Leadership Transition in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
July 28, 2020
To:Administrative Forum
PSOM Faculty
From:J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD
Kevin B. Mahoney
It is with mixed emotions that we announce that after 17 years of exceptional, impactful leadership as the Gabriel Tucker Professor and Chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (HNS) at Penn Medicine, Bert W. O’Malley, Jr., MD, will be stepping down from this role to become President and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). His new position begins November 1.
Dr. O’Malley’s contributions to Penn Medicine across all mission areas cannot be overstated. In addition to leading an outstanding Department with nearly 300 faculty and staff, Dr. O’Malley has served as Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Physician Executive of Penn Specialty Physicians, and Director of the Penn Specialty Network. In that capacity he has developed numerous clinical alliances and improved the coordination of care of patients between Penn Medicine and community referral networks. During his tenure at Penn, Dr. O’Malley also co-invented a novel robotic surgical procedure called Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) and co-founded the first human robotics head and neck surgery as well as skull base surgery program in the world.
Dr. O’Malley has led the Department of Otorhinolaryngology – HNS since joining Penn Medicine in 2003. During his three terms as chair, the Department has undergone tremendous growth in all of its mission areas and is recognized as one of the most preeminent academic Otorhinolaryngology departments in the nation. Under Dr. O’Malley’s leadership, the Department’s research program has also grown significantly, with exciting new lines of research and expanded NIH support. Its educational programs are very well-received by medical students, residents, and fellows, with the residency program continually ranked among the top training programs in the country.
We will convene a search committee shortly for the next Chair of Otorhinolaryngology – HNS, which Sean Grady, MD, has agreed to chair. Further details on the search and the announcement of an interim chair will be forthcoming. In the meantime, please join us in wishing Dr. O’Malley the very best as he begins the next chapter in his distinguished career.