Published: May 27, 2021

The Power of One Gives Strength to Many

YOU are the hero in the Academy’s story and throughout our rich 125-year history, you have helped to get the work done through your generous support.


125 Icons FourJames C. Denneny III, MD
AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO


YOU are the hero in the Academy’s story and throughout our rich 125-year history, you have helped to get the work done through your generous support. Looking back on the AAO-HNS/F journey and the breadth of accomplishments of our small but mighty specialty, it has always been the commitment and involvement of members in the work of the Academy that has moved us forward. 

Celebrating such a momentous milestone as we are with our 125th anniversary, causes one to pause and reflect on the path we have taken. It has reminded me of the long lineage of people who have contributed over the years to build and shape the specialty and our organization to what they are today. Dedicated and forward-thinking leaders have helped set the course for otolaryngology to expand and thrive through innovation and research, consistent education programming, and a continued focus on quality patient care.

There is no question that our specialty and organization have been blessed with exceptional leadership over the years. However, from the first days in 1896, the common denominator to our extensive efforts and achievements has been YOU—the hundreds of volunteers creating education products, developing new medical and surgical treatments, researching new frontiers that allow improvement in care and then providing that care consistently to patients across the United States and around the world. Without YOU, we would have not been able to evolve to one of the most dynamic specialties in medicine today.

125 CampaignWhile effective leaders can help chart the future direction, real change only occurs when many make it happen. As new challenges are identified and plans made, the real work is done by the hundreds of volunteers, educators, and clinicians bringing the best available to their patients. Sharing this great responsibility in such a collective way allows more to be done without overwhelming any one individual.

As part of the 125 Strong Campaign, four areas where our specialty needs to evolve to meet the needs of our members and the public today have been identified, but they need additional funding to be accomplished. These investment areas for the growth and future health of our specialty and those who compose it include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Education; Leadership Development and Mentorship; and Wellness.  

It has been amazing what our small specialty has been able to accomplish in the house of medicine and in patient care. Your support today will help us secure a better tomorrow for otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and those who dedicate their lives’ work to patient care. We will all be surprised how quickly it adds up and will trigger a wave of support that can then make a profound difference.

Learn more at www.entnet.org/125Strong