History of Otolaryngology at the University of Missouri
by Jerry W. Templer, M.D.
I. The Very Beginning II. Donald J. Joseph Era: 1968 – 1979 III. William E. Davis Era: 1980 – 2002 IV. Karen H. Calhoun Era: 2004 – 2009 V. Robert P. Zitsch, III Era: 2009 – present
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History of Otolaryngology at the University of Missouri
The Very Beginning
The University Of Missouri School Of Medicine began as a two year basic sciences school in 1872 and added the clinical years in 1955. In 1955, Otolaryngology and Otolaryngology Residencies were in decline as antibiotics were thought to be able to perhaps eliminate most infectious diseases of the head and neck, General surgeons and Plastic surgeons did a large share of Head and Neck Surgery. Many State Universities did not even have training programs in Otolaryngology. In the next twenty years, however, Otolaryngology dramatically changed, and Missouri ENT developed in this milieu.
The Otolaryngology Division of the Department of Surgery began in 1964 with the arrival of Dr. William Garth Hemenway. Dr. Hemenway, grew up and attended medical school in Canada, served his residency at the University of Chicago and was a faculty member of the University of Chicago prior to coming to Missouri. He worked at the University of Missouri for two years, but became frustrated because only minimal support was forthcoming. He appointed one resident and labored without success, finally leaving to become Chief of Otolaryngology at the University of Colorado where he had a prolonged and successful tenure for many years. Otolaryngology at Missouri was reborn in 1968 when Dr. Donald Joseph was named the Chief of Otolaryngology.
Otolaryngology became a Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery in 2000. Over the years, the University of Missouri Otolaryngology program has been fortunate to have had a loyal, competent and unselfish clinician Faculty of investigators and teachers.
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Donald J. Joseph Era: 1968 – 1979
Colonel Joseph, a retired 22 year Army veteran, had been Chief of Otolaryngology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver prior to coming to Missouri. During WW II most medical students, including Don Joseph, were drafted into the Armed Services while still in medical school. Dr. Joseph remained in the Army and made it his first career. During this career he studied under the famous otologist, Julius Lempert, and otology became his area. He was an excellent otologic surgeon, but was also was competent in all other areas, and enthusiastic in Allergy. Dr. Joseph was a true gentleman and he excelled in persevering and negotiating. He used these qualities to give birth and nourish the fledgling Division.
Creating a new residency program was an enormous task for a single individual. The residency program began in 1970 with one partially trained resident, Grant Miller, a graduate of George Washington School of Medicine. In 1971, two more residents were accepted and the history began. The match did not exist and Don Joseph usually selected residents from among the surgical interns at the University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics. The National Matching Program (which began in 1980) would change this selection process and make it more equal and open. The Harry S Truman Memorial VA Hospital opened in 1972 which greatly expanded the patient population for the program (and furnished part of a faculty salary). Government dollars for Medical Education also began flowing in the late 1960s.
In the early years, Don Joseph’s greatest difficulty was to recruit and maintain a stable faculty. Salaries were low and the work load was onerous. Just when it appeared that a solid faculty nucleus was forming, his associate would resign, and he was alone again. Whether Otolaryngology at “MU” could survive was in doubt at times. Don even considered terminating the program if he could find alternate places for his residents.
Don Joseph’s noble qualities and spirit still influence all those who worked for him. He did not give up. He was able to recruit exceptionally talented residents and faculty, many of whom later gained national and international reputations. Don stepped down as chief in 1979, but continued to work as an Otolaryngic Allergist for several years. He deserves great credit for his faithful efforts for the University of Missouri.
Faculty Members of the Joseph Tenure
During the early years, two very capable full time Faculty served for short periods. James Landeen arrived in 1970 and left in 1972. He had trained under the Laryngologist, Godfrey Arnold, at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Landeen was also particularly interested in Facial Plastic surgery. He later completed a Plastic Surgery residency and practiced for many years in San Antonio, Texas. Terrance M. Gallagher trained at the University of Michigan. Dr. Gallagher, a disciple of Walter Work and Dr. Gallagher was expert in Head and Neck Surgery
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and Facial Plastic Surgery. He was an excellent academician and teacher. Dr. Gallagher served on the faculty from 1972-1973. Dr. Gallagher subsequently practiced in Fort Worth, Texas for most of his career.
During the period of 1970 to 1975, Floyd Barnhill, M.D. was particularly important to the survival of this residency. Floyd, a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and the Washington University in St. Louis ENT residency program, had served on the Wash U Otolaryngology faculty after residency, but subsequently moved to Springfield, Missouri in private practice. He was a born teacher who missed teaching, and he flew to Columbia every Friday for several years without pay to staff or perform complex cases and examine clinic patients. He invested a prodigious amount of time and energy to help to stabilize the teaching program. Jordan Berkey M.D., like Dr. Barnhill practiced in Springfield, Missouri, and Dr. Burkey also volunteered regularly during the early years to teach residents, assist in surgery, and supervise residents and medical students in the clinic.
G. Richard Holt graduated from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and completed his residency in this program in 1974. He joined for a year while his wife, Jean Edwards Holt completed her residency in Ophthalmology at this institution. During this time Dr. Holt was instrumental in developing the Facial Plastic Surgery expertise at this institution. He was an exceptional teacher and won the “Golden Apple,” the highest award given by the medical students. Both Dr. Holts then served two years in the US Army before becoming faculty members at the University of Texas-San Antonio Medical Center. Dr. Richard Holt was an excellent and highly productive faculty member there for many years. He mentored many otolaryngologists and has held most of the most prestigious posts in Otolaryngology including the presidency of the Academy. He has contributed a large volume of articles, chapters and books to Otolaryngology and Military Medicine.
He served as full time administrator for the AAO-HNS in Washington DC for several years, but eventually returned to the University of Texas, San Antonio as Professor. In his spare time he earned a Doctorate in Physics. Over the years he has continued to support the University of Missouri Otolaryngology Program. The University is justifiably proud of this outstanding individual.
J. Regan Thomas is in the “outstanding” category with Rich Holt. After graduating from MU, he completed his residency at the University of Missouri in 1976. He then established a private practice in Columbia, Missouri and contributed consistently and diligently to the teaching program in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He eventually completed a fellowship with Dr. Eugene Tardy in Chicago and soon became nationally known for his ability in cosmetic surgery. He subsequently joined the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, where he served for several years. He became Chair of Otolaryngology at Saint Louis University and is now Chair at the University of
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Chicago where he remains today. He has held numerous prestigious regional and national offices in Otolaryngology and is known internationally. He has written numerous scientific articles and books. Our department is also very proud of this remarkable gentleman. He also continues to support the University of Missouri in many ways.
Jerry Templer joined the faculty in July 1975 and remains here today as Professor Emeritus. Dr. Templer, a 1963 graduate of the University of Tennessee, completed his residency at the University of Indiana and served a fellowship at the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis. Prior to arrival in Missouri he was a faculty member at the University of Colorado. (Dr. Templer relates that upon his arrival to interview in early 1975, he was met at the airport by Drs. Holt and Thomas. He thought, “If these guys are the gofers, this must be a quite an organization.”) Dr. Joseph was bedfast with severe back pain and the interview was held at his bedside. Jerry was surprised to discover that Bill Davis had been on call essentially every night for a year. Dr. Templer also got a bit of this constant-on-call experience in 1977 when Dr. Davis served a three month mini-fellowship in Otology with Michael Glasscock in Nashville.
Dr. Templer served as interim chief for one year after Don Joseph stepped down as chief while the Department of Surgery searched for a permanent chief. Fortunately, William E. Davis was selected to fill the post. Dr. Davis’ many contributions will be described in the next section.
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William E. Davis Era: 1980 – 2002
Much of the early history of the Division is the story of Bill Davis. Because of the unstable faculty he and his peers were largely self- taught. Bill Davis grew up in Kansas City and attended Rockhurst College. He graduated from the University of Missouri –Columbia College of Medicine in 1966. After an internship at Parkland Hospital (University of Texas in Dallas) and service in the Navy, he began his residency at this institution. In 1973, he joined the faculty and remains today as Professor Emeritus and part time faculty. At one time he essentially was the only functioning faculty for a year and half. When Dr. Templer arrived they quickly became a team and inseparable friends. Together they were able to expand the clinical scope of practice and the teaching program.
When Dr. Davis became the Chief, the Division was just gaining enough traction to do more than simply survive. The Division had essentially no support other than income generated from the practice. In Dr. Davis’ early years, the family atmosphere was palpable. The entire faculty and all residents could (and did) fit into a 70’s style station wagon. The faculty was “generalists” and performed the entire spectrum of ENT surgical procedures.
Dr. Davis’ soft spoken gentle manner, dry sense of humor and unfailing courtesy belied a bull dog-like tenacity, patience and focus to build a first rate Otolaryngology Program. The vision was clear but prospects dim. The Surgery Department Chair was supportive in most ways, but had no intention of permitting the Division to become a Department. During Division Faculty meetings, Dr. Davis set a series of incremental goals to add individuals with subspecialty training and support each until he or she became a sustaining member. He grew the Division from two generalists to a faculty with all subspecialties represented and full time researchers. As subspecialists were added, the generalists limited their practice in those areas. At the end of his tenure, fellowship training was a necessary ticket to an academic position. During this time, Otolaryngology grew in stature and popularity among trainees that only the top students are able to secure residency slots.
Dr. Davis sacrificed time, energy and income to grow his fledgling faculty. His salary was the same as others at his rank. Incentive funds were distributed equally so that teaching, investigation and clinical work were equally rewarded. He took night call equally with the other faculty until the administrative demands made this impossible. His leadership seemed low key, but he constantly encouraged the faculty to innovate, investigate and publish. He led by example in all of these. The practice had to grow to support new specialties and research. All growth was financed in spite of a 30% collection rates minus heavy taxes to Department and Medical School.
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The largest component of the practice was indigent patients which drained resources. The state government was not generous to the Medical Center. The Division struggled financially until the growth of Medicaid, Medicare and the VA Hospital increased the revenue stream to a more comfortable level.
Dr. Davis was chief of Otolaryngology for 23 years. Dr. Davis has held many important posts in Otolaryngology both regionally and nationally. He practiced general otolaryngology from 1973 until 1985 when he channeled his practice into rhinology and surgery of the paranasal sinuses. His former residents remember him as an excellent teacher, mentor and a true gentleman. His personal interest in each resident does not diminish with time. During Dr. Davis’ last years, the new Chairman of the Department of Surgery was not supportive of the Division of Otolaryngology and was actually antagonistic to the point that some faculty left. Dr. Davis decided that the situation was untenable and his only recourse was to resign and convince his successor to demand Departmental status.
Faculty Members of the Davis Era
The appointment of Gregory J. Renner in 1981 began a long period of stability and faculty specialization. His joie de vivre, energy and enthusiasm made the life of the Division much more pleasant. With three clinical faculty, rapid strides in clinical care and the development of clinical investigation resulted in a national presence at meetings and in the literature. Dr. Renner took extra training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgery with Dr. Klaus Walters in Switzerland. Dr. Renner became nationally known in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and has served on several national committees. In 1995 he and Dr. Keith LaFerriere, of Springfield, formed a combined one year fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This fellowship accepts one fellow per year and is highly competitive. Dr. Renner also has become well-known in the treatment of Head and Neck Cancer-especially of lip cancer and malignant melanoma. He and Dr. Zitsch have made Surgical Oncology a center of excellence.
Dr. Renner has been enormously popular with patients, residents, medical students and all allied health personnel. He carries an exceptionally large clinical load, but also spends much time teaching medical students and residents. He is conscientious to a fault and persists until cases are managed as successfully as possible. His character, loyalty, innovation and humor are significant assets to the Department. His contributions to the ENT literature are impressive. His wide range of interests include playing and coaching soccer, boating and water skiing. His great passion is working with antiques and every dealer in the state knows him well.
Dr. Scott Estrem began his tenure as an otologist at the University of Missouri in 1986 after completing his training at the University of Iowa. Our temporal bone laboratory was limited, and Doctor Estrem personally cajoled the Division, instrument manufacturers and anyone else who would listen to finance a modern
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multi-station laboratory. He began annual night and weekend bone drilling courses for the residents. He raised the bar for the faculty as a clinician, teacher and researcher. He could be described as an “energetic curiosity attached to an entrepreneur.” When working on a project, it was not uncommon to find him still in the office when we arrived for work the next morning. Doctor Estrem was a productive and innovated clinician and clinical scientist. His studies on electromagnetic stimulation of the inner ear and ototoxicity were excellent. He also investigated ricin and its otologic effects. He invented, manufactured and distributed a cerumen loop for the consumer. Dr. Estrem left the University after 14 years and is in private practice in Springfield, Missouri.
Dr. Robert Zitsch joined the University of Missouri faculty in1989 after a residency at the University of Alabama and a Head and Neck Oncology fellowship under Dr. Jack Gluckman at the University of Cincinnati. Because of his efforts the number of head and neck cancers and quality of their care rose by an order of magnitude. His arrival was a milestone for the Division which would be duplicated by the arrival of fellowship trained faculty. Previously each faculty treated the cancers as he saw fit. Dr. Zitsch took charge and Head and Neck Oncology flourished.
Dr. Zitsch was an outstanding college athlete, and he had a coach’s expectation of preparation, dedication and performance. Dr. Zitsch is known to the residents and students as a phenomenal, but demanding and exacting teacher. All have learned to come to the operating room prepared in knowledge and manual skills. After the Surgical Oncology rotations our residents can stand across the table from anyone’s residents and compete or excel. It is impressive to hear the number of residents say that they aspire to be like Dr. Zitsch.
He chaired the Head and Neck Tumor Conference and directed the care of all head and neck cancer patients treated at the Veterans Administration Hospital, the University Hospital and at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. Dr. Zitsch was named vice-chairman of a Multi-institutional, national trial of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy for head and neck cancer. This study is funded by the NCI through the ACOSOG.
When Dr. Davis stepped down as Division Chief, Dr. Zitsch took on the enormous and thankless task of Interval Chief. He proved himself to be an excellent administrator as well as surgeon and investigator. His work ethic, energy and productivity set a daunting example for the rest of the faculty. He is the Vice-Chair of the Department. In addition to his prodigious efforts for the Department, he managed to hunt birds and coach soccer. He was offered the position as Division chief, but would not accept it without departmental status.
Dr. Tim Jones and Dr. Sherri Jones, a married couple and full time researchers brought a rapid increase in research productivity when they joined the Division. Dr. Tim Jones, a neurophysiologist and Dr. Sheri Jones, a research audiologist,
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brought high quality credentials. They had worked with NASA for many years. They studied the effects of gravity on balance and the development of the avian vestibular system in outer space . They placed avian embryos on MIR and NASA flights and observed the developmental effects of zero gravity on the vestibular and cochlear system. This was combined with basic work on vestibular ontology, and efforts to find vestibular action potentials in animals brought research support to its highest level. NASA and NIH support continued throughout their term at the University of Missouri. Resident physicians also received the benefit of being able to gain quality laboratory experience with accomplished researchers. They felt that they were treated unfairly by the Chairman of the Department of Surgery which precipitated their departure.
Paul Cook joined the University of Missouri faculty in 1991. Dr. Cook was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine and University of Missouri Residency in Otolaryngology. He had taken additional training in ENT Allergy. Dr. Cook began a rhinology laboratory and the managed the Allergy Section from 1991 until 2003. He conducted a number of clinical studies while at this institution. He has held a number of offices in the Otolaryngic Allergy Society. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Health Management and became Chairman of the University Practice Plan. He was very popular with the residents, colleagues and all who worked with him. Dr. Cook left to become Associate Dean for the Practice Plan and Chairman of the Practice Plan at the University Of Indiana School Of Medicine in Indianapolis. He is remembered fondly as an excellent teacher, investigator and faculty member.
David Parsons joined the University of Missouri faculty in 1991 as one of the most colorful and charismatic faculty members in our history. He had completed a noteworthy 26 year career in the United States Air Force. He was originally a fighter pilot during the Viet Nam war and subsequently went to medical school while in the service. He completed a pediatric residency, but had the personality of a surgeon and became an Otolaryngologist after completing a second residency. He then took a Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship with Dr. Bruce Benjamin in Australia and became the first Pediatric Otolaryngologist at the University of Missouri. His clinics were crowded and his surgical schedule bulged. A large retinue followed him while he examined every patient and taught every student regardless of how long it took. Dr. Parson’s area of expertise was in pediatric airway disease and endoscopic sinus surgery. He was an enormous addition to this program and brought with him numerous methods to furnish the best possible care. He designed many surgical instruments and was an innovative surgeon. He was an excellent teacher and organizer of conferences. He gathered authorities on any subject with widely divergent opinions to lecture and debate and led the discussions so well that not a feather was ruffled. Another great passion of Dr. Parsons is Christian Medical Missions to Mexico, Cuba and Viet Nam. He is now in private Otolaryngology practice in South Carolina, but continues most of the above activities.
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William Kinney came to the University of Missouri in 1997. He graduated from Case Western Reserve Medical School and served his residency at the Cleveland Clinic. His chief clinical interest is neurotology and chronic ear surgery, but also is active in general otolaryngology. Dr. Kinney is an excellent clinician who also has an advanced degree in Health Services Management. He used this management degree within the Department as Clinic Manager, but more so as the Manager of the Operating Rooms. He was the most “high-tech” in the Department and has written programs to use the PDA in managing medical information. He also developed a voice recognition system with templates to manage the medical chart. He managed the Temporal Bone Laboratory and conducted a course in otology including ear anatomy and drilling the temporal bone annually. He conducted very busy clinics and has difficulty in obtaining enough operating room time for his many cases. He still had time for teaching students and residents. His passions include fast cars, bird hunting and unfortunately motorcycle riding. He works in private practice in Columbia, but still works part time at the University.
Marcella Bothwell joined the Division of Otolaryngology in 2000. She graduated from this institution, completed the Missouri residency and served a two year fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Washington University under the direction of Dr. Rodney Lusk. Dr. Bothwell was the only pediatric otolaryngologist in Missouri living outside the metropolitan areas of St. Louis and Kansas City. She had a huge practice and is a regional authority in pediatric airway diseases and pediatric otology. She was a very active investigator, teacher as well as clinician. She participated on a number of committees of the Academy. She was a very popular teacher. She left the University in 2006 and now practices in San Diego.
Dennis Knudson (1999-2009) had been in private practice in Columbia since completing our residency in Otolaryngology in 1980. He was one of the non- traditional individuals from our more ‘colorful’ era. He arrived in the specialty from an unusual direction. He had worked in construction before attending medical school. He began a family practice residency before entering the otolaryngology residency program. He was actually older than any of the faculty at the time. Dr. Knudson was a very positive addition to the program because of his extensive experience in General Otolaryngology. His profound practicality, impeccable character, common sense and good judgment have made a significant impact on the residents. He genuinely enjoyed the practice of medicine and his association with the residents. He taught what could be accomplished as well as what could not be accomplished in a given situation. He retired in 2009.
Laurie Fowler, a pediatrician, joined our faculty in 1997 after serving an allergy fellowship under Dr. Paul Cook. She served a Pediatric residency at this institution prior to the fellowship. She practiced Allergy for four years before opening a private practice in Pediatric Allergy.
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Karen H. Calhoun Era: 2004 – 2009 On January 1, 2004, Dr. Karen Calhoun became the Chief of the Department of Otolaryngology. She accomplished the goal that had eluded the Division for decades by negotiating Departmental Status. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville. She completed her residency and a fellowship in Head and Neck Oncology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and remained on the faculty for 21 years. She is the author of numerous articles, books and abstracts, has published extensively in many areas and is editor of some of the most prestigious texts in our field. She holds several important national posts in Academic Otolaryngology. Her particular expertise in Head and Neck Oncology and is also an accomplished Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. She is an active Allergist and accomplished photographer.
She strengthened the Departmental administration which was much more complex with departmental status. She appointed Dr. Zitsch as the Vice- chairman of the Department. She also expanded the allergy service and brought expertise to perform free flaps for reconstructive surgery. She enlarged Otolaryngology at the Columbia Regional Hospital and formed a large clinic next to the hospital. This was valuable because the University Hospitals’ reputation as a charity institution made patients requiring cosmetic surgery reluctant to be admitted. She was instrumental in recruiting the following faculty.
Drs. Calhoun and Zitsch realized that the Department was ‘graying’ rather rapidly and they attempted to recruit young faculty to fill slots soon to be emptied through retirement.
Faculty Members of the Calhoun Era
Sidney G. Christiansen (2006-Present) grew up in North Dakota and attended medical school at Loma Linda University where he graduated in 1997. His residency was completed at the University of Missouri in 1982. He then served a fellowship in Otology and Neurotology with Michael Glasscock in Nashville, Tennessee. He had a very busy practice in St. Joseph, Missouri most of his career. He also had time to be a farmer, John Deere Tractor dealer, founder of same-day surgery center among other things. He is the otologist for the University and is still brimming with energy. He educates the residents in Otology and also how to thrive and stay out of trouble in the practice of medicine. He is active in the management of the University Practice Plan.
Troy Scheidt (2004-2006) is a graduate of the University of Missouri College of Medicine (1999). He completed his ENT residency at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Dr. Scheidt is an excellent general otolaryngologist with special expertise in Laryngology. He practiced full-time with the University until December 2006 and part time since. He is an excellent teacher, surgeon and diagnostician. He attends the Voice Clinic and a general clinic.
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Alvis Barrier joined the Missouri faculty in 2005 as an allergist/ general otolaryngologist after 25 years in private practice. . He graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and served his residency in otolaryngology at the Brooke Army Medical Center. He was very active in Otolaryngic Allergy and rhinology during his years of practice.
Deyu Fang Ph.D (2005-2009) Dr. Fang received his masters and doctorate degrees in China and Japan respectively. He was well known in Molecular Microbiology and was awarded multiple sizeable NIH grants. He is an excellent teacher and guided much of the research effort of the department. He is sadly missed after his recent move to Chicago.
Chia-Wai David Chang (2004 – Present) David Chang is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He served his residency at Vanderbilt University and fellowship in Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Miami. He quickly developed into an outstanding academician and was appointed the Director of the Residency Program. He is an excellent diagnostician , surgeon and investigator. The Department is quite fortunate to have this outstanding individual in its faculty.
Eliav Gov-Ari (2008- Present) graduated from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology School of Medicine in 1992. He completed his residency in 1998 at the Rambam Medical Center of the Technion , Israel Institute of Technology School of Medicine. Dr. Gov-Ari served a two year fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He then worked in southern Arkansas as a Federal assignment to an underserved area until March 2008 and then joined the faculty of the University of Missouri. He has been an excellent addition to the faculty.
Dana M. King (2008 – Present) graduated from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 1983 and completed the University of Missouri residency in 1988. He practiced in St. Joseph, Missouri for 20 years and in 2008 joined the faculty of the University. His extensive knowledge of ENT, surgical skills and sense of humor make him quite popular with the residents. He works two days per week at the Veterans Administration Hospital.
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Robert P. Zitsch Era (2009- Present)
Dr. Zitsch’s history was partially described previously. He previously declined appointment as Chief of Otolaryngology as a Division of Otolaryngology. He accepted the appointment of Dr. Calhoun as chief because she and her husband were able to negotiate Departmental status and her appointment as a condition of his acceptance as Chief of the Department of Orthopedics. Because of Dr. Zitsch’s outstanding performance as Vice-Chairman, the Dean recognized that he would not be able find a more qualified candidate. He subsequently appointed Dr. Zitsch as Chair when Dr. Calhoun moved to Ohio State University. He is impeccably honest, analytic, fair, candid , and consistent and makes the Department a pleasant workplace. His standards are high and he sets high standards.
Faculty Members Appointed in Zitsch Tenure
Jeffrey B. Jorgensen (2009-Present) grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 2003. He served a residency and fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery and Microvascular Reconstruction at the University of Kansas. Dr. Jorgensen is part of the effort to bring state-of –the- art expertise to the program. He has proved to be an excellent oncologist/surgeon and has managed many complex cases during his short tenure with compassion and skill. He works well with students and residence and has been a very valuable asset to the teaching program. The Department is very fortunate to have this up and coming young academician.
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