Inspiration from Past WIO Grant Recipients

The Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Endowment Grant offers funding for projects that support actionable research or otherwise benefit the professional development of women in otolaryngology.

Sydney C. Butts, MD“Applying for this grant was an immensely valuable experience. My grant supported the development of an educational program in surgical ergonomics for otolaryngology residents and faculty in my department,” said Sydney C. Butts, MD, a 2022–2023 recipient and interim chair and professor of the Department of Otolaryngology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and Medical Center. .

Dr. Butts’s project, “Development of a Surgical Ergonomics Program for Otolaryngology Residents Focusing on Gender-Specific Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injuries,” aims to reduce work-related musculoskeletal symptoms such as neck and back pain, numbness and stiffness. The program addresses gender-specific risks and provides strategies to improve ergonomics. These issues are prevalent among professionals in the field of otolaryngology, according to Dr. Butts’s research.

“While the need for ergonomics education for all otolaryngologists is clear, a review of the ergonomics literature reveals higher rates of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among female otolaryngologists,” said Dr. Butts. “Seeking support from the WIO Section for this initiative seemed well aligned with the goals of the endowment grant to study areas that impact women in the field of otolaryngology.”

Established in 2010, the WIO Endowment Grant supports actionable research and projects benefiting women in otolaryngology. Individual awards range from $1,000 to $5,000, with a total annual budget of $20,000. Past projects have also included webinars, podcasts, and leadership development programs. More details on project requirements, guidelines, and criteria are available on the application webpage.

Priya D. Krishna, MDPriya D. Krishna, MD, also a 2022–2023 recipient, used her grant to offer a webinar, “Surgical Ergonomics for the Woman Surgeon” that highlighted challenges specific to women in otolaryngology.

“With the support of the WIO Endowment grant, I was able to secure Geeta Lal, MD, co-founder of the Society of Surgical Ergonomics and a surgical coach, for a one-hour webinar on the impact of poor ergonomics in surgery and specifically in otolaryngology. She also provided tangible solutions to common ergonomic problems. Live quizzes were administered at the beginning and end of the webinar, and feedback was uniformly positive,” said Dr. Krishna.

Applications for the 2025 grant are open to all active members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). Projects must align with goals such as leadership development, education tailored to women’s needs, or career advancement. Grants cannot be used for clinical research unrelated to women’s professional growth or for expenses such as food, venue fees, or salary support.

Katherine Kavanagh, MD“The WIO endowment grant allowed us to host our first Local Women in Otolaryngology (LWIO) event featuring Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD, and develop a toolkit for other local groups,” said Katherine Kavanagh, MD, another past recipient. “[The event] fostered my leadership skills, expanded networking opportunities, and increased the visibility of women otolaryngologists in our state society and beyond.” 

Grant recipients must complete their projects within 12 months and submit a final report, along with presenting their findings via webinar, podcast, or other formats.

Donate or Apply Today

Your donation to the WIO Endowment Fund will help sustain and grow a vital source of funding needed to support WIO projects including research grants, webinars and podcasts, online learning tools, professional skills training, local WIO Chapters, and will continue to lay the foundation for the next generation of women in otolaryngology.

The 2025 grant application process is now open and will close on Monday, February 3, 2025. Visit https://www.entnet.org/resource/wio-endowment-grants/ to learn more. For questions about applying, contact Pamela Gilbert, Senior Manager, Member Networks and Engagement, staff liaison to the WIO Endowment Committee, at pgilbert@entnet.org, or Kelly M. Malloy, MD, Chair, WIO Endowment Committee at kellymal@med.umich.edu.