Young physicians are often overlooked or not qualified enough for many of the awards available in our specialty, yet many young physicians are quite remarkable with regards to the impact they have on education, service to their community, service to their profession and humanitarian work. As the YPS, we would like to recognize these individuals for not only the work they achieve, but also for the inspiration they provide to others.
Any Academy member may nominate a Young Physician they feel makes an IMPACT and exemplifies the ideals of what all young physicians should aspire to be. Please provide a narrative vignette illustrating what sets this individual apart. Application dates will be announced in the Spring and awarded at the YPS General Assembly at the Annual Academy Meeting.
Requirements:
- The nominees must be AAO-HNS members in good standing.
- The nominees will qualify on the basis of excellence in one or more categories, including:
- Education
- Service to their Community
- Service to their Profession
- Humanitarian Work
- The nomination packet requires full contact information for both the nominee and the nominating YPS member, as well as a nominating paragraph of up to 325 words.
*Winning Vignettes presented at the YPS General Assembly during the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience will be considered for publication in the Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Journal.
2025 YPS IMPACT Award
This year’s winner of the YPS Impact Award is Shayanne Lajud Guerrero, MD. Dr. Lajud is an assistant professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. He graduated magna cum laude with a Doctor of Medicine degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in the Dominican Republic. He completed his residency training at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgis, and at the University of Puerto Rico before completing his fellowship training at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Lajud understands firsthand the barriers that many Spanish-speaking and immigrant patients can face in accessing specialized healthcare. He has dedicated his career to ensuring that no patient is left behind, even those who lack financial resources or insurance. He is known for going out of his way to secure essential surgical treatments, identify solutions for resource-limited cases, and provide the highest level of care, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
Beyond his clinical excellence, Dr. Lajud is a passionate educator and mentor, committed to training the next generation of otolaryngologists. He has led a growing research initiative, mentoring medical students and residents in academic projects that directly impact patient care. Through his leadership, he has helped integrate the University of Puerto Rico’s Otolaryngology Department into the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative, a quality-improvement initiative aimed at improving tracheostomy outcomes and advancing scholarly work.
Dr. Lajud is committed to his patients and trainees. His guidance has empowered students to present at local and national conferences, publish in high-impact journals, and pursue ambitious projects. Furthermore, his resilience, selflessness, and unwavering dedication to medical education, healthcare advocacy, and humanitarian service make him a true role model for young physicians.
RECIPIENTS:
- 2024: Shumon Ian Dhar, MD
- 2023: Adam Luginbuhl, MD
- 2022: Peter F. Svider, MD
- 2021: Yi-Chun Carol Liu, MD
