On March 21, 2007, the Department of Otorhinolaryngology unveiled portraits of the three former chairmen of the department in the modern era. These portraits reside in the departmental offices in the Weill Greenberg Center. Guests at the unveiling included family members and friends of all the former chairmen, Weill Cornell Medical College Dean Antonio Gotto, M.D., and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer & C.O.O. Laura Forese, M.D., M.P.H.
Dr. James A. Moore (1909–1997) was chief of the Division of Otolaryngology from 1947 to 1968, and served as chairman of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology from 1968 to 1981. Dr. Moore was an otologist who made many important academic contributions, and he continued to stay active in practice and in the temporal bone lab even after he stepped down as chairman in 1981. Dr. Moore was instrumental in the establishment of an independent department and for its significant growth during his 34 years of leadership. He served as president of the prestigious American Otologic Society in 1967. Dr. Moore's daughter and son-in-law, Missy and Richard Sterne, were present at the event. The portrait of Dr. Moore was actually completed in 1981, and was formerly displayed in the Medical College; the existing portrait was moved to its new location in the department at the Weill Greenberg Center.
On hand to help unveil the portraits of former Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) chairmen were (from left) Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of Weill Cornell Medical College; Dr. Michael Stewart, chairman of the Department of ENT; Dr. Laura Forese, SVP, COO and Chief Medical Officer at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell; and Dr. W. Shain Schley, chairman of ENT from 1988 to 2005.
Dr. Robert W. Selfe (1943–1988) became department chairman in 1981, and was known as an outstanding head-and-neck surgeon and teacher, and a wonderful leader and colleague. He was a frequent lecturer and was highly regarded as a clinician. Although Dr. Selfe's life was cut short by leukemia, he remains a beloved and respected contributor, and many of his friends and colleagues were on hand for the unveiling. The Department of Otorhinolaryngology is very grateful to his wife, Bonnie Selfe, for assisting with his posthumous portrait. Mrs. Selfe, their son Sean, and Dr. Selfe's brother Roger all attended the reception.
Dr. W. Shain Schley was department chairman from 1988 to 2005. During his tenure, he recruited several of the current faculty members. Dr. Schley was very active in local organizations, and served as president of the New York Laryngological Society and the Physician Scientific Society, and was also one of the first chairmen of the combined Medical Board of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He organized the first Weill Cornell in Salzburg Seminar in Otolaryngology. Dr. Schley is known as a true gentleman and a loyal supporter of Weill Cornell, and he is respected by his colleagues and patients. Dr. Schley remains active on the faculty, and maintains a clinical practice and continues to teach residents. His daughter Alexandra Schley Landegger also attended the portrait unveiling.
Photography by Weill Cornell Art & Photography.