Resident and Alumni News

With a mixture of sadness and excitement, I transitioned out of the role of Program Director in July 2023 to focus more on clinical practice and expansion of the Pediatric Otolaryngology division.  The 5 years as Associate Director and 3 years as Director of the residency program, were some of the most rewarding of my career thus far.  There truly is no better feeling than watching a residency group grow and mature into outstanding clinicians, surgeons, family members and community leaders.  Each year brought a different challenge, navigating the program through the COVID years, but the one thing that stayed consistent is the amazing hard-work and resiliency of the residents and faculty.

The sadness I feel stepping down is overshadowed by the excitement I have for what lies ahead for our residency program as Drs. Chris Johnson and Sarah Hodge take over as Program Director and Associate Program Director.  Dr. Johnson comes to us from San Diego, where he served as Program Director of the Navy Otolaryngology Residency Program.  This experience will no doubt help bring innovative ideas to help move our program forward.  Dr. Hodge completed her otolaryngology training at UNC and House Ear Institute, 2 of the top clinical, research and training programs in the world.  Her experiences at these world class programs will no doubt elevate the training offered here.  Beyond their wealth of experience, they are two of the nicest, thoughtful individuals you will meet, which is an absolute must for anyone leading a residency group.

I want to thank the residents for their dedication and teamwork; the faculty for their commitment to education; the Program Coordinators Caroline Cook and Jennifer VanCise for their organizational skills and patience; Drs. Natasha Savage and Michael Groves for their leadership in the institutional GME office, and Dr. Kountakis for trusting me to serve as a leader in the residency program for the past 8 years. I look forward to what lies ahead for our residency program as we transition to the next group of outstanding leaders!