The University of California San Francisco's Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) hosted its Annual Faculty Symposium for Resident Research Opportunities on Friday, October 25, 2024, at Genentech Hall's Byers Auditorium. This event, organized by Dr. Jolie Chang, Director of Resident Research, and Dr. Daniel Johnson, Professor and Vice Chair of Research in OHNS, showcased the department's commitment to advancing research and fostering collaboration among faculty and residents.
Cutting-Edge Research Presentations
The symposium featured a diverse array of presentations covering various subspecialties within otolaryngology- head and neck surgery:
Immunotherapy and Cancer Research
Dr. Matthew Spitzer comprehensively reviewed T cell responses to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) following cancer immunotherapy, highlighting advancements in this critical area of oncology.
Rhinology and Microbiome Studies
Dr. Patricia Loftus presented research opportunities in rhinology, exploring topics from microbiome studies to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Research opportunities and projects exist with multiple faculty members. She also highlighted the novel of chief resident Dr. Jacqui Calendar, whose in-office sampling of eosinophil peroxidase to diagnose eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis study will lead to further prospective study and advances in chronic rhinosinusitis phenotype diagnostics.
Sleep Medicine and Health Access
Dr. Megan Durr discussed ongoing efforts at Zuckerberg San Francisco General (ZSFG) Hospital to improve barriers, outcomes, and access to care in sleep medicine and head & neck cancer care. The DENT study, which began just last week, will study dental outcomes in head & neck cancer patients who will receive fluoride treatments every three months as part of their routine disease surveillance and care.
Personalized Aural Rehabilitation
Dr. Nicole Jiam shared insights on personalized approaches to aural rehabilitation and management, emphasizing patient-centered care in otology. Her research projects have spanned the entirety of her academic career from her UCSF residency, through fellowship, and now as UCSF faculty balancing clinical, research, and entrepreneurial interests.
Precision Medicine in Head and Neck Cancer
Dr. Dan Johnson presented his work on precision medicine for Fanconi Anemia-associated head and neck cancer, demonstrating the department's focus on targeted therapies and personalized medicine.
Laryngology Research
Dr. Clark Rosen delivered an inspiring talk on laryngology research, encouraging attendees to pursue groundbreaking studies in this field. His division has bi-monthly research meetings covering ~20 ongoing studies to include AI laryngoscopy evaluations and app development for point-of-care data collection in prospective studies.
Health Equity in Head and Neck Cancer
Dr. Mary Xu discussed strategies for improving access to care for patients with head and neck cancer, addressing important health equity issues. Her projects focus on community-based care at ZSFG and internationally at partner hospitals in Tanzania and Rwanda.
Vestibular Migraine Research
Dr. Jeffrey Sharon explored the potential role of calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibody targeting in vestibular migraine, highlighting his recently published (Sept ’24) double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of galcanezumab in the treatment of vestibular migraine.
Collaboration and Resident Engagement
The symposium emphasized the importance of collaboration between faculty and residents, providing a platform for residents to explore various research opportunities within the department. The event structure, which included a poster session and ample time for discussions, facilitated networking and idea exchange among attendees. By showcasing projects spanning from basic science to clinical applications and health equity, the event underscored the department's commitment to advancing otolaryngology through collaborative and cutting-edge research.
