Published: June 21, 2021

Education: How FLEX Has Reshaped Otolaryngology Education

The Foundation’s “Flexible Lifelong Education Xperience” (FLEX) program—that replaced the Home Study Course—produced eight sections this inaugural year and was nothing short of exceptional.


James C. Denneny III, MD, AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEOJames C. Denneny III, MD, AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO

Inaugural Year

The Foundation’s “Flexible Lifelong Education Xperience” (FLEX) program—that replaced the Home Study Course—produced eight sections this inaugural year and was nothing short of exceptional. Planning for the launch of this new flagship product was in motion more than a year before the pandemic hit last spring. 

Great emphasis was placed on ensuring the curriculum design reflected creative and contemporary learning modalities. Jeffrey P. Simons, MD, MMM, AAO-HNSF Coordinator for EducationJeffrey P. Simons, MD, MMM, AAO-HNSF Coordinator for EducationOur organizational efforts to modernize our content development process and digital transformation efforts facilitated successful implementation of this new education platform, which represented the greatest change in Academy education for several decades. While it is no small feat to sunset the Home Study Course, an education program that was a mainstay for 40 years, we believe that we have delivered on the goal to provide the educational materials that members want, when they want it, how they want it, and where they want it.  

There were almost 3,500 subscribers to the FLEX program this inaugural year, including more than 1,000 resident users. FLEX modules are interactive, engaging, easy to access, and immediately relevant to clinical otolaryngology practice. Their faster production timelines support the ability to cover emerging trends in the field and include the most up-to-date clinical and practice management information. 

Serious Games: Future of Learning

We are especially proud of the latest education innovation offered in the Complex Airway Management Simulation serious game created to enhance learning in the FLEX April section on Tracheostomy Management. The objective of this serious game is to challenge the physician’s ability to identify the critical steps to obtain and secure a difficult airway in the setting of a large supraglottic mass that is bleeding. Learners can repeat the course as often as needed to support surgical training and prepare for a similar emergent scenario that may arise while on call or in the hospital setting.

What’s Next for FLEX

We are excited about the upcoming year for the FLEX program. We will be incorporating much of the feedback that we received from members who have participated in the first year to continue to improve the learning experience. 

Stacey T. Gray, MDStacey T. Gray, MDThe AAO-HNS Board has approved the appointment of Stacey T. Gray, MD, to a new position of FLEX Curriculum Chair. This past year, she launched the first section of FLEX as Chair of the Rhinology & Allergy Education Committee (RAEC) and provided expertise in the creation of the FLEX Faculty Curriculum Development Guidelines. Dr. Gray has demonstrated a clear commitment and passion for Foundation education and the Academy will benefit greatly from her expertise in this extended leadership role on the ESC as she wraps up her final year as Chair, RAEC. 

Registration is now open. For more information, please visit www.entnet.org/education/flex


More from July 2021 – Vol. 40, No. 6