Programs in Africa and South America showcase how the University of California, San Francisco Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (UCSF OHNS) is making a difference for the better around the world.

Communication is one of the cornerstones of life, but sometimes, it can come with barriers. The Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) at UCSF work every day to eliminate those barriers and make communication accessible for all. We want to take time this Better Hearing and Speech Month to highlight the work our SLPs do to make patients' lives all the better.

On February 7, 2023, surgeons at the UCSF OHNS switched to an e-consent process. By helping patients feel comfortable as they prepare for surgery, we feel we are contributing to the overall culture of patient safety at UCSF.

The Children's Communication Center UCSF released its first formal Annual Report at the end of 2022 to highlight and celebrate the incredible work happening there. At the CCC, children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HH) are seen for comprehensive hearing health services by dedicated pediatric providers in Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology and Social Work at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals – San Francisco and Oakland.

Happy Kids ENT Health Month from UCSF OHNS! To celebrate, we asked some of our pediatric otolaryngology team why they enjoy working with kids. Read their responses in our blog!

The SFVAMC offers comprehensive otolaryngology care by UCSF faculty members, who include fellowship-trained surgeons in Otology/Neurotology, Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery, Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Laryngology and Rhinology/Skull Base Surgery. The SFVAMC care staff consists of 6 part-time faculty, including Dr. Pletcher, two full-time residents and a physician assistant — all of whom are supported by the faculty at UCSF OHNS who assist with emergency call coverage and specialty-specific consultation.

One of the places where our team works is the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, a level 1 trauma center that is part of the San Francisco Health Network. Members of the UCSF OHNS provide inpatient, outpatient, emergency and diagnostic services for adults and children. ZSFG serves any person within San Francisco, regardless of their ability to pay or their immigration status.

July is UV Safety Awareness Month, an important time to remind everyone of the importance of skin protection and to highlight the work of UCSF OHNS at the UCSF Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center. This center provides specialized care for patients with all stages of melanoma, which is commonly caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The center also provides care for patients with other types of skin cancer.

This July, during National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, we want to highlight the ways the team at the UCSF OHNS is involved in craniofacial care. This month serves to raise awareness and improve understanding of orofacial clefts and other conditions of the head and face. Otolaryngologists play a critical role in the management of children with craniofacial anomalies.

For HHT Awareness Month, we want to highlight the role of UCSF OHNS in the treatment of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, a genetic disorder which leads to development of abnormal blood vessels that are fragile and can bleed easily. UCSF was designated a center of excellence by Cure HHT, the leading organization for HHT research, education and patient advocacy. The UCSF HHT Center of Excellence specializes in the comprehensive screening, diagnosis and treatment of HHT.