Harold C. Pillsbury, MD, Thomas J. Dark Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, will step down as chair of the department, a position he has held since 2001. A search committee has been established to conduct a national search for a new chair.
Harold C. Pillsbury, MD, Thomas J. Dark Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, will step down as chair of the department, a position he has held since 2001. A search committee has been established to conduct a national search for a new chair.
Harold C. Pillsbury, MD, Thomas J. Dark Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, will step down as chair of the department, a position he has held since 2001. He will remain as a member of the faculty, continuing his clinical work, though he expects to scale back his patient care responsibilities gradually.
A search committee has been formed to find a new leader for the department, which, under Pillsbury’s leadership has become a national leader in innovative care and multidisciplinary leadership. The department is ranked 14 in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings, UNC’s highest rated specialty.
“Since I’ve been here, my main focus has been promoting our faculty and residents and helping them to develop their careers and their academic credibility,” Pillsbury said. “And now we have a faculty that is truly world class.”
Under Pillsbury’s leadership, the Department has expanded significantly, adding outstanding clinicians in rhinology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, laryngology, and other specialties. UNC’s Cochlear Implant program has been a national leader. In 2015, Pillsbury was the first surgeon in the nation to implant the Synchrony Cochlear Implant, and the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Center celebrated its 1,000th implant procedure.
“There are surgical procedures that we are doing regularly that I could not have even imagined when I began my tenure as department chair,” Pillsbury said.
As Pillsbury considers potential faculty additions, he values one trait over all others.
“I’ve never hired anyone that I didn’t think was an excellent teacher,” Pillsbury said. “Of course the research and clinical skill have to be outstanding, but education is something we really value.”
That focus on teaching correlates to one of Pillsbury’s other points of pride.
“We have trained incredible residents who have gone on to become wonderful academic surgeons all over the country,” Pillsbury said.
That focus on education also extends to a lasting legacy at the UNC School of Medicine. Pillsbury was the faculty advocate for the School of Medicine’s student research society, which was established in 1983. The top prize at the annual Student Research Day is named in his honor.
“Nearly half of each class participates in Student Research Day each year, which provides the students outstanding exposure and preparation that will serve them well in their careers,” Pillsbury said.
Overall, Pillsbury said he could not be happier with the current state of the department.
“We promote leadership, education, and career development,” Pillsbury said. “We have outstanding faculty who are nationally recognized as leaders in their fields, have achieved great research accomplishment, and provide wonderful care to our patients. I am incredibly proud of the work we have done and thankful to everyone who has helped make this department what it is.”
William L. Roper, CEO of UNC Health Care, and Dean of the UNC School of Medicine, praised Pillsbury for the impact he has made during his 35 years at UNC.
“Dr. Pillsbury is an admired leader and teacher who has built a nationally recognized department, helped already outstanding faculty to reach their full clinical and research potential, trained countless residents who have gone on to great success, and provided a vital forum for our medical students to pursue and present their research,” Roper said.