Remembering G. Slaughter Fitz-Hugh, MD

Glassell Slaughter Fitz-Hugh received his M.D. from the University of Virginia in 1933 and completed his EENT residency at UVA in 1937. He joined the “School of Otolaryngology” at UVA as an Instructor in 1938, and assumed the position of Professor and Chairman in 1951. He remained in this position until 1972, and, during this time, made great strides in expanding the department’s clinical, educational, and research activities. A respected administrator and educator, he received the Robley Dunglison Award in 1967, given by the graduating class of the UVA School of Medicine “in recognition of outstanding teaching efforts and personal contributions toward inspiring the endeavors of students.” He was a founding member of the American Society of Head and Neck Surgery and served as President of the Triological Society and the American Laryngological Association. Although best known for his contributions to the subspecialty of head and neck surgery, he could perform any type of surgery in the field, including mastoidectomy with a curette. The inaugural Fitz-Hugh Symposium was organized in 1977 by Dr. Robert Cantrell, Dr. Fitz-Hugh’s successor as Chairman of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at UVA. Dr. Fitz-Hugh has been additionally honored with a named professorship at UVA and a named resident research award given at the annual meeting of the Southern Section of the Triological Society.