American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF)
AAO-HNSF Maureen Hannley Research Grant
Cristina Baldassari, MD
Old Dominion University Research Foundation
Project Title: Outcomes of GLP-1 Agonists for OSA in Children and Adolescents with Obesity
Bio coming soon!
AAO-HNSF Bobby R. Alford Endowed Research Grant
Michelle Chen, MD, MHS
Stanford University School of Medicine
Project Title: Integrating Preventative Dental Care into Medical Care for Head and Neck Cancer
Dr. Chen is a fellowship-trained head and neck surgical oncologist and reconstructive surgeon and assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Chen leads a research lab focused on developing interventions to improve survivorship care in head and neck cancer.
Mary Xu
Stanford University School of Medicine
Project Title: Integrating Preventative Dental Care into Medical Care for Head and Neck Cancer
Dr. Xu is an Assistant Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Her work aims at bettering the lives of cancer patients through direct patient care and through studying interventions to improve access to quality cancer care in resource-constrained health systems, both domestically and internationally.
AAO-HNSF Percy Memorial Research Award
David Forner, MD, MSc
University of Michigan
Project Title: Decision Making in Salvage Surgery for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer
Dr. Forner is an Assistant Professor of Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. His clinical practice includes all aspects of head and neck surgical oncology and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Forner brings expertise in shared decision-making as a faculty member of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine within the University of Michigan, focusing on improving the integration of patient values and preferences with their care. He has a Masters in Clinical Epidemiology with training in psychometrics, clinical trial design, qualitative and mixed-methods research, and advanced biostatistics.
AAO-HNSF Health Services Research Grant
Derek Kao, MD, MSCR
University of Michigan
Project Title: Developing and Validating a Risk Score for Post-Intubation Airway Stenosis
Dr. Kao is an R25 otolaryngology resident at the University of Michigan. He completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University and earned his medical and graduate degrees from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His research focuses on improving the quality of surgical care through risk prediction and patient communication. His work has examined predictive biomarkers in head and neck cancer, communication of risk in thyroid surgery, and he is currently developing a risk prediction model for post-intubation airway stenosis. He aspires to become a surgeon-scientist dedicated to advancing high-value, patient-centered surgical care.
AAO-HNSF Rande H. Lazar Health Services Research Grant
Nina Zhao, MD
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Project Title: Enhancing Interpretation of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Otolaryngology
Dr. Zhao is an Assistant Professor and fellowship-trained laryngologist in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on improving the clinical utility of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in otolaryngology, and her project aims to strengthen PROM interpretation by developing meaningful benchmarks for commonly used voice and swallowing measures through a combination of modern measurement science and patient perspectives. This work seeks to help clinicians move beyond PROM scores as numbers alone and apply them to support more patient-centered communication, shared decision-making, and treatment evaluation.
AAO-HNSF Reg-ent Resident Research Grant
Cyrus Abrahamson, BA
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Project Title: Evaluating the Necessity of Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Otolaryngology
Cyrus Abrahamson is a fourth-year medical student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine currently applying for otolaryngology residency. He completed his undergraduate studies at Northwestern, graduating cum laude. His research spans multiple subspecialties of otolaryngology, including laryngology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and pediatric otolaryngology. Under the mentorship of Dr. Jill D’Souza, Dr. Daniel Chelius, Dr. Anthony Sheyn, Dr. Jeff Rastatter, and Dr. David Fei-Zhang, his research project will investigate patterns of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis across otolaryngology with the goal of promoting evidence-based antibiotic stewardship.
AAO-HNSF Resident Research Grant
Alexandria Lichtl, MD
Oregon Health & Science University
Project Title: Feasibility of a Peer Support Program for Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Dr. Lichtl is originally from Florida and earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University before completing medical school at New York University. She is a rising PGY-3 resident in the Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Department at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Dr. Lichtl is passionate about patient support and conducts research focused on improving the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer, with a particular interest in peer support programs and survivorship.
Aman Prasad, MD
University of Pennsylvania
Project Title: Injectable Zwitterionic Hydrogels for Head and Neck Tissue Expansion
Dr. Prasad is a rising 4th year resident in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Ohio State University and his medical degree at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is interested in pursuing a career in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Under the guidance of Drs. Ryan Carey and Leo Wang, he will work to develop a biomaterial which can be used as an injectable and self-inflating tissue expander that can be delivered through a needle to conform to complex craniofacial contours.
Austin Cao, MD
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Project Title: DNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles for treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis
Dr. Cao is in his fourth year of residency in Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He is originally from Mequon, Wisconsin. After graduating from Rice University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, he completed his medical training at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Under the mentorship of Dr. Natasha Mirza, Dr. Riccardo Gottardi, and Dr. Jacob Brenner, his research focuses on providing sustained, therapeutic gene delivery to the upper airway in patients with laryngotracheal stenosis.
Ayad Ali, MD, PhD
Duke University School of Medicine
Project Title: Unraveling immune mechanisms governing Dupilumab-driven smell recovery in CRSwNP
Dr. Ali is an R25 surgeon-scientist otolaryngology research resident at Duke University. He earned an Honours B.Sc. in Immunology from McGill University and completed his M.D.-Ph.D. training at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where he studied how natural killer cells coordinate innate and adaptive immune responses during infection. Under the mentorship of Dr. Bradley Goldstein, his funded research will investigate the mechanisms underlying dupilumab-mediated smell recovery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, with the goal of improving treatment strategies and patient outcomes.
Diana Lopez-Fay, MD, MS
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Project Title: Estrogen promotes airway scar formation in idiopathic subglottic stenosis
Dr. Lopez-Fay is an Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery resident at Johns Hopkins. She is originally from Miami, FL. She earned her B.S. and B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her Master of Science in Clinical Research from Case Western Reserve University, and her M.D. from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. She spent a year at the NIH as part of the Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) prior to residency. Her research interests center on laryngotracheal stenosis with goals of understanding disease pathogenesis and developing therapeutic options for this series of airway diseases.
Dillon Strepay, MD
IU School of Medicine
Project Title: Spatial Organization of Cellular Microenvironments in Vestibular Schwannoma
Dr. Strepay is a PGY3 otolaryngology resident at Indiana University. He earned his bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology at North Carolina Central University and completed his medical training at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Under the direction of Rick Nelson, MD, PhD, his research will use spatial transcriptomics to characterize the cellular architecture and microenvironment of vestibular schwannomas, with a focus on identifying spatially organized cellular interactions that drive tumor growth and disease progression. This work aims to advance the understanding of vestibular schwannoma biology and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Joy Chen, MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Project Title: Machine Learning-Derived Muscle Index for Frailty in Head and Neck Surgery
Dr. Chen is a PGY-4 resident in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed her undergraduate and medical training at the University of California, Davis. Prior to medical school, she worked as a clinical dietitian at Stanford Health Care, developing expertise in perioperative nutrition and malnutrition assessment that continues to inform her research. Under the mentorship of Drs. Mingyang Gray and Samuel DeMaria, her work investigates CT-derived cervical skeletal muscle index as an objective frailty marker in head and neck surgery patients, with the goal of improving perioperative risk stratification.
Kimberly Ramirez, MD
University of Southern California (USC)
Project Title: Targeting Hippo Pathway for Vestibular Hair Cell Regeneration
Dr. Ramirez is a resident physician and R25 postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Southern California. A Los Angeles native, she returned to Southern California for residency after completing her undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, working four years as a medical assistant in otolaryngology, and earning her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Under the mentorship of Ksenia Gnedeva, PhD, she investigates regenerative approaches to inner ear hair cell loss and the restoration of vestibular function following injury.
Maryanna Owoc, MD, PhD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Project Title: Disparities in hearing healthcare access in children with single sided deafness
Dr. Owoc is a resident in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at UPMC. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Worcester State University before joining the University of Pittsburgh-Carnegie Mellon Medical Scientist Training Program, where she completed her medical training and PhD in auditory neurobiology. Additionally, she has completed postdoctoral training in head and neck cancer epidemiology. Under the mentorship of Drs. Angela Mazul and David Chi, this project bridges her interests in auditory science and epidemiology to investigate the role of individual and societal factors in hearing healthcare access among pediatric patients with single-sided deafness.
Randall Harley, MD
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Project Title: A Novel Decellularized Fibrocartilage Graft for Pediatric Tympanoplasty
Dr. Harley is a PGY-4 resident in Otolaryngology at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his undergraduate education at Georgetown University and earned his MD and MS degrees from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Under the mentorship of John Germiller, MD, PhD, and Riccardo Gottardi, PhD, he is developing and evaluating a decellularized fibrocartilage graft for use in pediatric tympanoplasty. This work aims to improve graft failure rates in the pediatric population by providing an off-the-shelf graft material with high tensile strength and robust remodeling potential.
Riley Larkin, MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Project Title: Impact of Endotracheal Tube Size on the Severity of Acute Laryngeal Injury
Dr. Larkin is a native of Jupiter, Florida. He earned his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and is currently a PGY-2 Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is one of the department’s R25 research residents where he is mentored by Alexander Gelbard, M.D. Prior to residency, he completed the NIH’s Medical Research Scholars Program, where he investigated the tumor immune microenvironment of olfactory neuroblastoma and coordinated several clinical trials. His current clinical and research interests span pediatric laryngeal disease, laryngeal injury, and novel therapies for subglottic stenosis.
Samip Kafle, MD
Oregon Health & Science University
Project Title: Binaural pitch fusion in second-side cochlear implant candidates
Dr. Kafle is a PGY-3 OHNS resident at Oregon Health & Science University with a background in sensory neuroscience, conducting cochlear implant research under the mentorship of Dr. Lina Reiss and Dr. Jay Gantz. His work aims to trace how we hear, integrate signals, understand, and ultimately communicate – from the central binding of discordant electric and acoustic inputs to real-world speech comprehension. His CORE-funded project tests binaural pitch fusion as a preoperative biomarker for second-side cochlear implant outcomes. He is a cochlear implant user, nature lover, and a dad to two cats and one little human.
Shreyas Krishnapura, MD
University of Cincinnati
Project Title: The role of the laryngotracheal microbiome in patients with intubation injuries
Dr. Krishnapura is a rising PGY3 at the University of Cincinnati Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He completed his bachelor’s in Biochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology, followed by medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He is interested in pursuing an academic career in pediatric otolaryngology and exploring new management techniques to improve outcomes for our most vulnerable and critically ill patients. Outside of medicine, he enjoys sneaker collecting and watching Formula 1 racing.
Stephanie Kim, MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Project Title: A Novel Respiratory Device to Reduce Atelectasis After Head and Neck Free Flaps
Dr. Kim is an Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A New England native, she graduated from Wellesley College before earning her medical degree from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Her research spans basic science, clinical outcomes, medical device innovation, and global health, with projects ranging from ion channel physiology to studies of acute phonotrauma in collegiate coxswains. Her current work focuses on developing novel technologies to improve postoperative pulmonary care through multidisciplinary collaboration to translate innovative ideas into solutions that improve patient care.
Stephen Leong, MD
University of Washington School of Medicine
Project Title: Quantifying Aspiration and Dysphagia in a Rat Alzheimer’s Disease Model
Dr. Leong is a rising PGY-4 resident in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Washington. He graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Neuroscience and obtained his MD from the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons. He is currently completing an R25 clinician-scientist training program under the mentorship of Drs. Neel Bhatt, MD and David Perkel, PhD. His research focuses on the mechanism of dysphagia in rat models of aging and neurodegenerative disorders.
Talia Guardia, MD, PhD
Duke University Health System
Project Title: Engaging T cell immune surveillance in mucosal melanoma
Dr. Guardia is an R25 surgeon-scientist and Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery research resident at Duke University. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Barry University and completed her M.D.-Ph.D. training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Her doctoral research led to the functional discovery of the novel long non-coding RNA OBSCN-AS1 and its role in regulating OBSCN (Obscurin) transcription, demonstrating that the OBSCN-AS1/OBSCN gene pair functions as a metastasis suppressor in triple-negative breast cancer. Building on her longstanding interest in the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression and metastasis, Dr. Guardia’s current research focuses on mucosal melanoma under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Brown at Duke University. Her work aims to develop novel preclinical mouse models of mucosal melanoma, define how tumor location influences melanoma immunobiology and response to immunotherapy independent of tumor mutational burden, and evaluate innovative immunotherapeutic strategies to enhance T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity in nasopharyngeal mucosal melanoma. Through this research, she seeks to advance the understanding of this rare and aggressive malignancy while identifying new therapeutic approaches for patients.
Allan Wang, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
Project Title: Multi-parametric assessment of outcomes after vocal tremor treatment
Dr. Wang is a resident in Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles. He graduated with a BA in Neuroscience and Philosophy from Northwestern University and an MPhil in Health, Medicine, and Society from the University of Cambridge prior to attending Stanford University for medical school. In medical school, he performed research on expanding indications for neuromodulatory interventions including deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound. He is passionate about applying advances in neuromodulation for the treatment of otolaryngologic disorders, including voice disorders such as vocal tremor.
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF)/Snot Force Alliance (SFA)
AAO-HNSF/SFA Thomas S. Higgins Unified Airway Research Grant
Steven Chen, MD, PhD
Indiana University
Project Title: Defining Causal Microbiome-Host Regulatory Programs in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Dr. Chen is a PGY-4 resident in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Indiana University. He received a BA in mathematics and biology from Dartmouth College. He earned his MD/PhD from Indiana University with training in bioinformatics and genomics. Under the mentorship of Dr. Vijay Ramakrishnan, his research integrates computational, clinical, and translational approaches to chronic rhinosinusitis. Dr. Chen’s research aims to advance precision medicine in CRS through integrated multi-omics analysis and registry-based outcomes studies.
American Head and Neck Society (AHNS)/American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF)
AHNS/AAO-HNSF Translational Innovator Combined Award
Joshua Smith, MD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Project Title: Deciphering the Immunosuppressive Role of Tobacco in HPV+ Oropharynx Cancer
Dr. Smith is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. He completed his surgical residency training at the University of Michigan in 2024 and a combined NIH T32 research and surgical fellowship in Advanced Head & Neck Oncologic & Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh in 2025. His research is focused on determining mechanisms of viral- and tobacco-mediated tumor-immune evasion and response to immune checkpoint blockade in HPV-associated oropharynx cancers.
AHNS/AAO-HNSF Young Investigator Combined Award
Farshad Chowdhury, MD
University of Rochester Medical Center
Project Title: Stemness-Enriched Tumor Neighborhood Immune Escape in Oral Cavity SCC
Dr. Chowdhury is a head and neck surgical oncologist and microvascular reconstructive surgeon, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He earned his MD from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, completed a research-track residency at the University of Colorado, and received fellowship training at the University of Alabama Birmingham. His translational research program seeks to leverage insights gained from studying interactions between stem-like cells and the host immune system to treat and ultimately prevent recurrence in oral cavity squamous cell cancer.
American Head and Neck Society (AHNS)
AHNS Alando J. Ballantyne Trainee Research Pilot Grant
Daniel Kraft, MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Project Title: Innate-like T cell dynamics during induction chemo/immunotherapy in HNSCC
Dr. Kraft is a chief resident in the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He received his undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and his MD from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University where he was inducted into AOA. At Mount Sinai, he serves as the inaugural Glenn August Surgeon-Scientist Endowment Fellow. His research focuses on the role of innate-like immunity during neoadjuvant therapy in head and neck cancer. His mentors include Dr. Eric Genden, Dr. Amir Horowitz, and Dr. Scott Roof.
AHNS Pilot Grant
Jennifer Anderson, MD, PhD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Project Title: Efficacy of liposomal doxorubicin in cisplatin-resistant models of HNSCC
Dr. Anderson is a surgeon-scientist on faculty at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Anderson’s research focuses on tumor immunology and the tumor microenvironment in head and neck cancer, with particular emphasis on immunomodulatory therapeutic strategies, as well as single cell and spatial approaches. She is actively engaged in both clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in leading journals, including Clinical Cancer Research and Nature Reviews Cancer. She also serves on the NRG Oncology Head and Neck Cancer General Committee and the AHNS Basic & Translational Science Service.
AHNS Trainee Pilot Research Award
Chelsea Gelboin-Burkhart, MD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Project Title: Evaluating nerve-immune interactions in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Dr. Gelboin-Burkhart is currently completing her head and neck & microvascular surgery fellowship and T32 postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. Originally from San Diego, she graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in in Molecular and Cellular Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology followed by attending medical school at Stony Brook University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Minnesota. During her postdoc, she is studying intratumoral innervation, perineural invasion, and their impact on immunosuppression and systemic therapy response in head and neck malignancies.
Rachel Fenberg, MD
University of Michigan
Project Title: Investigating EDIL3 as an Invasion Driver in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Dr. Fenberg is a rising PGY-3 otolaryngology resident in the R25 research track at the University of Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in biomedical engineering, then attended medical school at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where she completed a one-year research fellowship focused on patient-specific devices for head and neck cancer patients. She will work in Dr. Marisa Buchakjian’s lab to investigate EDIL3, a novel pro-invasion candidate in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, to better understand what drives cellular invasion.
AHNS Presidential Award: Defining and Implementing Value-Based Care in Head and Neck Cancer
Beatrice Manduchi, PhD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Project Title: Evidence-Based Dysphagia Triage and Surveillance in OPC Survivorship
Dr. Manduchi is an internationally trained speech-language pathologist. She earned her BSc from the University of Milan, her MSc from Trinity College Dublin, and her PhD from University of Toronto. Following the completion of a postdoctoral fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she now serves as a Research Faculty Instructor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, USA. Her research focuses on dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer.
AHNS Presidential Award: Integrating Emerging Technologies for Head and Neck Cancer Translational Clinical and Epidemiologic Research
Maxwell Lee, MD
Stanford University School of Medicine
Project Title: Blood proteomics and imputed transcriptomics to predict immunotherapy response
Dr. Lee is a third-year otolaryngology resident at Stanford University. As an aspiring surgeon-scientist under the mentorship of Drs. John Sunwoo, Vasu Divi, and Andrey Finegersh, he investigates mechanisms of immunotherapy activity and resistance in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma using spatial transcriptomics and deep learning. His current project integrates blood proteomics with AI-imputed spatial transcriptomics to develop a robust multimodal biomarker predicting immunotherapy response. This work aims to enable earlier identification of patients likely to benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, optimizing treatment strategies and catalyzing prospective biobanking efforts for clinical translation of precision oncology in head and neck cancer.
AHNS Presidential Award: Novel Therapeutic Targets and Combinations in Head and Neck Cancer
Abdullah Memon, BS
The Medical College of Wisconsin
Project Title: Cancer-testis antigens as precision targets for TCR-engineered T cell therapy
Dr. Memon is a third-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the inaugural recipient of the American Cancer Society Physician-Scientist Training Fellowship. He graduated with a BS in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University. Under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Zenga, his research focuses on tumor immunology and immune engineering, integrating single-cell and spatial transcriptomics with optofluidic single-cell co-culture using the Bruker Beacon Discovery platform for tumor-reactive TCR discovery. His work leverages tumor-associated antigens and patient-specific neoantigens to develop precision TCR-engineered therapies. In parallel, he investigates translational strategies to render solid tumors more permissive to adoptive cell therapy.
AHNS Endocrine Surgery Section ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association Award for Thyroid Cancer Research Grant
Mohammad Jay, MD
University of Toronto
Project Title: Survivorship Toxicity Prediction Model for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Dr. Jay is a Head, Neck, and Adrenal Endocrinology fellow and clinical epidemiology PhD student at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on thyroid and parathyroid disease, cancer survivorship, and population-based methods to improve risk prediction and patient outcomes. His funded project, Survivorship Toxicity Prediction Model for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer, is being conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Tony Eskander and aims to develop clinically useful tools to identify patients at risk of long-term treatment-related toxicities following thyroid cancer care.
Theresa Guo, MD
University of California, San Diego
Project Title: Disparities in Thyroid Cancer Evaluation Among Hispanic Adults
Dr. Guo is a board-certified head and neck surgeon who is engaged in research that seeks to deliver precision cancer care. She is interested in studying the complex post-transcriptional genomic changes that occur in head and neck tumors, specifically splice alteration. In addition, Dr. Guo’s clinical research includes surgical outcomes in skin cancer, thyroid cancer, and impact of disparities on oncologic outcomes. Dr. Guo completed a fellowship in head and neck surgical oncology at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She completed her residency training in otolaryngology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Guo earned her medical degree at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, a program of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She is a member of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Head and Neck Society, and NCCN Thyroid Carcinoma Guidelines Committee.
Association of Migraine Disorders (AMD)
AMD Resident Research Grant
Eric Kim, MD
University of California, San Francisco
Project Title: Does Sleep Quality Affect Vestibular Migraine?
Dr. Kim is a rising PGY4 in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. After completing his undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, he obtained his medical degree at University of California, San Francisco and graduated with distinction for his yearlong neurotology research. Under the mentorship of Drs. Jeffrey Sharon and Jolie Chang, his study will focus on assessing the link between sleep quality and vestibular migraine severity using consumer sleep technology.
Olivia La Monte, MD
University of California, San Diego – Health Sciences
Project Title: Vestibular Migraine in a Dish: Patient-Derived iPSC Disease Models
Dr. LaMonte is an Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery resident at the University of California, San Diego. Her research centers on patient-centered outcomes and mechanistic investigation in neurotologic disease, with emphasis on conditions like vestibular migraine, tinnitus, and vestibular schwannoma that impose substantial functional morbidity despite being non-life-threatening. She has led clinical outcomes studies on hearing preservation, balance, and quality of life after skull base surgery, developed a vestibular schwannoma decision-support tool, and contributed to genomic and translational animal-model research. Her AMD project establishes patient-derived iPSC models of vestibular migraine.
American Rhinologic Society (ARS)
ARS New Investigator Award
Michael Price, MD, PhD
University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute
Project Title: Analysis of isolated cilia in chronic rhinosinusitis
Dr. Price is a rhinologist and anterior skull base surgeon in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center. His research focuses on mechanisms of mucociliary dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis, with a particular interest in ciliary biology, epithelial injury, and environmental drivers of sinonasal inflammation. His CORE-funded project will use isolated human cilia to better understand how ciliary dysfunction contributes to chronic rhinosinusitis and to identify future translational approaches for patients with persistent or refractory disease.
ARS Women in Rhinology Research Grant Sponsored by Medtronic
Jennifer Villwock, MD
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Project Title: Exploring Sensory Dysfunction as a Biomarker of Cognitive Risk in Menopause
Dr. Villwock is a Professor of Otolaryngology, Rhinologist, and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Otolaryngology at University Hospitals. Her research focuses on the intersection of smell, hearing, and vestibular function and cognition. She has received funding from the NIH and Department of Defense, won the Audience Choice Award at the 2023 Alzheimer’s Association pitch competition, and was a finalist at the AARP AgeTech Collaborative at ViVE2023 Making Aging Easier pitch competition. She is passionate about accessible innovation to improve patient care particularly with respect to leveraging multisensory data to enhance screening, diagnosis, and treatment of neurocognitive decline.
ARS Friends in Research Award
Victoria Lee, MD
University of Illinois Chicago
Project Title: Understanding menstrual cycle changes in sinonasal symptoms in allergic rhinitis
Dr. Lee is a fellowship-trained rhinologist and skull base surgeon and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Director of Research at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her research explores the effects of sociodemographic and environmental factors, biological sex, and ovarian steroids, in sinonasal inflammatory diseases. She has received both peer-reviewed and industry funding for her research, including a Triological Society Career Development Award, and was a NIH-funded K12 Building Interdisciplinary Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Program Scholar. Dr. Lee is actively involved in the AAO-HNSF, serving on the research, education, and guidelines committees.
ARS Resident Research Grant
Davis Argersinger, MD
University of Michigan
Project Title: Wildfire Particulate Matter and Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Dr. Argersinger is a rising PGY-4 in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Psychology. He then completed his M.D. at the University of Michigan. Under the guidance of Dr. Amarbir Gill, his project will explore the impact of wildfire and non-wildfire particulate matter on healthcare utilization for acute exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis.
Hoang Bui Nguyen, MD, PhD
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Project Title: Utilizing oncRNA signatures to enable minimally invasive CRS endoptyping
Originally from Nha Trang, Vietnam, Dr. Bui-Nguyen is a PGY-5 resident in the Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery residency program. Prior to residency, Dr. Bui-Nguyen conducted a wide range of high-impact basic and translational research in immunology and computational biology. He is the recipient of multiple CORE grants, and his current research focuses on endotyping chronic rhinosinusitis using novel orphan non-coding RNA signatures, with the goal of advancing precision diagnostics and treatment strategies for inflammatory sinonasal disease.
American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO)
ASPO Career Development Award
Ryan Belcher, MD, MPH
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Project Title: Spatial Transcriptomics of Pediatric Thyroid Cancer
Dr. Belcher is a pediatric otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon based in Nashville, TN, specializing in pediatric head and neck oncologic surgery, cleft lip/palate repair, and pediatric thyroid surgery. He also holds an MPH in Global Health from Vanderbilt University. Currently, he serves as an Associate Professor at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and is the Co-Director of the Vanderbilt Pediatric Thyroid Nodule and Cancer Program. Dr. Belcher has expertise in cleft lip/palate surgeries, pediatric craniofacial surgery, and pediatric solid tumor oncology. His research interests include pediatric thyroid cancer, cleft and craniofacial disorders, and pediatric head and neck.
ASPO Research Grant
Amanda Chiao, AuD, PhD, CCC-A
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso
Project Title: Evaluating Quality of Life and Daily Activity in Pediatric Vestibular Loss
Dr. Chiao is an Assistant Professor, Chief of Audiology, and the Director of the Pediatrics and Equity in Audiology Research Laboratory in the Department of Surgery at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso. She is also a pediatric audiologist at El Paso Children’s Hospital. Dr. Chiao conducts research on substance misuse-related otologic conditions, the psychosocial impact of pediatric vestibular loss, and resolving pediatric otologic health gaps along the US-Mexico border. Her research and clinical initiatives have been funded by the NIH National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and the Toyota Way Forward Foundation.
Inbal Hazkani, MD
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Project Title: TRACK: Tonsillectomy Recovery Assessment using Consumer-grade Kinetics
Dr. Hazkani is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She completed medical school and otolaryngology residency training in Israel, followed by a T32 research fellowship at the University of North Carolina, a pediatric otolaryngology fellowship at Emory University and Lurie Children’s Hospital, and a Master’s degree in Health Services Outcomes Research from Northwestern University. Her research focuses on pediatric aerodigestive disorders, health outcomes, caregiver decision-making, and the use of digital health technologies to improve postoperative recovery and patient-centered care.
Solomon Johnson, MD, MS
University of Washington
Project Title: Exploring genetic and transcriptomic heterogeneity in venous malformations.
Dr. Johnson is currently an Otolaryngology resident at the University of Washington, completing an NIH R25 research year at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. He earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh. He is interested in defining the molecular mechanisms that drive vascular anomalies in order to identify therapeutic targets for conditions that currently lack curative medical therapy. Under the mentorship of Drs. Jonathan Perkins and James Bennett, Dr. Johnson’s research applies genotype-aware single-cell assays to human tissue for the first time, characterizing how the variant most commonly associated with venous malformations alters chromatin accessibility and transcriptional programs in endothelial cells.
International Surgical Sleep Society (ISSS)
ISSS Research Grant
Erik Vanstrum, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
Project Title: Automated Assessment of Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy Using Vision Transformers
Dr. Vanstrum is a rising 5th year Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery resident at UCLA specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence and surgery. His research applies computer vision, machine learning, and robotics to address problems surrounding clinical diagnosis, surgical education, and access to specialty care. He is developing software to support interpretation of sleep endoscopy video and robotic systems to automate flexible endoscopy.
