Crosby appointed Chair of Otolaryngology at SIU Medicine

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Dana Crosby, MD, MPH, has been named chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. She is also the director of rhinology and endoscopic skull base surgery, director of otolaryngic allergy and is also the otolaryngology residency program director. 

The department provides care focused on ears, nose and throat (ENT), with eight subspecialty/fellowship-trained ENT surgeons offering specialized treatments for patients. Crosby now hopes to expand specialty offerings to make SIU Medicine the destination for all ENT and head and neck surgery care in central and southern Illinois.

“As 1 of only 8 female ENT chairs out of 125 in the country, Dr. Crosby is a rising star in the field of otolaryngology,” said SIU School of Medicine Dean and Provost Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH. “She has ably led the department as both interim co-chair and acting chair over the past few years. She’s an outstanding physician, teacher and scholar who invests herself in innovative and collaborative endeavors. Her positive, energetic nature engages others to understand and fulfill their potential.”

“It is an honor to guide this otolaryngology team,” Crosby said. “We are expanding our clinical and research staff to increase productivity and offer a higher level of academic medical care. And we are working to establish a presence in outreach clinics throughout central and southern Illinois, in order to meet patients closer to home.” 

“We want to grow in a measured and intentional way to ensure we maintain the culture of excellence in patient care and education that we’ve developed,” she said. 

A native of Pennsylvania, Crosby obtained her undergraduate degree from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., before earning a medical degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia. She completed her residency training at SIU School of Medicine and went on to complete a fellowship in rhinology and endoscopic skull base surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Since that time, she has served as faculty at Southern Illinois University. While serving as faculty at SIU, she obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. 

Crosby’s clinical practice includes sinus surgery and endoscopic approaches to the skull base and orbit in pediatric and adult patients. Her research interests include understanding factors that impact outcomes following endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery, gender disparity in medicine, and leadership in medicine. She is on the editorial board of journals "Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery" and "International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology."

Established in 1970, SIU School of Medicine is based in Springfield and Carbondale, and is focused on the health care needs of downstate Illinois. It educates physicians to practice in Illinois communities and has graduated nearly 3,100 physicians since the first class in 1975.