Chair’s Message
I am delighted to introduce you to the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
Over the past decade, I have personally seen our Department grow and thrive in the most amazing ways to the point where we are among the top leading programs in Canada in every imaginable respect.
What makes our Department special? I attribute our success directly to our Faculty, who are young, highly diverse, ambitious, deeply committed, collegial, and collaborative. Our esteemed faculty members are leading advances in surgery, pushing boundaries in research, inspiring innovations in education, and are doing this in the context of a collective culture of selflessness, collaboration and passion.
Our Faculty have collectively elevated the Department to an exceptionally high level in all pillars of our tripartite mission. Exemplary state-of-the-art care is provided to the population of Southwestern Ontario. Strategic partnerships with basic scientists and a strong spirit of collaboration have been foundational in the success of our academic mission. Our surgeon-scientists have established world-class research programs that are highly productive and sustainable. We have the top residency training program in the country and are trailblazing a path for others to follow in competency-based education. We are national leaders in undergraduate medical education, ensuring the best student experience, developing curricula and advancing educational innovations.
Our Department provides clinical care that spans the entire spectrum of our specialty at the tertiary level, consisting of five Divisions:
- Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery
- Otology-Neurotology
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Rhinology
A culture of collaboration is foundational to our growing list of multidisciplinary programs including: Cochlear Implant, Facial nerve, Pediatric airway, Pediatric complex hearing loss, Sialorrhea, Sleep medicine, Skin cancer, Skull base program, Thyroid Cancer London, Velopharyngeal insufficiency, Voice. We are leaders in surgical innovation (e.g. North America’s first Soundbridge Middle Ear Implant and Canada's first Transoral Robotic Surgery).
Our focused programs of research consist of the Auditory Biophysics Lab and The Head and Neck Cancer Translational Research Lab. Our record of peer-reviewed publications and research funding is extremely strong, reflecting the “think-big” philosophy that has enabled the success of our relatively small Department. I am also proud to highlight that we hold the largest number of Tri-Council grants per capita of any Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Department in Canada.
I am extremely proud of our Department's track-record of success and am genuinely honoured to have the privilege of leading our Department through these exciting times to the next level and beyond.
Dr. Kevin Fung
