UH Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists Extend Outreach Locally and Abroad

Innovations in Ear, Nose & Throat | Winter 2024

In November, specialists within University Hospitals Ear, Nose & Throat Institute participated in a two-day community outreach to offer ear exams, hearing tests and referrals for hearing aid resources to uninsured and underinsured people living in Northeast Ohio.

The event was held in partnership with Medworks during the nonprofit’s free Oral Health and Dental Clinic at the Huntington Convention Center. Since 2009, Medworks has linked more than 24,000 individuals in greater Cleveland to no-cost medical, dental and vision care through its large-scale, drop-in clinics.

Sarah Mowry, MD

A significant number of people who need hearing aids and audiology services face financial barriers. Out-of-pocket costs for a mid-priced hearing aid are around $2500, explains Sarah Mowry, MD, the Cliff A. Megerian, MD, Chair in Excellence in Otolaryngology and Residency Program Director for the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

“This fall, we had an opportunity to collaborate with the Northeast Ohio Audiology Consortium [NOAC] and an amazing group of local physicians and audiologists to help about 100 individuals receive hearing services,” Dr. Mowry says. “Our goal was to screen 70 patients, but we far exceeded that.”

Roughly 10 percent of the people the team tested had a measurable hearing deficit. “We identified several people at the event who could benefit from hearing aids and connected them to local resources,” she says. “The HEAR in CLE foundation has a charitable arm that helps individuals in need be fitted for hearing aids and receive the necessary follow-up care and maintenance.”

Dr. Mowry encouraged one of her patients to attend the event and receive a referral for a free hearing aid. “She lives outside Cuyahoga County, so she didn't qualify for some of our need-based programs,” she says. “As a teacher, this individual was having difficulty functioning in the classroom, but now she will likely be able to return to work.”

UH Ear, Nose & Throat team at the Hear in CLE event.

UH ENT fellow and residents took part in the event, along with audiology students from NOAC. “It was a really nice way to expand services and help our trainees give back to the community,” says Dr. Mowry. “We are already looking forward to our next event in April 2024.”

Biannual Ugandan Mission Trip

In 2023, the UH Ear, Nose & Throat Institute continued its partnership with the nonprofit Head and Neck Outreach (HNO).  The organization grew out of a collaboration between Dr Chad Zender and  Dr. Jeff Otiti at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala, Uganda. Since its founding in 2014, HNO has performed over 225 complex surgeries and treated over 440 patients in clinic.

Each spring and fall, University Hospitals ENT medical staff and residents travel to Kampala and join other volunteers to address health care shortages in the region and help train the next generation of Ugandan clinicians. The recurring mission trips are an opportunity to improve outcomes for patients with advanced head and neck disease and provide resources for local doctors, nurses and residents.

Shawn Li, MD

While in the country, the team stays at the Case Western Guest House, established by infectious disease expert Robert Salata, MD, the STERIS Chair of Excellence in Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Professor at School of Medicine.

Last November, Shawn Li, MD, an otolaryngologist within the UH Ear, Nose & Throat Institute, and Gautam Korakavi, MD, Chief Resident within the UH Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, volunteered for the biannual outreach. Dr. Li generally travels to Uganda each fall. Jason Thuener, MD, an otolaryngologist within the UH Ear, Nose & Throat Institute, leads the University Hospitals contingent each spring.

“During the week or two we are there, we hold a surgical boot camp,” Dr. Li says. “The local doctors and nurses are involved in all aspects of patient care, and we share our thoughts about how we will approach each procedure.” Depending on the complexity of the cases, the team is able to complete 15 to 20 surgeries and help with postoperative care during their stay. Communication continues after the trip to track patient recovery and address any complications or necessary follow-up. It is not uncommon for grateful patients to reconnect with team members when they return to Uganda to express their gratitude.

On the most recent trip, the team traveled to Gulu, a remote village about four hours from their home base. “This was the first time we were in Gulu,” Dr. Li says. “We were the first to operate at the village’s brand-new hospital.” The surgeons completed five free flaps, goiter removals and other procedures before returning to Kampala.

“It is rewarding to interact with different people and cultures and learn how to care for patients in a more resource-limited setting,” Dr. Li says. “What is important about the longstanding mission is its collaborative nature—we learn from each other and get an opportunity to follow patients’ progress.”

For more information about the University Hospitals ENT Institute and its expert providers, call 440-837-3263.

Contributing Experts: 
Sarah Mowry, MD
Cliff A. Megerian, MD, Chair in Excellence in Otolaryngology
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Professor and Vice Chair for Education
Residency Program Director
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Shawn Li, MD
Otolaryngologist
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Assistant Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine