A Snapshot of Critical New Projects and Events in 2024

James C. Denneny III, MD
AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEOAs I begin my last year as your EVP/CEO, it is with the most sincere gratitude and amazement that I recall how many members and staff have given so much for our specialty and profession. This is especially evident as I look forward with great optimism to 2024 and some wonderful happenings that will occur throughout the upcoming year. The extensive planning and preparatory work required for the successful completion and implementation of critical new projects and events has been well underway for several months, and everything seems to be on schedule.

After the Nominating Committee completes its work in early January and selects the candidates for our 2024 elections and the winter Boards of Directors meetings are completed, the committee selection process moves to the forefront along with the Annual Meeting Program Committee’s development of the program for the AAO-HNSF 2024 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Miami, Florida, and final preparations for the inaugural OTO Forum this spring.

OTO Forum

Even as the Private Practice Study Group was completing its transition to the Otolaryngology Private Practice Section (OPPS) last year, it began planning for our reimagined spring meeting, OTO Forum. There is great anticipation and excitement surrounding the inaugural meeting, which will be held April 5-6, in Alexandria, Virginia. The program has been created by the OPPS and will feature an in-depth look at the spectrum of challenges and issues affecting the day-to-day practice of otolaryngology, including clinical and administrative hot topics. Future iterations of this meeting have the potential to be paired with advocacy education and Capitol Hill visits for those interested in participating in the critical facet of our Advocacy program.

Otolaryngology Core Curriculum

Another inaugural product that is eagerly awaited, the Otolaryngology Core Curriculum (OCC), will debut on July 1, 2024, as residency programs start their “new year.” This game-changing product will cover the breadth of the specialty as defined by the Otolaryngology Curriculum Editorial Board, populated by members selected by the academic education community representing all specialty areas of otolaryngology. The Foundation’s Education Steering Committee and Module Development Workgroup will produce this state-of-the-art product in a modular format in a two-year cycle using multimedia technology including animation, gamification, simulation, and video recordings with advanced analytic capabilities for use on all devices.

Although initially and primarily designed as an education tool for otolaryngology residents, it became quickly apparent that the content and format of the OCC will benefit learners at every level of practice, independent of other resources available to them. It can also serve as a valuable tool to educate clinical staff and advanced practice providers.

Reg-ent

Seven years of incremental development following a strategic plan and timeline have put our clinical data registry, Reg-ent, into a position to move into an accelerated mode for research using a database that currently has over 40 million patient encounters available through a Data Studio created by our analytic partner OM1. This is a critical step for identifying and defining best care and true outcomes data. Registry participants can submit a proposed study that will be reviewed by the Reg-ent Research Advisory Group. The data gathered and studies done will also be essential tools for health policy and payer advocacy activities as well as quality activities.

We are still actively recruiting new participants in the academic and private practice communities and hope those not currently a part of the registry will consider joining and multiplying the diversity, accuracy, and value of our data that will move otolaryngology forward during healthcare reform.

AAO-HNSF 2024 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO

As 2024 winds down our flagship event of the year ahead, the 128th AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO will convene our global otolaryngology community in Miami. Attendees from around the world will be able to “Experience the Extraordinary” in one of the great multicultural cities of the world. We expect Miami, a gateway to Central and South America as well as Europe, to be an extremely popular meeting site that should result in one of the highest numbers of international attendees in our organization’s history.

This meeting will feature a Saturday through Tuesday footprint instead of the previous Sunday through Wednesday timeframe and will continue to collaborate with specialty societies and other organizations to enable them to hold meetings contiguously with our meeting.

In-depth review of the post-meeting comments from the 2023 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience in Nashville, Tennessee, has guided some minor adjustments to the program that should be additive to the education and networking experiences at this meeting. In addition, there will be exceptional opportunities to experience the lively atmosphere with a plethora of entertainment opportunities.

As we look forward to some of the highlights of the year to come, it is important to acknowledge and remember that none of these could take place and come to fruition without the tremendous host of volunteers from within our membership who make this possible. Thank you all!