Harold C. Pillsbury, III, MD, FACS, and William W. Shockley, MD, FACS, were integral members of our department serving as the Chair and Founding Vice Chair, respectively. Both have also been incredible teachers and mentors to students, residents, and fellows.
Dr. Pillsbury—who retired on June 28—saw patients at UNC for more than 40 years. Under his leadership, Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, the number of faculty dramatically increased, and the Department reached a top ten national ranking for Otolaryngology by U.S. News & World Report in 2018.
Dr. Pillsbury gave his final Grand Rounds presentation on August 4 entitled: “Principles Which Have Most Influenced My Career 1972-2021,” in which he discussed lessons he learned over the years and offered powerful advice.
William W. Shockley, MD, FACS, celebrated his birthday and retirement on July 30. Dr. Shockley was the founding Vice Chair of the Department, the founding Chief of the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and a W. Paul Biggers Distinguished Professor. He also served as the Vice President of the Southern Section of the Triological Society and the President of the North Carolina Society for Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Dr. Shockley joined UNC as an Associate Professor, where he quickly assumed leadership positions within the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery. He served in several other leadership positions at UNC and nationally, and he developed a solid foundation for the success of facial plastic surgery.
“Dr. Pillsbury and Shockley are stalwarts of UNC Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery and integral to the training of many current and future leaders in Otolaryngology – including me,” said Dr. Wendell Yarbrough, UNC Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery Chair. “They will be dearly missed as they retire, and our debt to them can only be repaid by taking excellent care of our patients, by pushing advances to improve patient care, and through paying forward to the next generation of leaders.”