Neel Lecture: Research for the Practicing ENT Highlighted in Neel Lecture
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Thoughts on the Role of Research for the Practicing Otolaryngologist
Sunday, October 18 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) | Location: Petree Hall C
When a newborn fails a hearing screen, research can guide the next steps. Albert H. Park, MD, has seen that firsthand. On Sunday, he delivers the H. Bryan Neel III, MD, PhD Distinguished Research Lecture, exploring the role research can play for the practicing otolaryngologist.
Dr. Park is the former chief of pediatric otolaryngology at the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. He directs the multidisciplinary hearing center he cofounded with John C. Carey, MD, MPH, in 2004, and serves as co-principal investigator on an NIH-funded project assessing the role of resident tissue macrophages in cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and cochlear development.
Dr. Park’s work on congenital CMV (cCMV) goes well beyond the clinic. He established a CMV Working Group that united experts across eight disciplines, from neonatology to healthcare economics. In Utah, their efforts led to expanded targeted newborn screening for CMV, universal CMV screening in neonatal intensive care units, a multidisciplinary cCMV clinic, and the first clinically validated dry blood spot and saliva polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for cCMV detection.
Dr. Park also helped turn evidence into policy. Working alongside Utah Representative Ronda Rudd Menlove, he helped introduce legislation to increase awareness of cCMV and mandate early testing for newborns who fail their hearing screen. In July 2013, Utah became the first state to implement a hearing-targeted CMV screening program. He previously served on the National CMV Foundation’s Board of Directors. Dr. Park has received the Ruben Scientific Achievement Award from SENTAC (Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children) and the American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy Award.
About the Lecture
Funded by the Neel family and friends, the H. Bryan Neel III, MD, PhD Distinguished Research Lecture was established in 1993 to disseminate information regarding new developments in biomedical science to the otolaryngologic community.