Celebrating Excellence in Otolaryngology

Middle Section George Adams, MD Young Faculty Award

Joseph Zenga, MD

Dr. Zenga is an associate professor and vice-chair of research in head and neck surgery, otolaryngology at Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin. His research interests include basic and translational immunotherapy in head and neck cancer. In particular, his laboratory focuses on the identification and therapeutic use of tumor antigen-specific T cells. This includes multiple innovative single-cell techniques incorporating individual tumor cell-T cell co-culture and single-cell RNA and T cell receptor sequencing. In addition to translational immuno-oncology, he also co-leads multiple novel clinical trials focused on using radiotherapy to improve the immune response in head and neck cancer.

13th Annual Patrick E. Brookhouser, MD Award of Excellence

Mark S. Persky, MD

Dr. Persky is a recognized expert in head and neck surgery with special interest and expertise in the treatment of tumors of the head, neck, skull base, and thyroid gland, as well as congenital vascular malformations and hemangiomas. He has published and lectured extensively on these topics. He was appointed professor emeritus of otolaryngology– head and neck surgery at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in 2023. He is retired from clinical practice. He is a member of the American Laryngological Association, the American Head and Neck Society, the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, and the North American Skull Base Society.

Binderup Prize

Daniel G. Deschler, MD

Dr. Deschler is the vice-chair for academic affairs for the department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, co-directs the Michael Dingman Fellowship in Head and Neck/ Microvascular Surgery, and is a professor of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at Harvard Medical School, and the inaugural Dr. Eugene N. and Barbara L. Myers Chair in Head and Neck Surgery at the Mass Eye and Ear. He and his wife, Eileen Reynolds, MD, are faculty deans for Leverett House at Harvard University.

He has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, numerous books, book chapters, and educational reviews. He serves on the editorial boards of the Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, Head & Neck, and Laryngoscope, is the otolaryngology section editor for UpToDate, chairs the Thesis Committee of Triological Society, and has served multiple leadership roles in the American Head and Neck Society. Dr. Deschler’s clinical interests cover the breadth of head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery, including advanced malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract, salivary gland diseases, microvascular reconstruction, and general head and neck reconstruction. His research interests overlap the breadth of these areas, including speech following pharyngeal/laryngeal surgery and reconstruction, as well as management issues in the treatment of advanced head and neck malignancies.