Pulse

Dr. Baldassari Appointed Interim Chair of Otolaryngology

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doctor in an exam room.

Cristina Baldassari, MD, has been named interim chair of Otolaryngology effective July 1. This follows the retirement of Barry Strasnick, MD, professor and chair of Otolaryngology, effective June 30.

Dr. Baldassari is widely respected for her collaborative leadership style, clinical expertise and commitment to academic excellence. “Since joining the faculty in 2010, she has fostered a culture of integrity, accountability and innovation,” said Alfred Abuhamad, MD, executive vice president for Health Sciences. “Her dedication to patient care, medical education and research excellence makes her exceptionally well-suited to lead the department during this transitional period.”

Board certified in both sleep medicine and complex pediatric otolaryngology, Dr. Baldassari has built an impressive career focused on pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. She has authored an extensive list of peer-reviewed publications aimed at improving outcomes for children with sleep disorders and is the recipient of multiple research grants in this area.

In addition to her clinical and academic work, Dr. Baldassari has been an active leader in national professional societies. She currently serves as chair of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), the world’s largest organization representing specialists who treat conditions of the ear, nose and throat. In this capacity, she has conceived and implemented a strategic plan to strengthen advocacy within the specialty. She has also served as chair of the Sleep Disorders Committee and as a member of the AAO-HNS Educational Steering Committee.

“We are nearing the end of a national search to identify a new chair,” said Dr. Abuhamad. “In the meantime, please join me in congratulating Dr. Baldassari on this well-deserved appointment and in thanking Dr. Strasnick for his many years of exceptional dedicated service to the department and to EVMS.”