Reaching the Next Generation: Inspiring Future Otolaryngologists

COOL-OTO Program volunteers visited public high schools in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2023 to spark students’ interest in otolaryngology.As part of its commitment to the future of the specialty, the AAO-HNS supports aspiring otolaryngologists at every stage of their education journey. However, a key challenge remains: how to inspire younger students to consider otolaryngology (and medicine) in the first place. AAO-HNS/F President Douglas D. Backous, MD, emphasized in his August Bulletin column that the answer lies in early intervention: “Identifying students early in the education pipeline and encouraging them to pursue STEM curricula in the hopes that a fraction will choose medicine as a career pathway and otolaryngology as a specialty is essential to our future.”

The AAO-HNS has a long history of providing support to medical students with a wealth of resources, including webinars, articles, and forums to help them prepare for residency and navigate the application process. But the Academy and individual members are also focusing outreach efforts on younger students, aiming to spark interest much earlier in their academic paths.

AAO-HNS physician members engaging with medical students to encourage their interest in otolaryngology.Last year, members of the AAO-HNS Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the American Neurotology Society took a proactive approach by visiting high school STEM classes during the 2023 Annual Meeting in the first event of a new program, “COOL-OTO” (Community Outreach Opportunities for Learning Otology and Otolaryngology) spearheaded by Michael Hoa, MD and Stephanie Moody Antonio, MD. The goal was simple, per Dr. Hoa, “To get physician volunteers interacting with high school students, getting them more interested in medicine broadly.”

The event focused on three public high schools in Nashville chosen for the large percentages of students from backgrounds under-represented in medicine. Approximately 25 volunteer participants traveled to the schools on Monday morning of the meeting to spark otolaryngology interest in the Music City locals. Students rotated through interactive stations performing a head and neck exam, learning about noise exposure, exploring bone conduction and cochlear implants, and trying out a myringotomy model. Said volunteer participant Hilary Newsome, MD, “It was a great chance for small group connections that will hopefully make an enduring impression for the young learners.”

COOL-OTO volunteers at a local high school in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2023.The COOL-OTO program was replicated as a team effort last month in Miami, coinciding with the AAO-HNSF 2024 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO. Academy members Michael Hoffer, MD, and Hillary Snapp, AuD, PhD, along with Dr. Hoa and the COOL-OTO Event Organizing Committee, also conducted a successful simulation course for underrepresented high school students in the Miami area.

COOL-OTO Event Organizing Committee:

Adam Kaufman, MD, PhD
Adam C. Thompson-Harvey, MD
Angela Peng, MD
Christine Thuyvan Dinh, MD, representative for the University of Miami
Earl H. Harley, MD, representative for the Society for Ear Nose and Throat Advancement in Children
Hillary Snapp, AuD, PhD, audiologist
Kelly F. Moyer, MD
Ken Kazahaya, MD, MBA, Secretary/Treasurer of the AAO-HNS
LaKeisha R. Henry, MD, representative of the Harry Barnes Society
Leena Asfour, MD
Mana Espahbodi, MD
Michael E. Hoffer, MD, representative for the University of Miami and the Triological Society
Michelle Higgins, MD

Opportunities Abound for Informal and Local Mentorship

Beyond organized programs, Academy members engage with young adults in their communities by volunteering individually or partnering with local organizations. One recent success story involves Justin Abraham, a high school student from Huntingtown, Maryland. After reaching out to the Academy about his interest in otolaryngology, Justin was matched with Brandon Wachal, MD, an otolaryngologist in Severna Park, Maryland, for a shadowing experience.

Justin shared his reflections:

"Over the summer, I had the incredible opportunity to shadow an otolaryngologist, Dr. Brandon Wachal. I had the privilege of observing a wide range of procedures and cases. It was evident that building trust with patients was a vital aspect of care in the ENT field. One aspect that stood out was the diversity of cases within the ENT specialty. Dr. Wachal and his staff were very welcoming and insightful. The most important takeaway was the advice they gave during my time in the office, not only talking about the field of otolaryngology but the best way to go about the field of medicine. This experience deepened my respect for the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to improve the lives of their patients in the ENT specialty."

Justin’s experience highlights the profound impact of mentorship and firsthand exposure on young students considering a career in medicine.

Interested in Supporting the Next Generation?

Established otolaryngologists have numerous opportunities to give back to future physicians through the Academy and their local communities:

• Learn how to start a pipeline program at your institution to encourage diverse students to consider otolaryngology.
• Explore and share the 2023 Workforce Survey Report to understand the current state of the specialty.
• Contact the Academy’s Membership team at membership@entnet.org to participate in future student mentoring events and discover more ways to get involved.

Inspiring the next generation of otolaryngologists begins with outreach and mentorship, ensuring the specialty continues to thrive with passionate, skilled professionals.