In Memoriam: Dr. Reginald F. Baugh
Dr. Baugh pictured with then-students Alex Blair and Alexis Vick during the Summer
2013
Dr. Reginald F. Baugh, professor of Surgery, Chief of Otolaryngology and Assistant Dean for Admissions,
passed away Jan. 21, after a multi-year health battle. He was 64.
Reginald Farnz Baugh was born on June 12, 1956 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He earned
his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa with a general science major. He
attended medical school at the University of Michigan and stayed in Michigan for his
postgraduate training, spending time at University of Michigan Hospitals and Henry
Ford Hospital.
For most of his career, Dr. Baugh was an academician on staff at the University of
Kansas, Henry Ford Health System, Texas A&M University and most recently at The University
of Toledo. He served as a quality and process improvement consultant for the Food
and Drug Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Joint Commission
for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
Working to improve patient safety, he chaired efforts in identifying and implementing
national guidelines on tonsillectomy, Bell’s palsy, and benign paroxysmal positional
vertigo treatments.
"I've been fortunate to serve the people and my specialty for the development and
implementation of head and neck guidelines," Dr. Baugh told UToledo News in 2015.
Dr. Baugh joined The University of Toledo in 2009 as professor in the Department of
Surgery and as Chief of the Division of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery. He became
a tenured professor in 2013 and assistant dean in the Office of Admissions in 2014.
In 2011, he led a multidisciplinary panel of authors to create a clinical practice guideline for tonsillectomies. Despite the popularity of tonsillectomy, there has been no guideline previously
for the surgery in North or South America and in just a few European countries. Dr.
Baugh chaired the study panel that created the new guidelines.
He had more than $200,000 in funded research during his career.
Dr. Baugh’s interest in general otolaryngology has led to over 110 publications, presentations,
and book chapters. He has served on the editorial staff of three journals, chief editor
of one and subject reviewer for many journals in the field. A strong supporter of
the American Academy of Otolaryngology, he participated in quality improvement efforts
consistently over 20 years as a committee member, consultant, guideline task force
chair and co-chair.
He also received numerous honors and awards during his career, including the Hinton-Gladney
Award from the National Medical Association in 2015 and the Presidential Citation from the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and
Neck Surgery in 2014.
Dr. Reginald Baugh, right, received a presidential citation from Dr. Richard Waguespack,
who was president of the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery
at the annual meeting in September.
Photo courtesy American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.
He was Elected Top ENT in Toledo, Ohio by the International Association of Healthcare
Professionals in 2011.
He also received the Meritorious Service Award from the State of Texas: "Dr. Baugh's
three years of volunteer service as a Speaker of the House appointee have been marked
by distinguished commitment and exemplary participation. As a member of the legislatively
established committee, Dr. Baugh’s expertise and commitment have resulted in numerous
contributions toward addressing health disparities and improving the welfare of fellow
Texans."
Dr. Baugh pictured with colleagues walking through UTMC's lobby in 2011
Rebecca Diaz, administrative assistant in the Department of Surgery, shared with us that Dr. Baugh's
favorite Bible verse was Ephesians 5:15-17: "Be very careful, then, how you live —
not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days
are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."
She also said that one of his favorite sayings was "I have another project I want
to work on…"
"He was a great man and I will miss him very much."
Dr. Baugh established two funds at The University of Toledo Foundation, if you would like to contribute to these in his memory:
- Fund Acct #2402122 – Dr. Reginald Baugh Research/Scholarship
- Fund Acct #2402123 – Dr. Reginald Baugh ENT Prize
Tribute by Dr. Davis
It was such an honor and privilege for me to call Reginald “Reggie” Baugh, M.D., my
friend and colleague. When Reggie came to the University of Toledo in 2009, he was
appointed as Chief of Otolaryngology and Dentistry. At our first meeting, he told
me some of his best friends during his ENT residency training at the University of
Michigan were the Oral Surgery and Dental residents from the U of M Hospital Dental
Department. They had all worked as a team on many head and neck surgical cases. I
feel our first meeting made me an instant colleague.
Reggie was a wonderful educator. With his easy-going manner, he could always put students
and residents at ease during impromptu hallway questions and formal teaching sessions.
His hospital ENT clinic was right next door to Dentistry. Reggie would pop over to
help us if we had a question about a lesion, we needed some help identifying. Routinely,
he would invite the dental residents to spend time observing him in the ENT clinic. When
he went to the OR or had a head and neck trauma case he would ask if any of the dental
residents wanted to help him. They always wanted to go.
Nothing stopped Reggie, not even his disease, from continuing to do scholarly work. When
I saw him three weeks ago in our dental service, he told me he was finishing another
journal article. Dr. Reginald F. Baugh was a highly ethical man, a great husband and
father, and an outstanding Professor. I am really going to miss him.
Bill Davis, D.D.S.
Chief Division of Dentistry
UToledo Department of Surgery
Tribute by Drs. Jenkins and Perry
Dr. Reginald Baugh dedicated his entire career to carving out opportunities for underrepresented
minorities in academic medicine. Through his work with the UTCOMLS Office of Admissions
and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, he was committed to creating new and
innovative strategies to enhance the recruitment, retention and success for students
pursuing medical careers. He was a mentor and advocate, publishing notable scholarship
addressing the challenges of African-American students and physicians facing bias
and discrimination in medicine — a positive impact that exceeded his calling as a
physician. Beyond his remarkable work as a physician, he changed lives by providing
opportunities and uplifting the voices for those who have been historically disadvantaged,
marginalized and silenced within our profession. He was an inspiration for all of
us dedicated towards making sustainable change in establishing the inclusive climate
and diverse student body that is necessary for our COMLS if we are to meet the healthcare
needs of our community, state, and nation.
Even after his illness, he fortified his efforts in assuring that we achieve meaningful
strides in driving forward our work in diversity, equity and inclusion. He remained
active in evaluating application files, reading the academic literature on admissions,
and publishing important papers. Through it all, he challenged all of us to approach
the work of diversity and social justice with, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King,
“the fierce urgency of now.”
The opportunities he created opened doors for hundreds of others. Dr. Baugh's work
and service to the underserved and disenfranchised is a legacy that we uphold and
resonates far beyond the walls of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. We will
greatly miss him.
Kimberly D. Jenkins, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology
Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Yvette V. Perry, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Admissions & Strategic Enrollment
Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Education
Reginald Baugh, M.D. Graduation Award
Fourth-year medical students are invited to apply for the Reginald Baugh Prize, a $1,000 cash award recognizing activism during medical school. Established in honor of Dr. Reginald F. Baugh, this prize celebrates his legacy and commitment to advocacy in medicine. Applications are closed for 2025.