Published: August 3, 2018

Service and leadership awards presented at Annual Meeting

Service and leadership awards presented at Annual Meeting


Shrime Mark

2018 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Award for Humanism in Medicine

The Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award recognizes members committed to practicing otolaryngology with compassionate, patient-centered care.

This year’s awardee is Mark G. Shrime, MD, MPH, PhD. Dr. Shrime is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology and of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He also serves as the Research Director at the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard Medical School. In addition, he is an otolaryngologist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and associate faculty at Ariadne Labs.

His academic pursuits focus on surgical delivery in low- and middle-income countries, where he has a specific interest in the intersection of health and impoverishment. To date, he has worked and taught in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Congo, Haiti, Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, and Madagascar. His work aims to determine optimal policies and platforms for surgical delivery that maximize health benefits while simultaneously minimizing the risk of financial catastrophe faced by patients.

Dr. Shrime received his MD from the University of Texas in 2001, followed by a residency in otolaryngology at the joint Columbia/Cornell program in Manhattan, NY, followed by a fellowship in head and neck surgical oncology at the University of Toronto in 2007. He completed a second fellowship in microvascular reconstructive surgery, also at the University of Toronto, in 2008.

The Academy commends Dr. Shrime for the compassion, empathy, and sensitivity he demonstrates when caring for his patients.

Susan R Cordes

2018 Distinguished Award for Humanitarian Service

The Distinguished Award for Humanitarian Service is awarded to a member who is widely recognized for a consistent, stable character distinguished by honesty, zeal for truth, integrity, love, and devotion to humanity and a self-giving spirit.

This year’s awardee is Susan R. Cordes, MD. Dr. Cordes is an otolaryngologist practicing at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley, CA, and is a volunteer professor at Indiana University School of Medicine.

When a faculty member, Dr. Cordes initiated the otolaryngology partnership with Moi University otolaryngologists in Eldoret, Kenya, as part of the Indiana-Kenya Partnership. During the partnership’s 10-year history, numerous otolaryngologists, residents, medical students, nurses, and nursing students participated in clinical, educational, and research efforts headed by Dr. Cordes. She is an Honorary Lecturer at Moi University School of Medicine.

She serves as a mentor to students and residents wishing to engage in humanitarian efforts. Dr. Cordes is Past Chair of the AAO-HNSF Humanitarian Efforts Committee and has given lectures and been a panelist internationally on the topic of humanitarian otolaryngology.

Dr. Cordes has served on the Board of Governors Executive Committee and received a Distinguished Service Award. She is Past Chair of the Women in Otolaryngology Section, and current Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Board of Governors. She is Past President of the Central Indiana Otolaryngology Society and is a fellow of the Triological Society.

Dr. Cordes completed her undergraduate degree at Indiana University and otolaryngology residency training at its Medical Center. She served as Chief of the Otolaryngology Service at Wishard Memorial Hospital and Residency Program Director for the Indiana University otolaryngology department.

Dr. Cordes fully embodies the qualities associated with this award, and the Academy recognizes her as a tremendous specialty role model.

Vila Headshot

2018 Holt Leadership Award

The Holt Leadership Award is given to a resident or fellow who best exemplifies the attributes of a young leader—honesty, integrity, fairness, advocacy, and enthusiasm.

This year’s awardee is Peter M. Vila, MD. He is a Chief Resident in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, MO.

Highly involved with the Academy, Dr. Vila has served on the Section for Residents and Fellows-in-Training, and as its 2016-2017 Chair.

Beginning his involvement as an intern, he created the first resident podcast for the Academy, launched and helped maintain the social media presence for the SRF, and has represented trainees in multiple settings, including clinical practice guideline panels, strategic planning meetings for the Academy, and quality measure development.

Dr. Vila’s research interests include clinical epidemiology and quality improvement, and he is particularly interested in quality measure development. He has published more than 20 articles and been the recipient of several awards for his clinical research. He also has been awarded travel grant awards, which attests to his engagement.

Dr. Vila attended the University of Wisconsin for both his undergraduate and master’s degrees. He attended the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY,  for his medical degree and graduated in 2012.

The Academy commends Dr. Vila for his leadership and dedication to the betterment of the specialty.

Norman D Hogikyan

2018 Jerome C. Goldstein, MD Public Service Award

The Jerome C. Goldstein, MD Public Service Award is given annually to recognize an outstanding member for his or her commitment and achievement in service within the United States, either to the public or to other organizations, when such service promises to improve patient welfare.

This year’s awardee is Norman D. Hogikyan, MD. Dr. Hogikyan serves as Professor and Associate Chairman of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Professor of Music at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is a laryngologist and directs the University’s Vocal Health Center. Dr. Hogikyan is known as a thoughtful and compassionate physician, dedicated to his patients, students, and the greater community.

Early in his career, through clinical research, he sought to develop a methodology to address a patient’s perception and understanding of their voice disorder and how to measure it. Dr. Hogikyan conducted clinical research with and for patients, developing and validating the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) Measure. This patient-centered outcomes instrument is now used widely and translated into many languages.

Committed to community service, in 1996 he founded and has directed an annual head and neck cancer screening clinic. His additional community service activities include: teaching vocal anatomy and the dangers of tobacco use, staffing a free general otolaryngology clinic, ministering urgent care for visiting performing artists, and directing an annual World Voice Day program.

Dr. Hogikyan received the University of Michigan Dean’s Award for Community Service in 2012, Resident Mentorship Awards in 2015 and 2017, Otolaryngology Esteemed Clinical Faculty Award in 2015, and Otolaryngology Teacher-of-the-Year award in 2004. In addition to his ongoing work at the University of Michigan, he is currently a 2018-2019 fellow at the University of Chicago MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Dr. Hogikyan’s focus on improving patient welfare gives form to the ideal for this award.

Kameswaran Photo

2018 Nikhil J. Bhatt, MD International Humanitarian Award

The International Humanitarian Award honors a non-U.S. otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon who has selflessly treated persons for whom access to care would have been financially or physically prohibitive.

This year’s awardee is Mohan Kameswaran, MD. Dr. Kameswaran is the Managing Director and Senior Consultant at the Madras ENT Research Foundation (P) Ltd. in Chennai, India. He is also an Honorary Professor at the SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Edge Hill University in Lancashire, UK.

Dr. Kameswaran is committed to providing healthcare to the underprivileged in his country, particularly children. He is a pioneering cochlear implant surgeon in India and has been proactive in influencing lawmakers to start government-sponsored cochlear implant programs. He has personally conducted more than 200 free camps in remote corners of the country and has mentored more than 40 cochlear implant centers in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and West Africa. He has also pioneered pediatric auditory brain stem implants in India. Dr. Kameswaran was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award by the Government of India in 2006 for his exceptional service in the field of medicine.

He earned his medical degree, Diploma of Otorhinolaryngology, and master’s degree from the University of Madras in Chennai, India.

Dr. Kameswaran is dedicated and committed to the proliferation of hearing health throughout India and is respected globally for his work.

Foto Tania

2018 Nikhil J. Bhatt, MD International Public Service Award

The International Public Service Award honors a non-U.S. otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon whose achievements have advanced the specialty.

This year’s awardee is Tania M. Sih, MD, from São Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Sih is currently a professor at Medical School University of São Paulo. She also serves as the General Secretary of the Interamerican Association of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (IAPO) and President of the Nominating Committee for the International Federation of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies (IFOS).

Dr. Sih is dedicated to the specialty and to improving the lives of the people across South America and Africa. She is a founding member of the IAPO and a chartering member of PENTAFRICA, the Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat Association of Africa, where she helped model how to establish a major otolaryngology-focused organization in an environment with limited resources.

Internationally recognized for her contributions to otolaryngology, Dr. Sih has published 35 books in 10 different languages, participated in medical meetings in 50 countries around the world, and served in leadership roles across many organizations and associations.

Dr. Sih earned both her medical degree and PhD from the Medical School University of São Paulo. She completed training in pediatric otolaryngology in Poland; Pittsburgh, PA; and Kyoto, Japan. Additionally, Dr. Sih completed post-doctorate research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Academy commends Dr. Sih on her extensive contributions both to the specialty and to those with limited resources and access to medical care.


More from August 2018 – Vol. 37, No. 7