Frank Rizer died tragically on March 20, 2003, while flying his airplane to the Cherry Blossom Conference in Washington, D.C. He was only 49 years of age. He is survived by his wife, Maria, mother, Wanda, sister, Dr. Milisa Rizer, her husband, Colonel James Allhouse, and niece Kaylan Rizer.

Frank was our partner in the Lippy Group for Ear, Nose and Throat for the past 18 years. During this time, he helped build an otologic and neurotologic practice with a national and international reputation. His favorite endeavor was the Cochlear Implant Program, which he built from the ground up into one of the largest private practice programs in the nation. Frank’s hobbies were varied, but he spent the most time with computers. In addition, he obtained two Master Degrees in administration.

On the medical practice side, Frank received his degree from the University of Cincinnati, his residency from the Eastern Virginia Graduate Medical School, and his fellowship in Neurotology from the House Ear Institute. Frank then joined the Lippy Group for Ear, Nose and Throat where he remained until his death.

With the Lippy Group, he became the director of our Neurotologic Fellowship, which was merged into a joint fellowship with Ohio State University. He held clinical appointments with Ohio State University, Medical College of Hampton Roads in Norfolk, Virginia, and Northeast Ohio College of Medicine. He was a member of the American Otologic Society, The American Neurotologic Society, the American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, the Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Otosclerosis Study Group, and the American College of Surgeons.

Always a willing lecturer and surgeon in residence, Frank taught both on a national and international level concerning cochlear implants and middle ear surgery.

On the medical management side, Frank received a Master of Business Administration Degree from Youngstown State University and a Master of Medical Management from Tulane University. He served on the board and was eventually the President for the Humility of Mary Health Partners in Youngstown, Ohio. At the time of his death, he was serving as a governance consultant to the Catholic Partners Headquarters in Cincinnati, and he was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees. He was a member of the American College of Physician Executives, the Medical Group Management Association, and various other study groups in this field.

The Lippy Group, as a team, has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and 9 book chapters. In addition, the group presented numerous courses through the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and other organizations. Frank was a force in these endeavors and will be missed in the future.

Frank’s untimely death leaves his patients, loved ones, friends, and colleagues saddened by this accident. He was an intelligent and gifted physician with the ability to touch those around him in a very special way.

– Otology and Neurotology  |  July 2003