Pillsbury Receives Triological Society Gold Medal

Harold C. (Rick) Pillsbury III, MD, FACS, was presented with the Triological Society Gold Medal here on April 12, during the society’s 116th Annual Meeting, held as a part of the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings.

The medal was presented by Triological Society President Jesus Medina, MD. Dr. Pillsbury, who is the Thomas J. Dark Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and chair of the department of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, is one of only five recipients to receive this honor, which was first bestowed in 1933. The medal represents recognition of life-long and far-reaching contributions to the specialty of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.

“Dr. Pillsbury has an exceptional record of service and leadership in otolaryngology,” said Dr. Medina. “Personally, I consider Rick one of my most loyal friends and staunch supporters. As such, I am extremely pleased to be the president whose privilege it is to present him the Gold Medal of the Triological Society.”

The medal’s inscription read: “Exceptional clinician, mentor and leader; tireless advocate for residents and young otolaryngologists.”

Dr. Pillsbury said he was “humbled” to have his name included with the previous recipients of the award, and considered the award a tremendous honor. “I have always loved the Triological Society and placed the opportunities to serve the organization at the top of my list of priorities,” he said. “Perhaps the most significant boost to my academic career was receiving the Mosher Award in 1986. As a faculty member at the University of North Carolina, I never thought I had a chance to win.

“I’ve felt a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Triological society since then, and still feel the organization is the best group of scholars in our specialty,” he added. “I will always hold the Triological Society in my heart for the rest of my life.”