The medical school has created a new department to support the expansion of its otolaryngology/head and neck surgery program, School of Medicine Dean Philip Pizzo, MD, announced last week.

The program, formerly a division of the surgery department, is now independent. The new status and additional support from the school will help the department become one of the top programs of its kind, said department chair Robert Jackler, MD.

"The investment recognizes the importance of studying human hearing and voice in an era of rapidly developing telecommunications and computer technology during which man-machine integration is likely to first involve these senses," he said.

Four new faculty, including Jackler, have joined the program. The department plans to recruit three other researchers and at least four clinicians over the next few years.

Among the plans are:

• Establishing programs in otology and neurotology, laryngology, adult audiology and a hearing device center.

• Expanding existing programs in other areas including head and neck oncology, sinus surgery and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

• Creating a multidisciplinary center for cranial base surgery to care for hard-to-reach tumors beneath the brain and along the brainstem.

• Establishing an integrated research effort in expressive and receptive human communication.

• Partnering with industry to develop devices for human-machine interaction using voice.