Inaugural Class of Myers Fund Awardees Celebrated in Miami

Some of the awardees together with Academy international program leaders and past leaders at the ceremony in Miami Beach.

During the AAO-HNSF 2024 Annual Meeting & OTO Expo, the Academy celebrated the inaugural class of Eugene N. Myers, MD Global Education Fund Awardees. These 10 talented physicians, hailing from low-income communities in countries across the globe—including Armenia, Ethiopia, Lebanon, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tanzania, and Ukraine—were honored with this prestigious award.

The Academy extends its heartfelt thanks to Mark E. Zafereo, MD, immediate past International Coordinator, who oversaw the incredible growth of the Academy’s international programs and membership during his tenure, including the launch of the Fund. Dr. Zafereo recognized that the Academy's existing international scholarships primarily supported younger physicians, and he identified a pressing need for ongoing specialty training for physicians in low-income countries. Collaborating with the International Steering Committee and Humanitarian Efforts Committee, he helped establish this critical global fund.

The fund is named in honor of Eugene N. Myers, MD, AAO-HNS/F Past President and the Academy's first International Coordinator, as a tribute to his decades of dedication to advancing otolaryngology and global patient care. In just over a year, the Eugene N. Myers Global Education Fund raised more than $120,000.

Among the recipients was Maria K. Alcantara-Capuz, MD, MHPEd, FPSO-HNS, from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines. Expressing her gratitude, she said:

“I was touched by how warmly Dr. Myers, Dr. Zafereo, Dr. [Gregory] Basura, and the International Advisory Board and International Humanitarian Committee members welcomed us. I am deeply grateful that there are people like them who are doing amazing work for the betterment of human lives and the advancement of professionals from less privileged regions of the world.” 

—Maria K. Alcantara-Capuz, MD, MHPEd, FPSO-HNS

Dr. Alcantara-Capuz also emphasized how the experience will positively influence her practice and patient care when she returns to serve her community. She cites the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, mentorship, and networking with esteemed otolaryngology experts as a transformative moment in her career.

The Academy remains dedicated to raising funds for the Eugene N. Myers Global Education Fund, ensuring that this important initiative continues to support physicians from low-resource areas for years to come.