Department of Otolaryngology
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.
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. This initiative brings together functional leadership teams from across the institution to strengthen collaboration, enhance performance, and drive meaningful improvements in patient care and operations.
The UAB Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is thrilled to announce the results of our 2026 residency match!
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. The 6-month program features guest speakers from executive-level leadership positions at UAB, including former graduates of the Institute for Leadership.
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.
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. Starting with just two faculty members in the surgery department in 1982, the department has grown into a destination for top-tier care in Alabama and the surrounding areas, boasting nearly two dozen faculty members and countless success stories.
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. She then attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where she completed both her medical degree and residency in otolaryngology. Most recently, she completed her fellowship at UAB.
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.
As summer winds down, many people are packing in one last trip before the season ends. Whether you're headed to the beach, mountains, or visiting family across the country, one thing can quickly turn a relaxing trip into an uncomfortable experience: the pressure that can build in your ears and sinuses during travel.
The UAB Department of Otolaryngology has received additional funding to support the SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program. This initiative of the Parkinson Voice Project allows the UAB Voice Center to offer free speech therapy to eligible individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.
Researchers in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology recently occupied a new, 3,400-square-foot lab space in the newly renovated McCallum Basic Health Science Building. Renovations to the McCallum Building involved revitalizing the historic building, creating more modern and collaborative research spaces, with floors three through nine dedicated to departments in the Heersink School of Medicine.
The UAB Department of Otolaryngology honored its 2025 graduating residents and fellows with a celebration and awards ceremony on June 20.
UAB Hospital has been reverified as a Level I adult trauma center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma (COT) and remains the only ACS-Level I adult trauma center in the state of Alabama. Learn what it takes to meet the rigorous standards set by the ACS.
Do you wake up feeling tired, struggle to focus during the day, or hear from others that your snoring shakes the walls? It could be more than just a noisy inconvenience. For many people, poor nighttime breathing stems from physical issues in the nose or throat that get worse while we sleep. And for others, it may signal a more serious condition like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is a rare, but serious, genetic disorder that causes abnormal blood vessels to form throughout the body. These abnormal vessels bypass much smaller blood vessels, or capillaries, creating direct connections between arteries and veins known as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). This can lead to serious health issues, including internal bleeding and complications in vital organs like the lungs, brain, spine, liver and gastrointestinal tract.
Just as we care for our overall health, our voices deserve the same attention. Vocal health is essential for those who rely on their voices and want to communicate clearly and comfortably.
A new UAB clinic offering a range of ENT services is backed by decades of experience in one convenient location on Highway 119. UAB ENT at 119, previously known as Alabama Nasal and Sinus Center, officially opened its doors under its new moniker in January 2025. The clinic is led by Michael J. Sillers, M.D., FACS, who recently rejoined the UAB Department of Otolaryngology as a clinical professor specializing in rhinology.
When most people think of a surgeon, they don’t typically imagine handcrafted musical instruments, hill country blues, or early morning painting sessions. But for Kirk Withrow, M.D., associate professor and director of Salivary and Sleep Surgery in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology, creativity isn’t a side hobby; it’s part of how he sees the world.
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.
The UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine recognized 15 faculty members for their outstanding contributions to research, education, and clinical care at the Spring 2025 Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception.
Two members of the UAB Department of Otolaryngology were recently recognized for 25 years of service to the institution.
Bradford A. Woodworth, M.D., FACS, James J. Hicks Endowed Professor of Otolaryngology in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology, has been appointed to the rank of Distinguished Professor.
Parkinson’s disease can lead to dysarthria and dysphonia, which are difficulties with speech and voice, respectively. Thanks to a grant awarded to researchers in the UAB Voice Center, part of the Department of Otolaryngology, to support speech therapy specifically for Parkinson’s disease patients, one patient feels that he has not only enhanced his speech but also improved his life.
At the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, research is more than academic enrichment; it’s a pathway to discovery, mentorship, and clinical clarity. For third-year medical student Maddie Bald, engaging in research has been a transformative experience that shaped her understanding of patient care and ultimately guided her toward a future in Otolaryngology.
As flowers bloom and temperatures climb, spring brings in allergy season for many. When sneezing, itchy eyes, or sinus pressure strikes, knowing whether to see a general allergist or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) allergist can be confusing.
Two alumni of the UAB Department of Otolaryngology who passed away in late 2024 and early 2025 leave an indelible mark on not only the legacy of the department, but on the field of otolaryngology as a whole. Kristopher F. Lay, M.D., an alumnus of the 2006 residency class, passed away on Dec. 6, 2024. David A. Kropf, II, M.D., an alumnus of the 2000 residency class, passed away on Jan. 23, 2025.
Dean Stovall, MHA, CPAR, was recently announced as the new Executive Administrator for the UAB Department of Otolaryngology.
The UAB Department of Otolaryngology is excited to welcome our newest class of residents in the 2025 Match.
Justin Turner, M.D., Ph.D., professor and John S. Odess Endowed Chair, delivered the UAB Department of Otolaryngology’s inaugural State of the Department address on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
The Facial Nerve Program in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology, the first and only program of its kind in the state of Alabama, offers a comprehensive team approach for patients experiencing facial paralysis in an effort to improve their condition and therefore, their quality of life.
Daniel Rocke, M.D. J.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology, has been named the Third Holder of the Julius N. Hicks Endowed Chair in the Department of Otolaryngology.
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.
The Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion hosted the annual Women in Medicine and Science Promotion Reception April 11, which recognized women faculty promoted at the end of 2023. The honorees and their guests were greeted by Heersink leadership to celebrate their remarkable achievements.
Nine Heersink staff members were honored at the 2023 Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff reception. Recipients, guests, and Heersink leaders gathered in the Wallace Tumor Institute Lobby on Sept. 14 to celebrate the inaugural group of honorees. Read about this year's honorees and see photos from the reception.