Lambert sets goals, develops strategies as department chair
by Cindy A. AbolePublic Relations
Dr.
Paul Lambert
With a distance of 480 miles between them, Paul Lambert feels at home in both Charlestons—South Carolina’s and West Virginia’s. But some say he’s more a South Carolinian.
Lambert’s “mountaineer spirit” surfaced when he became the new chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Services about three months ago. However, he knows what he wants and he’s going after it. He wants to balance clinical expertise, research interests and leadership in new programs for head and neck surgery in South Carolina.
Lambert came to MUSC from the University of Virginia, where he was director of otology and neurology and vice chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. He has been cited in the Best Doctor’s in America lists, both nationally and regionally. In research, he is credited for his pioneering research in hearing and balance disorders and in restoring lost auditory functions by adapting to today’s technology using cochlear implants and other devices to improve people’s lives.
Lambert received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Duke University and completed medical school there in 1975. Following a pathology internship at Duke, he entered a surgical internship in 1976 at UCLA Hospital for one year which included a clinical fellowship at the Otological Medical Group and House Ear Institute in Los Angeles. He trained as an otologic-neurotologic surgeon.
According to Lambert, one out of four Americans will show signs of hearing loss beyond the age of 65. People will also suffer from a loss of balance and coordination.
The problem increases for people suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis, he said. It can accelerate changes within the ear and limit blood flow.
“Incoordination and hearing loss in senior citizens occurs, to a large degree, because of loss of inner ear hair cells,” Lambert said. “Certain animals can spontaneously regrow these hair cells, but not so for humans.”
A principle area of Lambert’s research concerns inner ear hair cell regeneration and his research teams have been long-praised for their continuing work in this field. He has raised more than $750,000 from public and private organizations for research funding.
A common cause for loss of hearing hair cells is noise.
“We live in a very noisy society. Noise easily accumulates and takes its toll,” he said. “There’s a lot of common noise in our lives that can easily be preventable. As a physician, I’m interested in preventive medicine.”
Lambert is an active player in many national committee posts including the American Academy of Otolaryngology, the National Research Council and the American Neurotology Society. He has contributed to many professional publications and serves on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Otology, Laryngoscope and the Archives of Otolaryngology and head and Neck Surgery. He serves as research chairman for the Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons and has authored more than 100 publications on his specialties.
Lambert sees a greater awareness of noise in everyday life. In the general practice of Otolaryngology, which is the study of the ear, nose and throat, it’s natural to promote practical ways to prevent noise damage, warnings promoting the dangers of smoking and advocate early childhood screening for hearing.
Lambert said that an early childhood hearing screening is crucial since the early years are critical learning periods that affect speech. Today, infants as young as 6 months can receive a hearing aid to help them deal with severe hearing problems.
Another successful technological device that continues to improve severe hearing loss in the cochlear implant, which is an electronic device implanted into the inner ear of a deaf or severely hearing impaired adult or child. Lambert was one of the first surgeons to perform this procedure in Virginia and implanted the device in more than 100 individuals, some as young as 16 months old, during his 17 years there.
His interest in this technology dates from his fellowship year when he studied with cochlear implant developer William House, M.D., in California.
Although cochlear implants can’t bring hearing back totally for patients, they do provide some significant improvement and end feelings of isolation and frustration said Lambert.
Lambert credits his predecessors for the development of the Department of Otolaryngology’s infrastructure. He wants to continue that role by improving and developing areas of excellence. First, he hopes to recruit faculty, increase space and expand on services available. Then, he’d like to develop further numbers of sub-specialty areas into nationally renown programs. His focus extends to head and neck oncology, rhinology, pediatric otolaryngology, facial and plastic surgery.
Examples of Lambert’s vision for centers for excellence includes the following:
- Establishment of a South Carolina Ear Institute
- Establishment of an Otologic Research Center
- Expansion of the Voice Center
- Expansion of the Center for Head and Neck Oncology
- Development of more fellowship training in head and neck oncology
- Development of an Otolaryngology Multi-Purpose Teaching Lab which focuses on head and neck anatomy and practice location for surgical procedures
Future plans include developing an aesthetics center and sinus disorders and allergy center.
“Dr. Lambert’s vision for MUSC includes the creation of a broad-based institute to address hearing and balance functions and associated disorders,” said Layton McCurdy, M.D., vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine.
“MUSC has every possibility to be a premiere center for otolaryngology in the Southeast and nationally,” Lambert said. “Quite simply, my job is to realize that potential. There’s a solid foundation that already exists and the support of the university is significant.”
Lambert’s vision for MUSC’s Department of Otolaryngology
Current Programs:- Otolaryngology Clinic
- Voice Center (Dr. Halstead)
- Center for Head and Neck Oncology (Dr. Day)
- Clinical
- South Carolina Ear Institute (within 2 years)
- Multi-Purpose Teaching Lab-Residents and Fellows (within 12 months)
- Otolaryngology Fellowships (within 2-3 years)
Rhinology (within 2 years)
Pediatric Otolaryngology ( within 2 years)
Facial and Plastic Surgery (within 12 months)
Voice, Head/Neck Oncology Centers show potential
MUSC Otolaryngology chair Paul Lambert has expressed his interests in other high profile programs. One program that has been successfully established within the past 10 years is the Voice Center which is managed by Lucinda Halstead, M.D., associate professor, Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences. It's potential as a major center for voice and communication disorders has yet to be tapped. Outside of New York City, Boston and Philadelphia, Halstead and her team have the ability to treat and rehabilitate voice disorders from laryngeal cancer and other disorders, as well as professional vocalists.Other areas of specialization includes a Center for Head and Neck Oncology coordinated through the Hollings Cancer Center. The idea follows other established specialty programs at New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Texas’ M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
MUSC’s new Head and Neck Oncology program will provide comprehensive care for patients diagnosed with tumors of the head and neck.
Under the direction of Terry Day, M.D., assistant professor of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, the program will work with an interdisciplinary team of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation therapists, maxillofacial surgeons and other specialists. This program will build upon the work of David Osguthorpe, M.D., professor of Otolaryngology and Gien Hoang, associate professor of Otolaryngology, who combined have more than 30 years experience working with head and neck cancer patients.
In addition, Day wants to introduce more research labs, clinics and develop newer therapies that will improve the quality of life for cancer patients.