll became the interim Chair for the Department of Otolaryngology and accepted the role as permanent Chair in 2017.
He began his career at Medical College of Georgia, where he earned his medical degree before beginning his postdoctoral training in otolaryngology head and neck surgery at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the UAB faculty as an associate professor of surgery, Carroll served as assistant professor of surgery at the University of Michigan Hospitals and as section chief of Otolaryngology at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Residents Participate in CMF Hybrid/Eirich Arch Bar Plating Workshop
By: Morgan Samples
Published Date: Oct 05
UAB Otolaryngology residents recently participated in a CMF Hybrid/Eirich Arch Bar Plating workshop hosted by Stryker CMF. This interactive workshop was led by a consultant who demonstrated and guided residents through the safe and effective placement of Hybrid and Eirich Arch Bars on the human skull.
UAB Ear, Nose and Throat ranked #50 in U.S. News Best Hospitals
By: Morgan Samples
Published Date: Sep 25
The U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Rankings 2017-2018 lists UAB Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) No. 50 nationally. This is the eighth year in a row UAB ENT has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals.
“UAB ENT is committed to providing outstanding patient care and we believe this national recognition reflects both our dedication and expertise across the spectrum of head and neck disorders,” said William R. Carroll, M.D., Chair, UAB Department of Otolaryngology.
A hospital’s score for ENT is based on various data categories, including volume of high-risk patients, nurse staffing and patient survival. UAB ENT was ranked highly for patient safety, number of patients and patient services, among other factors.
Overall, UAB Hospital was again ranked No. 1 in Alabama. Nine other UAB adult specialties joined ENT in the nation’s top 50, an increase from last year, and four others were named High Performing.
“We are pleased that UAB Hospital continues to be recognized for providing world-class health care to the residents of our state, region and nation,” said Health System CEO Will Ferniany, Ph.D. “The consistent excellence of our faculty and staff is a reassuring constant during times of change and uncertainty in our country’s health care system. We are proud of our national rankings, and proud to be acknowledged as Alabama’s best hospital.”
UAB’s highest ranked programs include:
“UAB ENT is committed to providing outstanding patient care and we believe this national recognition reflects both our dedication and expertise across the spectrum of head and neck disorders,” said William R. Carroll, M.D., Chair, UAB Department of Otolaryngology.
A hospital’s score for ENT is based on various data categories, including volume of high-risk patients, nurse staffing and patient survival. UAB ENT was ranked highly for patient safety, number of patients and patient services, among other factors.
Overall, UAB Hospital was again ranked No. 1 in Alabama. Nine other UAB adult specialties joined ENT in the nation’s top 50, an increase from last year, and four others were named High Performing.
“We are pleased that UAB Hospital continues to be recognized for providing world-class health care to the residents of our state, region and nation,” said Health System CEO Will Ferniany, Ph.D. “The consistent excellence of our faculty and staff is a reassuring constant during times of change and uncertainty in our country’s health care system. We are proud of our national rankings, and proud to be acknowledged as Alabama’s best hospital.”
UAB’s highest ranked programs include:
- Rheumatology (10)
- Nephrology (14)
- Pulmonology (17)
- Urology (20)
- Diabetes and Endocrinology (21)
- Gynecology (26)
- Cardiology and Heart Surgery (30)
- Neurology and Neurosurgery (34)
- Geriatrics (47)
- Ear, Nose and Throat (50)
- Cancer (High Performing)
- Gastroenterology and GI Surgery (High Performing)
- Orthopedics (High Performing)
- Rehabilitation (High Performing)