Dr. Brent Senior will receive an ACS/Pfizer International Surgical Volunteerism Award for his over two decades of work in providing otolaryngologic surgery services and education to local surgeons in Southeast Asia.
Brent A. Senior, MD, FACS, FARS will receive the competitive American College of Surgeons (ACS)/Pfizer International Surgical Volunteerism Award for his over two decades of work in providing otolaryngologic surgery services and education to local surgeons in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam. The ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism Awards recognize ACS Fellows and members who are committed to giving back to society through significant contributions to surgical care as volunteers.
Dr. Senior is the Vice Chair of Academics and Outreach and the Chief of the Division of Rhinology, Allergy, and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery. Over the past 24 years, he has led 22 trips to Vietnam, including approximately 300 otolarygnologists from several countries and nearly 30 residents and fellows. His team has also donated nearly $3 million in equipment, textbooks, and journals.
While in Vietnam, the team performs surgeries, evaluates patients in clinics, and educates Vietnamese otolaryngologists on modern healthcare best practices. He has also coordinated the sponsorship of 50 mini-fellowships for Vietnamese otolaryngologists to come to the US for training, including 25 to UNC. Several fellows have become institutional leaders, chairs, deans, and government leaders in healthcare.
Besides the recent ACS/Pfizer International Surgical Volunteerism Award, Dr. Senior has also been awarded two Certificates of Honor from the Minister of Health and a Medal of Honor from the People’s Committee of the city of Saigon for his team’s work nationally and locally.
The Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery is thrilled to be a part of these international efforts, and Dr. Senior will continue to lead more volunteer teams to Vietnam in the future when able.