Harvard OHNS Residents and Fellows Celebrate 2023 Graduation

Faculty and staff from the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) at Harvard Medical School (HMS) celebrated the 2023 graduating class of residents and fellows from the Harvard Combined Residency Program in OHNS on Friday, June 16. Graduating residents and fellows were honored inside the Meltzer Auditorium at Mass Eye and Ear, where they were also joined by current and former trainees and immediate family.

Five chief residents graduated from the program, which is led by HMS Otolaryngology Residency Director Stacey T. Gray, MD, Associate Residency Director Kevin S. Emerick, MD, Associate Residency Director Alice Z. Maxfield, MD, and Chair of OHNS Mark A. Varvares, MD, FACS. Seven fellows graduated from the program at Mass Eye and Ear; three clinical fellows from Boston Children’s Hospital celebrated their graduation on a separate occasion.

The ceremony began with a surprise visit from Dr. Varvares, who made his first public appearance in several months amid personal health concerns. The auditorium erupted in applause as he welcomed trainees, faculty and families to what he called the pinnacle of the academic year. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the graduating trainees for the amazing work they displayed during their time in the program.

“Thank you for the late nights, the early mornings, the amazing care of our patients, the conversations during cases and the friendships we’ve developed,” said Dr. Varvares. “As faculty, it is so important that we have the opportunity to become mentors, and it is our trainees who give us that opportunity. We couldn’t be prouder of the surgeons you are today and can’t wait to see the surgeons you will become tomorrow.”

Shortly after, Dr. Emerick introduced Jennifer C. Kim, MD, Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan, as the Joseph B. Nadol, Jr., MD, Graduation Lectureship speaker. Dr. Kim and Dr. Emerick met years ago as trainees in the Harvard Combined Residency Program, where they became close friends.

In her speech, Dr. Kim reflected on the personal journey many residents and fellows face after their graduation. Reminiscing on the mentors she met during her own time in the Harvard residency program, she urged each resident to never stop seeking out colleagues who share the same ideals, who collaborate and encourage open and honest dialogue and who value diversity and originality. She also asked each trainee to find time to disconnect and to experience growth and success outside of medicine. The hobbies and relationships they nurture outside of work, she said, will provide the energy needed to avoid burnout in their professional lives.

“Always remember what a gift it is to be a physician,” she said. “There are few jobs where you get to interact with so many people with various backgrounds and get to know them on such an intimate level. Your healing touch and words will not only impact your patients but their families and the communities from which they come.”

Prior to graduation, residents met in the Meltzer Auditorium at Mass Eye and Ear on Thursday, June 15, to present the annual Chief Resident Research Talks. The chief resident with the most outstanding presentation is awarded the Jeffrey P. Harris, MD, PhD, Research Award. At a reception and award ceremony hosted at the Boston Museum of Science, Alan Workman, MD, was named the recipient of this year's award for his talk on “Cystatin and Polyp Disease: From a Proteomic Approach to a Murine Model of CRSwN.”

The following is a complete list of award recipients from the 2023 graduation reception:

Clinical Fellow Teaching Award: Charles D. Meyer, MD
Chief Resident Teaching Award: Lauren E. Miller, MD
William W. Montgomery, MD, Faculty Teaching Award:  Rosh K. Sethi, MD, MPH,
Harvard Otolaryngology Resident Life Award: Adina Gutium, MD