2012-13 Manitoba Report to CSO-HNS
The Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery continues as a busy academic and clinical department within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba (U of M). The U of M medical school was established in 1883, making it the first medical school in Western Canada. Working with the U of M, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, and CancerCare Manitoba, the Department’s mission is to provide patients with the highest quality of care in a timely fashion, to engage in clinical and basic research, and to provide educational opportunities in the field of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.
The faculty includes surgeons trained in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Otology/Neurotology, Laryngology, Rhinology/Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery, Sleep Disordered Breathing, and General Otolaryngology.
The postgraduate surgical training program was established in 1966, making it one of the longest standing Otolaryngology training programs in the country.The residency training program is fully approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
The Department is mainly engaged in clinical and translational research. Specific areas of interest includefunctional outcomes after treatment of head and neck cancer, hearing preservation, and management of obstructive sleep apnea. The primary area of educational research is the use of simulators in surgical training.
Administrative
Department Head: Dr. Paul Kerr
Postgraduate Director: Dr. Donna Sutherland
Undergraduate Director: Dr. Adrian Gooi
Research Director: Dr. Brian Blakley
Continuing Medical Education Director: Dr. Jodi Jones
Health Sciences Centre Section Head: Dr. Paul Kerr
Children’s Hospital Section Head: Dr. Darren Leitao
St. Boniface Hospital Section Head: Dr. F. Gigi Osler
Victoria General Hospital Section Head: Dr. M. Barker
Dr. Eric Meen joined the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Manitoba in July 2012.He completed his rhinology fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago and adds to the existing local expertise in endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery. His research interests are in CRS outcomes, physician health, surgical education, and organizational effectiveness.
We congratulate Dr. Basil Hassouneh and Dr. Kaiser Quershy who both successfully passed the Royal College examination in 2012.
The Department will welcome Dr. Alexandra Thielmann and Dr. Paige Moore to the residency program in July 2013.
Clinical
1. The first annual Prairie Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Weekend (POW) will be held at Lakeview Hecla Resort in Hecla Grindstone Provincial Park MB on August 23-25, 2013. The aim of the symposium will be to provide an updated, practical approach to diagnostic and therapeutic problems commonly encountered in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
2. The Surgical Modelling Simulation and Robotics Labhas been compiling a library of cadaveric and patient pathologic CT data.The database has expanded to include cranial facial, long bone and vertebrae. A number of validation trials are ongoing including; bone properties of 3d printed specimens, synthetic soft tissues, 3D printed and bimodal graphic haptic temporal bone comparisons in education. A 3D printed preoperative rehearsal study examining utility of simulation in cholesteatoma is near complete. Other areas of development include:import of 3D projection in medical student temporal bone learning, a mixed reality temporal bone simulation with successful development offiducials for alignment of haptic models with a physical model.
3. The Surgical Hearing Implant Program (SHIP) is entering its third fiscal year and has completed the first full operational fiscal year of the program (April 2012-March 2013). SHIPperformed 34 cochlear implantations in 29 adult and paediatric patients (including 2 pediatric cases of deafness following meningitis and 2 adult ex-plantations/ re-implantations for devices implanted >10 years prior). They have had no surgical or post-operative complications thus far. Patient outcomes and satisfaction have been very good thus far.SHIP has developed surgical experience with all three main cochlear implant device companies. ElevenBone-anchored Hearing Aid devices were implanted in the past year. The volume is expected to increase significantly in the next year, related to establishment of formal BAHA clinic and evaluation/trial process.
SHIP has two cochlear implant surgeons, and one BAHA surgeon. They have recently hired a program coordinator and BAHA audiologist, who started in November 2012. The first phase of program development was to establish the patient flow through the clinical systems and establish surgical experience. The next phase of development is to establish database and research goals. SHIP is eager to collaborate with other centres for research opportunities in cochlear implant and conductive hearing loss research.
4. The Multidisciplinary Sleep Clinicconsult volume continues to grow and will be collaborating with two companies looking at novel implants for treating OSA. Winnipeg will be the second Canadian site for one trial and the sole site for another. Re-numeration for Sleep Surgery from MB Health remains a struggle with efforts ongoing to get new tariffs.
5. In August 2012 The HSC Clinical Vestibular Lab began offeringcervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and rotary chair testsin addition to electronystagmography and posturography. The new testshave been clinically helpful in many cases.
6. The Department funds many research projects internally and supports Dr Blakley as Research Director. Many research initiatives are ongoing and include virtual and 3-D temporal bone imaging (Dr. Hochman), and deep involvement with the new bioengineering program at the University of Manitoba. Another new initiative is to study REDOX potentials in the inner ear which acknowledges the importance of oxygen free radicals in many areas of medicine,
Awards and Prizes
1. Dr. Adrian Gooi was honoured with two separate teaching awards:
- 2012Manitoba Medical Student Association Award for Teaching Excellence, Medicine 1.This award is given to a single faculty member for teaching excellence in first year medical school.
-Honorary Senior Stick for the Manitoba Medical School Association (MMSA).Each year, the MMSA awards a faculty member as Honorary Senior Stick. The identified individual is someone that students feel they can be open with, who respect their opinions, cares about student issues, and is able provide insight into any topics of importance which arise throughout the year.Dr. Gooi was chosen because of his valued teaching of ENT, interest in online/electronic learning, displayed energy and enthusiasm while interacting with medical students, and generally appearing approachable with well-respected opinions.
2. Dr. Andrea Darnbrough, PGY-5, was chosen as one of the 2013/14 recipients of the CSO-HNS Fellowship Award. She will be pursuing a 1-year Laryngology fellowship under the supervision of Dr. Karen Kost of McGill University in Montreal, PQ.
3. Dr. Diana Khalil, PGY-2, was awarded a Junior Investigator Scholarship to the 2013 International Congress on Cleft Lip/Palate and Related Craniofacial Anomalies which was held in Orlando, FL in May 2013.
In Memoriam
DR. DAVID WILLIAM MCCULLOUGH
June 14, 1939 - January 9, 2013
David McCullough passed away peacefully at Riverview Health Centre on Wednesday, January 9, 2013. Left to cherish David's memory are his wife of 47 years, Helen; daughter, Carol (Paul); sons, Andrew (Janis) and Peter (Catharine); four grandsons, Sam, Ryan, Patrick and Christopher; sister, Laura (John); brothers, Terry (Maura), Ron and Norman; sister-in-law, Liz; as well as many nieces, nephews and grandnieces and nephews. David was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He graduated from Queen's University Belfast medical school in 1964 and qualified as an ENT surgeon in 1968. He and Helen were married in Belfast in 1965 and went to Toronto in 1971 so David could pursue research in microvascular surgery. Having enjoyed their time in Canada, they moved to Winnipeg with their three young children in 1973. David began working at the Manitoba Clinic and in 1974 he went to work at Health Sciences Centre (H.S.C.). He remained at H.S.C. until his retirement in 2006. Retirement did not suit David and, in 2007, he went back to work part-time at the Manitoba Clinic. He continued to work there until May 2012. David was a true professional. His kindness and compassion towards his patients, their families and his fellow colleagues was exemplary. Throughout his life David was active. He was a member of the Irish International Badminton Team. He also enjoyed playing squash, tennis and golf as well as spending summers at the family cottage. David was a member of the Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club for over 35 years and made many long lasting friendships there. He will be greatly missed by his entire family and so many close friends. In compliance with David's wishes, a private family service will be held at a later date. Special thanks to all the staff of the Palliative Care Unit at Riverview for their care and assistance over the last few weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Riverview Health Centre Foundation.
DR. CYRIL ISAAC WOOLF MB, BS, FRCS
May 27, 1930 - October 3, 2012
At the Victoria General Hospital, Winnipeg, on Wednesday, October 3, 2012.Beloved husband of Margaret (née Gibson.)Father of Daniel (Julie) and Jeremy (Miranda.)Grandfather of Sarah, Sam, David and Bridget. Cyril was born in London, England on May 27, 1930, the eldest of three sons of Adolph Woolf and his wife Regina Frey (both deceased.) He was educated in London, graduating in Medicine in 1952. After interning, he fulfilled his (then compulsory) National Service requirement, serving as a Medical Officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1953 to 1955 in Germany, where he met his future wife Margaret, at that time serving as a British Army Nursing Officer. They married in England in 1956. After training as an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon at the Institute of Laryngology and Otology in London, Cyril immigrated to Winnipeg in 1961, having spent the previous year as a Fellow at Northwestern University, studying modern advances in ear surgery. Cyril practiced as an Otolaryngologist in Winnipeg for 45 years, for 22 of which he was head of Otolaryngology at St. Boniface Hospital. He had a particular interest in the training of graduate students in the specialty, and during the 1970s and 1980s made a major contribution to the establishment of the fledgling University of Manitoba programme in Otolaryngology. Cyril's interest in reconstructive ear surgery led to his working with the Northern Medical Unit and travelling regularly for 15 years in what is now Nunavut, identifying and repairing damaged ears in Inuit children. Cyril had a passionate lifelong interest in, and extensive knowledge of, classical music. He was an enthusiastic and talented amateur pianist. He had also an intense interest in modern languages, and spoke fluent German and serviceable French. He read constantly and extensively in English and other languages. There will be no service by Cyril's request. Condolences may be sent to the family at: or to or . In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to a favourite charity, particularly one concerned with medicine or music.