William B. Harkins Graduation Weekend
The Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery's William B. Harkins Graduation Weekend is a celebration of resident and department research endeavors, and a recognition of graduating residents.
Event Overview
The highlight of William B. Harkins Graduation Weekend is a day featuring resident and student research presentations, awards and a guest lecture from a renowned otolaryngology expert. The annual event is supported by the Harkins Lectureship Fund and the Mark A. Varvares Endowed Lectureship Fund (MAVEL).
In 1991, the Harkins Lectureship Fund was created in memory of William B. Harkins, M.D., the first full-time chairman of the University's Department of Otolaryngology.
MAVEL was established in 2017 to honor the contributions of Mark A. Varvares, M.D., who developed the University's multidisciplinary head and neck oncology program and served as director of the SLU Cancer Center. He is known for his exemplary teaching skills and strong mentorship.
2026 William B. Harkins Graduation Weekend
The 2026 William B. Harkins Graduation Weekend lecture and research presentations was on June 5 at the SLUCare Academic Pavilion.
The Mark A. Varvares Endowed Lecture was presented by Stacey Ishman, M.D. Research presentations and awards followed.
Resident Research Presentations
PGY-5
- Practice Patterns in the Management of Rhinitis Medicamentosa: A Survey of Otolaryngologists
Peter Luong, M.D. - Development and Implementation of a Standardized Postoperative Protocol for Patients
Undergoing Parathyroidectomy for Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Lisa Vélez Vélez , M.D.
PGY-4
- Disparities in Immunotherapy Utilization for Cutaneous Melanoma of the Head and Neck
Kyle Davis, M.D. - Retrospective review of balloon dilation for radiation-induced cricopharyngeal stenosis
Meghan Grojean, M.D.
PGY-3
- Diagnostic Yield of Early Direct Laryngoscopy and Bronchoscopy in Patients under Two
with Swallow Study Proven Aspiration
Austin Armstrong, M.D. - Referral Patterns and SES Effects on Diagnosis of Pediatric Cervical Lymphadenopathy
Edmund Howe, M.D.
PGY-2
- Impact of Treatment-Center Location on the Management of Sinonasal Malignancy
Hannah Sfreddo, M.D. - Effect of ESMO sinonasal carcinoma adjuvant therapy guideline compliance on overall
survival
Abigail Wannow, M.D.
SOM Student Presentations
- Primary Care Approaches to New Neck Mass in the Adult Population
Aakash Nagarapu, MS-3, mentor Sean Massa, M.D. - Performance of AI Models in Responding to Patients’ Rhinologic Complications: Implications
for Electronic Medical Records
Luke Schwetschnenau, MS-3, mentor Joseph Brunworth, M.D.
PGY-5
- Comparing Survival in Cisplatinum Ineligible Patients with Locoregionally Advanced
Head and Neck Cancer
Alizabeth Weber, M.D. - Using Large Language Models to Improve Accessibility and Readability of Patient Education
Materials in Pituitary Surgery
Joshua Smith, M.D.
PGY-4
- Evaluating Airway Abnormalities in patients with Trisomy 18 in the United States
Peter Luong, M.D. - Complications and Reoperations in Gunshot Wounds to the Mandible
Lisa Vélez Vélez , M.D.
PGY-3
- Defining Platinum-Ineligible Head and Neck Cancer Patients from Administrative Data
Kyle Davis, M.D. - Effect of Postoperative Visit "No-Shows" on Acute Care Utilization and Antibiotic
Prescriptions After Tympanostomy Tube Placement
Meghan Grojean, M.D.
PGY-2
- Treatment Intensity and Delays Associated with Antibiotic Prescribing Prior to a Head
and Neck Cancer Diagnosis
Austin Armstrong, M.D. - Survivorship Costs Associated with Head and Neck Cancer Survival in the Medicare Population
Edmund Howe, M.D.
SOM Student Presentations
- Uptake of Head and Neck Cancer Innovations
Samantha Spence, MS-3, mentor Sean Massa, M.D.
PGY-5
- Outcomes of Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation with Other Adjunct Procedures for Eustachian
Tube Dysfunction
James Gallogly, M.D. - The Association of Steroids and Pediatric Post-Tonsillectomy Recovery: A Retrospective
Review and Analysis by Tonsillectomy Indication
Henry Ideker, M.D.
PGY-4
- To Irrigate or Not Irrigate: Factors Affecting Adherence to a Nasal Hygiene Regimen
Joshua Smith, M.D. - Shared Decision Making in Facial Trauma Read Article
Alizabeth Weber, M.D.
PGY-3
- Disparities in the Receipt of Immunotherapy Among Patients with Head and Neck Mucosal
Melanoma
Peter Luong, M.D. - Training Experiences and Career Outcomes for Underrepresented Minorities in Academic
Otolaryngology
Lisa Vélez Vélez , M.D.
PGY-2
- Uptake of Head and Neck Cancer Innovations
Kyle Davis, M.D. - Head and Neck Cancer Patients and Providers’ Perspectives on the American Society
of Clinical Oncology’s Patient-Clinician Communication Consensus Guidelines
Meghan Grojean, M.D.
SOM Student Presentations
- Perceived Discrimination Among Patients with Head and Neck Cancer
Thomas Hoag, MS-2, mentor Sean Massa, M.D.
PGY-5
- Association of adjuvant radiation and survival among surgically treated early-stage
HPV+OPSCC with LVI as the sole adverse pathologic feature Read Article
Scott Hong, M.D. - Tubed Tplasties: Scoping review and meta-analysis of pediatric concomitant tympanic membrane repair and ventilation tube placement Joseph Sinnwell, M.D.
PGY-4
- Efficacy of botox for treatment of sinus migraines
James Gallogly, M.D. - A geographical comparison between head & neck cancer incidence and distribution of otolaryngologistsHenry Ideker, M.D.
PGY-3
- Leveraging crowdsourced data to assess HPV knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors
in the United States
Joshua Smith, M.D. - Narcotic prescribing patterns in ENTAlizabeth Weber, M.D.
PGY-2
- Quantifying total and out-of-pocket costs associated with head and neck cancer survivorship
Read Article
Peter Luong, M.D. - Perceived discrimination among patients with head and neck cancer
Lisa Vélez Vélez , M.D.
SOM Student Presentations
- A rare severe presentation of pharyngoesophageal stenosis >10 years after radiation
treatment for squamous cell carcinoma
Alexis Hartman, MS-3, mentor Jack Eisenbeis, M.D. - Landmark Papers: Historic and contemporary advancements in rhinology
Luke Heiland, MS-2, mentor Joseph Brunworth, M.D.