03/15/2026
Amelia Drake, MD, FACS, is the Newton D. Fischer Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and serves at the Director of the UNC Craniofacial Center (School of Dentistry) and Vice Chair of Faculty Development, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Drake completed her pediatric otolaryngology fellowship in 1988 and has been a full professor since 1999. As a pediatric otolaryngologist and full professor at UNC, she has authored multiple publications, mentored many young otolaryngologists, and has been integral to multiple organizations that support and mentor women and underserved minorities, including the Academic Career Leadership Academy in Medicine (ACCLAIM) program and UNC’s Association of Professional Women in the Medical Sciences (APWIMS).
She currently describes herself as a later-career physician:
As a professor, that is definitely a late-career physician. Right now I’m not sure if I will continue working for one year or five. I enjoy it; work is like going to the playground every day to play with kids, though some are woefully sick.
Can you describe your role as WIO Historian and what that responsibility entails?
As WIO Historian, my job is supporting the memory, history, and mission of WIO. Sometimes it has been a rather large ask, such as when I compiled photographs and a list of all the WIO past presidents!! But now that it is in digital form, it just needs a quick update annually. I am a non-voting member but attend monthly meetings.
What has been your favorite or most meaningful part of serving in WIO?
Reflecting on the careers and successes of women. Many people will remind me that you just didn’t get your papers on the podium [in the past]! I most enjoy reflecting on the words and careers of women in our field.
What advice would you give yourself early in your career?
[It’s] not that we take ourselves too seriously; it’s almost as if we took the field too seriously. You would always try to fit in, but you wouldn’t fit in. If you wanted to be motherly, warm, involved in family life, that was okay.
What advice would you offer to a mid-career physician now?
I would say to take time for yourself and your family, that things improve. In your early career there is a certain naivete, but mid-career is a lot of work. Friday pm clinic always had that kid with an obstructing papilloma, so I eventually stopped doing a Friday afternoon clinic [so I could be home for the weekend]. Take care of yourself a little bit; there is so much pressure for tenure and grants, and you have to be a surgeon as well.
I agree we [women ENTs] are providing support for each other, which is not something that has always happened. Some people are good in all the areas—research, leadership, career. Not everyone we mentor feels equally strong in all the areas. We frequently have imposter syndrome or hear other leaders and think, “gosh she makes it sound so easy.” My mid-career advice: mentor things that are important; make time for family.
How did you get established in your early career and get your papers on the podium?
I don’t know that I had anyone doing for me what I do for my junior mentees. We didn’t have women mentors when I came through; there just weren’t many women otolaryngologists. There was a DDS/PhD studying the nasal airway who wanted an otolaryngologist to guide him, which provided me entry into the field. I got put on a couple of papers. There were not so many ENTs in pediatrics, so it was easier to publish [in that realm].
Did you have a mentor?
My dad was at UNC; he was in general otolaryngology while I was in pediatric otolaryngology. But in terms of lifestyle, thinking of family, etc., the exposure to him helped give me an example of how to be both an academic clinician and make time for family. Academics is very comfortable. I like the teaching, and residents help with call. And I enjoy the research, far out of proportion to the 5% of time or so I have officially allotted to it!
How do you actively sponsor or advocate for other women?
Now it is imperative to offer junior colleagues participation with papers; this mentorship is important [and not always equitably offered]. Look for a team and initiate some team science! When I have a new project or paper, I try to find a junior colleague who would benefit from the experience of joining. I think, “who needs help?” Otherwise it is too difficult to keep up with the digital output alone.
If you could scrub into any surgery in history, what would it be?
A face transplant would be too crazy; neurosurgery—you have to put on loupes… maybe some of the early cardiac surgeries they were doing when they were first using bypass, such as early valve replacements.
Daily survival skills: What is your go-to coffee order?
A vanilla latte, but that is a plush one—something I do not have very often.
What kind of music do you play in the OR?
I listen to whatever anyone else wants to listen to; usually the fellow picks it!
