UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery holds Luminary Awards

Musician John Mayer had an injury on his vocal chords that doctors were not able to cure until he went to the UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery.

“I had gone through a lot of different doctors. I say gone through them because, one way or another, I realized they couldn’t fix me,” Mayer said at a ceremony Wednesday to celebrate one of the UCLA Health System’s newer departments.

The UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery held the Luminary Awards for the first time on Wednesday to celebrate the creation of a separate department for head and neck surgery, which began two years ago, said Dr. Gerald Berke, the chair of the UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery. About 600 people attended the event, which was held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Supporters Dianne and James Bashor and Ann and Jerry Moss were honored at the event along with Mayer.

Mayer was given a humanitarian award for educating people about granuloma, an open wound that does not heal, which Mayer had on his vocal chords, Berke said.

Wayne Newton, a long time singer and entertainer, hosted the event. Newton first met Berke over a decade ago after having a small throat problem, he said. Since then, Berke and Newton have stayed friends, Newton added.

The UCLA Gospel Choir performed popular songs such as “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang and “ABC” by The Jackson 5 at the event. The awards ceremony provided the student’s with the learning experience of performing live in front of an audience, said James Roberson, a professor for the African American music ensemble.

“Anytime we get an opportunity to perform live, we do it,” Roberson said.

The amount of funds raised has not yet been released.

The money raised at the event will go toward supporting research within the department and buying new equipment, Berke said. The department is unsure if they will hold the event next year due to the amount of planning involved, Berke added.

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