Jesus Medina, M.D., Chair of Otorhinolaryngology at OUHSC, is internationally recognized as a leader in the treatment of head and neck cancer and is in demand as a speaker worldwide.

Some 20 years ago, a young doctor from Houston’s M.D. Anderson Cancer Center came to the University of Oklahoma to establish a program in head and neck cancer surgery at the Health Sciences Center. He could have gone anywhere, and received plenty of offers from other institutions to do so, but Jesus Medina chose to share his considerable talents as a surgeon, administrator and educator with the OU College of Medicine, building a national reputation for himself and the college in the process.

Now, grateful patients, program graduates and friends are ensuring his name will be forever linked with the department to which he dedicated his career. The Jesus E. Medina, M.D., Chair in Otorhinolaryngology will be held in perpetuity by the chairman of that department after Medina leaves the position on December. 31. Dr. Medina, the holder of the Paul and Ruth Jonas Chair in Cancer Treatment and Research, will devote his time to practicing medicine and resident education—his two greatest loves next to his family, colleagues say.

More than halfway to its goal of $1 million, the campaign for the endowment has raised $545,000 in private funding, with individual contributions varying from $20 to a $250,000 gift from the Presbyterian Health Foundation. Committee chairman Dr. John Campbell of Tulsa said dozens of individuals responded to the call.

“The most common reaction from donors was ‘I want to give, and I wish I could give more,’” said Campbell. “I would credit that response to Dr. Medina’s personality. He is tops in his field in head and neck surgery, but even more important is his compassion and concern for his patients.”

It is a quality he also extends to faculty and students, says Dr. Greg Krempl, the residency program director, who has worked with Medina since 1997. “The thing about Dr. Medina is he is a world-renowned physician and surgeon, but he is very respectful to his faculty, and encourages independent thinking. He is more interested in the promotion of his junior faculty than he is advancing his own career.”

Krempl said Medina’s “quiet strength” has allowed the faculty to develop their own gifts, while utilizing him as an ever-available resource and mentor. Every Thursday at 6:45 a.m., Medina holds a conference, which residents have affectionately dubbed “The Tumor Breakfast.” Even residents who are not required to be there regularly attend the early-bird session and consistently note on evaluations that those 45 minutes spent each week with Medina are among the most valuable of their medical education.

“When you’re looking at where to apply for residency, there are people who practice great medicine and there are people who are great to work with. Dr. Medina is both,” Krempl said. The chairman’s reputation as an international leader in his field has resulted in increased competition among highly qualified residency applicants. This year, the program has two open positions and 161 applicants.

On January 29, Medina will be honored for his outstanding career in medicine at the 25th Annual Research Fund Dinner/ Evening of Excellence at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Sponsored by the College of Medicine Alumni Association, the event is a fundraiser for seed grants for young researchers. The association is hoping to push the seed-money endowment over the $1 million mark in 2009, a cause that is near and dear to Medina’s heart. So much so, that the surgeon asked that a portion of his named chair be earmarked to help jump start the research careers of young faculty.

The chair also will attract leaders in the field of otorhinolaryngology to serve as chairman and carry on Medina’s legacy. “Under Dr. Medina’s leadership, we went from a three-member to an 11-member faculty,” Krempl added, “and the department is very well respected in national arenas.”