EVP/CEO Spotlight Series at #OTOMTG24
The EVP/CEO Spotlight Series returns in 2024, including a not-to-be-missed panel by NIDCD leadership on physician-scientist training in otolaryngology.
James C. Denneny III, MD
AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO
This series dives deeply into topics of special interest to the advancement of the specialty, hand-selected by AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, James C. Denneny III, MD. This year’s sessions include a not-to-be-missed panel by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) leadership on the National Institutes of Health portfolio of initiatives to support physician-scientist training in otolaryngology at all levels. The other sessions will include a distinguished panel on “Surgeons with Disabilities,” an exploration into the unique challenges and extraordinary triumphs of surgeons navigating the medical field with physical impairments, as well as an update on the “Development, Safety, and Efficacy of PRGN-2012: A Therapeutic Vaccine for Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis.” Finally, AAO-HNSF Coordinator for Education, Meredith Merz Lind, MD, will moderate a panel on the Otolaryngology Core Curriculum (OCC), to explore the nearly limitless possibilities of this groundbreaking and recently launched education product.
The dates and details about each of these important events is provided below. Further information about these and other education programming is available in the desktop version of the Annual Meeting online program and will soon be available in the mobile app.
Physician-Scientist Training in Otolaryngology: A Crucial Path to Advancement
9:30 – 10:30 am (ET) | Monday, September 30, 2024
Significant progress in treating otolaryngology patients stems from technological and biological innovations originating in engineering, basic science, and clinical research. Examples include cochlear implants, gene therapy for congenital sensorineural hearing loss, and immunotherapy. The continued development of these treatments hinges on training future clinician-scientists, starting at the undergraduate level to spark interest in otolaryngology, recruiting MD-PhD students at the graduate level, providing summer experiences or gap years during medical school, and extending through residency, fellowship, and junior faculty stages. Recognizing the vital importance of this mission for advancing patient care and enhancing clinician-career satisfaction, the NIH has developed a comprehensive portfolio to support clinician-scientist development in both basic science and clinical research at all levels. NIDCD neurotology branch chief Ronna Hertzano, MD, PhD, NIDCD director Debara L. Tucci, MD, MS, MBA, and NIDCD clinical director Joshua M. Levy, MD, MPH, MS, will introduce NIDCD-led or -participating efforts aimed at students, trainees, and faculty to bolster the surgeon-scientist workforce and improve patient care in otolaryngology.
Development, Safety, and Efficacy of PRGN-2012: A Therapeutic Vaccine for Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis
9:30 – 10:30 am (ET) | Saturday, September 28, 2024
National Cancer Institute (NCI) surgical oncology acting branch chief, Clint T. Allen, MD, will discuss the preclinical development and phase 1/2 clinical study results of PRGN-2012, a gorilla adenovirus therapeutic vaccine immunotherapy designed to enhance human papillomavirus (HPV)-specific immune responses in adult patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. This vaccine has received orphan drug designation from the United State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Commission, and FDA breakthrough designation. Confirmed pivotal registration phase 2 clinical trial results are expected to be published at the time of this presentation.
Participants will learn about the natural immune response to HPV types 6 or 11 in adult patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), understand the potential for immunotherapy to be used to treat adult patients with RRP, and learn about differences in the papilloma microenvironment between patients who do and do not respond to HPV therapeutic vaccination.
Surgeons with Physical Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities for Inclusion
9:30 – 10:30 am (ET) | Sunday, September 29, 2024
Moderator Eugene L. Alford, MD, will guide a panel of distinguished speakers Jennifer A. Villwock, MD, John L. Dornhoffer, MD, Chad Ruffin, MD, John M. Schweinfurth, MD, and Jeffrey D. Carron, MD, for an enlightening discussion on "Surgeons with Physical Disabilities," an exploration into the unique challenges and extraordinary triumphs of surgeons navigating the medical field with physical impairments. This panel will shed light on the often-overlooked narrative of these individuals, their resilience, and the transformative potential of inclusivity in the surgical community. We aim to foster a dialogue that challenges traditional views and celebrates the diversity of abilities, ultimately redefining the perception of disability in surgery.
OCC From Concept to Reality: The Future Is Now
2:30 – 3:30 pm (ET) | Sunday, September 29, 2024
The new Otolaryngology Core Curriculum provides otolaryngology residents across the United States the opportunity to learn from a unified curriculum consisting of 100 module topics to support a complete two-year course of study. AAO-HNSF, in partnership with the academic otolaryngology community, has created each module to include a weekly course of study, case-based learning, and a set of topic-specific assessment questions. The platform provides otolaryngology residency training program directors the capability to actively participate in residents’ learning, track their progress, and evaluate their need to help residents progress successfully throughout their training.
Hear how different programs have adopted the curriculum, see a demo of the platform capabilities, and how it could be effectively adapted to function as a resource to educate team members of all disciplines. AAO-HNSF Coordinator for Education, Meredith Merz Lind, MD, will moderate this invaluable panel, which also includes, Arielle Thal, MD, Gene G. Brown III, MD, Cindy Moore, MD, and James C. Denneny III, MD. Tirza Lofgreen, CHCP, Senior Director of Professional Education and Digital Learning for the AAO-HNS, will also present a demonstration of the OCC for attendees.
