LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 10, 2020) – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, researchers at the University of Kentucky are exploring the use of an antiseptic nasal spray and gargle to prevent transmission and infection of the virus among healthcare workers and non-COVID patients. The PIIPPI trial, which stands for Povidone-Iodine Intranasal for Prophylaxis in front-line Physicians/health care workers and Inpatients, is the first in the country to study iodine as a prevention measure in people who are not COVID-positive.
The University of Kentucky Department of Otolaryngology is leading one of three national consortiums in otolaryngology resident education. Brett Comer, MD, UK Otolaryngology Residency Program Director, was selected to lead the Eastern consortium, otherwise known as Consortium Of Resident Otolaryngologic kNowledge Attainment (CORONA) Initiative in Otolaryngology (Entcovid.med.uky.edu). All consortiums involve remote lectures given live on a Zoom platform by world-renown faculty from numerous institutions.
The Medrobotics FLEX Robotics system is a new technology that is transforming the landscape of transoral robotic surgery. The technology was recently acquired by the University of Kentucky. The FLEX Robotic system gives physicians the ability to access anatomical locations that were previously difficult or impossible to reach with minimally invasive techniques.
Dr. Caitlin Fiorillo completed her medical degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She successfully completed her five year Otolaryngology Head and Neck residency here at the University of Kentucky. After residency graduation, Dr. Fiorillo went on to complete a Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She will be the third Pediatric Otolaryngologist, joining Drs. Iverson and Azbell. Dr. Fiorillo is married with two children. UK Otolaryngology is thrilled with the newest addition to the department. Welcome, Dr.
At the end of June, University of Kentucky Otolaryngology held a banquet honoring our three chief residents. After five years, Drs. Nicole Colgrove, Kyle Fletcher, and Michael Kaufman successfully completed their residency training. Dr. Colgrove will go on to complete a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Fletcher will be joining Ephraim McDowell Ear, Nose, & Throat in Danville, KY alongside UK Oto alumnus Jonathan Doty, and Dr. Kaufman will be joining private practice with Wellstar Health in Atlanta, GA.
Dr.
Kristi Grider still tears up when she talks about the day she took her two-month-old son, Kenton, now seven years old, for follow-up hearing testing. His newborn hearing screen, which almost all children receive in U.S. hospitals before they go home, had indicated a potential abnormality, but she was told that her baby probably just had fluid in his ears and that she needn’t worry.
Drs. Archer, Patel, and Comer were invited faculty for Rhinoworld 2019 in Chicago June 5-9. Rhinoworld is once-in-a-decade combined meeting of the International Society of Inflammation & Allergy of the Nose (ISIAN), the International Rhinologic Society (IRS), and the American Rhinologic Society (ARS). World experts in the fields of rhinology and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery were present to share cutting-edge research, to give didactic lectures, and share ideas. Dr. Archer led a panel on "Difficult septums-endoscopic, endonasal, and extracorporeal," of which Dr.
Nicholas Van Maele
Central Michigan University College of Medicine
William Ruffin
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn
Cedric Thiel
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Congratulations!
As part of the UK Otolaryngology Otology/Neurotology Resident Teaching Series and temporal bone dissection course, our residents had the opportunity to participate in a temporal bone implant and prosthesis lab with industry sponsors January 8, 2019. This included individualized instruction and hands-on skills training with UK faculty and representatives from the leading companies in cochlear implantation, oseointegrated implantation, and middle ear prostheses.
Christopher Azbell, MD, joins University of Kentucky department of Otolaryngology in August of 2018. He just recently completed his Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC, before arriving here in Lexington. Dr. Azbell earned his medical degree from from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and then went on to complete his residency at University of Louisville. Welcome Dr. Azbell!
Alok Saini, MD, joined the University of Kentucky department of Otolaryngology in August of 2018. He is a fellowship trained rhinologist and skull base surgeon. Dr. Saini earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN before completing his residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in NYC. He then completed his fellowship from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Welcome Dr. Saini!
The University of Kentucky Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery celebrated the graduation of Kristan Alfonso, MD, Caitlin Fiorillo, MD, and Mitch Dobberpuhl, MD the weekend of June 15-16, 2018. A formal dinner was held at Malone’s Friday evening to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates, followed by an informal picnic attended by over 100 members and families of UK Healthcare. Dr.
The University of Kentucky Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery hosted the 4th Annual Bluegrass Research Symposium at the Hillary Boone Center on the campus of the University of Kentucky on May 4, 2018. The symposium highlighted the exceptional high-impact research conducted in the department led by current residents. This event brought together UK faculty, residents, students and Otolaryngologists across the Commonwealth. Drs. Nicole Craker and Kyle Fletcher were awarded the residency research awards for outstanding presentations.
The University of Kentucky Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery was well represented at the 2018 Kentucky Society of Otolaryngology Annual Meeting May 18-19, 2018, at the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Kyle Fletcher, MD, PharmD was a resident research award winner and presented “Comparison In-Person versus Telemedicine Cochlear Implant Evaluations: A Pilot Study.” Brett Comer, MD, presented on “Packing Materials after FESS: What is the Current Evidence?” Beth McNulty, MD, served as proctor for the resident quiz bowl.
Medical residents from the University of Kentucky Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery recently won the 2017 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Academic Quiz Bowl at the AAO-HNS Annual Meeting held in Chicago Sept.10 to 13.
Mark Fritz, MD, joined the University of Kentucky Department of Otolaryngology in August 2017. As a laryngologist, Dr. Fritz specializes in diagnosing and treating orders of voice and swallowing. He has capabilities of treating many conditions in the clinic so that patients do not have to undergo general anesthesia. Dr. Fritz earned his medical degree from the Vanderbilt University, completed residency at New York University, and completed fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University under Dr. Greg Postma. Welcome, Dr. Fritz!
Nikita Gupta, MD, joined the University of Kentucky Department of Otolaryngology in September 2017. Dr. Gupta specializes in facial plastics and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Gupta earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University, completed residency at Mt. Sinai, and completed fellowship at Boston University Medical Center. Welcome, Dr. Gupta!
