Hooked on Otolaryngology: An Interview with Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA
Dr. Shah, incoming AAO-HNS/F EVP and CEO, shares his passions for advancing clinical research, patient care, and organizational leadership.
Dr. Shah discusses his passion for advancing clinical research, patient care, and organizational leadership; a few of his early priorities; and his approach to listening and learning to add value for members. Dr. Shah will take over the role of AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President (EVP) and CEO in December.
What excites you most about being the new EVP and CEO of the AAO-HNS/F?
Colleague Raafat S. Hannallah, MD, anesthesiologist, and Dr. Shah share a light moment between cases.It’s really three things: people, people, people. I love serving patients and driving member value; and I look forward to inspiring and leading the staff to continue to grow and engage in the work of the Academy. I’m so excited by the opportunity to enhance and expand the member value streams we already have, identify new ones, and collaborate so that we can all win, both collectively and individually. And while “winning” looks different to each of us, the Academy will continue to be that professional support that helps us each achieve success in ways that mean the most to us, our practice, and ultimately for our patients.
What are some of your early priorities?
My biggest priority is listening and learning. I really want to listen and learn from our members, staff, and stakeholders. I want to know what’s going well, what isn’t going well, where our opportunities for collaboration are, and what challenges exist that are creating barriers to our success. I’m not seeking to make change for change’s sake as there are many efforts underway at the core of our Academy that already have significant impact. But there are always opportunities to collaborate and engage in ways that further serve the needs of our members; I will seek to identify and capitalize on these opportunities.
All members are dealing with different realities in their settings. So, in addition to listening and learning, I plan to visit a lot of practices. I won’t be giving lectures or doing rounds but rather I will be listening. I want to hear from members and your staff—on your turf—about what you need from the Academy, what you need us to advocate for, and where you need more value and support from us.
Dr. Shah (left) rounding during the COVID-19 pandemic to thank hospital staff for their efforts.I also want to listen to those who aren’t speaking up. Throughout my time in management and as a leader, I’ve learned that it’s the people who don’t speak up who often need to be heard the most. I want to talk to members who have left the Academy and figure out why they left us and how and if we failed them. I want to talk with the people who aren’t happy. I want to talk with the people who aren’t renewing their membership, who aren’t raising their hands to volunteer, and who aren’t advocating. I especially want to talk with the people who haven’t ever become members and have never thought of the Academy as their home.
What are the greatest strengths of the AAO-HNS/F?
Dr. Shah (left) in the operating room with the late otolaryngologist Stephen Epstein, MD.The people. Our members, our patients, and our staff. I was blown away when I visited the AAO-HNS/F headquarters on July 12, the day the EVP/CEO announcement was made. Dr. Denneny surprised the staff by having me there, and I was able to walk around, meet everybody, and have lunch with the staff. I left that day more excited than ever. I encourage all Academy members to come visit us in Alexandria, Virginia. I’d be thrilled to have a coffee or lunch with you, but mostly I want you to see how passionate our staff is and all the work they’re doing for the specialty, your practice, and your patients.
Another great strength of the Academy is the continuum of care that is at the heart of otolaryngology. Otolaryngologists are leaders wherever we are—whether that’s in the hospital, on the medical staff, or advocating on behalf of your county or state. I think that’s partly because we take care of all patients—from newborns all the way up to geriatric patients. That continuum of care and diversity of practice gives us expertise as well as insights that the world needs—and especially that decision-makers need. We can advocate for everyone and on every topic that is going to help our patients. This gives us a uniquely strong foundational base.
The third strength is our Boards of Directors. I’ve spent a lot of time with boards of varying natures throughout my career. I’ve educated and trained 1,200 board members on quality and safety and board governance. The current AAO-HNS/F Boards of Directors are superb. I’m amazed by their thoughtfulness, their sense of fiduciary duty, and how they represent members and staff.
Who inspires you as a leader? What is your leadership approach?
People inspire me. People at all levels are fascinating, and we have so much to learn from everybody’s story. Encapsulating these diverse perspectives and experiences into our work is essential to maximize our efforts and impact.
Participants in a physician leadership course started by Dr. Shah.As a leader, I look for one plus one to equal 10, so that’s a 10x multiplier or what is known as generative leadership. How do we bring together disparate parts so that the sum is greater than each part? The Academy has that. We have incredible individual parts that can come together to be a 10x multiplier. I don’t want us to be laggards or stuck in the status quo. We have opportunities to be leaders in our society and drivers of change, which ultimately benefits members and enhances value for you and your patients.
Dr. Shah and his best friend (left foreground) enjoy a quick cat nap at home.What do you most want Academy members to know about you?
I’m transparent, approachable, and here for you 24/7. I go to sleep thinking about the people I lead, and I wake up thinking about them. I’m not here for us to just survive, but for all of us to collectively thrive.
How did you first become involved with the Academy and why did you continue to stay involved?
Dr. Shah and his co-author hang their scientific poster at a national meeting.I was first exposed to the Academy at the AAO-HNSF 1998 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in San Antonio, Texas, and I’ll never forget how special that experience was. I stood proudly next to my poster that had come from the research lab where I was working. Dozens of people asked me questions, which was an endorphin rush for a medical student. From that moment I was hooked on otolaryngology, research, and connecting with other members. And that hook kept bringing me back.
It was awesome to continue to grow within the Academy, not just from an academic perspective but also serving on committees. I was appointed by David R. Nielsen, MD, Past AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO to serve on the inaugural Patient Safety Quality Improvement (PSQI) Committee, which was an amazing opportunity to help craft patient safety quality improvement for our entire specialty. Through that opportunity with the Academy, I also had the chance to participate in Washington, DC, advocacy week, where I had a seat at national meetings advocating for our patients. Over the years, I have remained deeply involved with the Academy, which has helped me understand the roles of advocacy, research, and education in driving member value—ultimately for the benefit of our patients.
Can you tell us about your journey to becoming an otolaryngologist?
Older brother, pediatric ENT surgeon, and inspiration Udayan K. Shah, MD, and Dr. Shah at Thomas Jefferson University in 2023.My older brother is an otolaryngologist. I remember when he first matched. Back then, we had to rely on postal mail and phones. So, he called my parents at nighttime, and everyone was so happy for him. I was so proud of him as well but, admittedly, I had no idea what an otolaryngologist was or did. But I looked up to him as a mentor and academician, so when he matched that is really what started my exploration of the field.
I completed an accelerated BA/MD program at Boston University School of Medicine. My brother and all the faculty at Boston University were so welcoming. He would invite me to rounds with Academy members such as Nabil S. Fuleihan, MD, Gregory A. Grillone, MD, John R. Stram, MD, and Charles W. Vaughan, MD, to name a few. To be exposed as a young college student to the exciting field of otolaryngology was such a gift and it imprinted upon me a passion for our patients and our members.
(Left to right) Dr. Shah with his mentor and mentee.When I was in my second year as an undergraduate, I started working in an otolaryngology laser lab at Tufts Medical Center. That’s where I first experienced how exciting our field is and learned how gracious otolaryngologists are as mentors, teachers, and caregivers. I had the huge honor of learning from people like Stanley M. Shapshay, MD, Peak Woo, MD, Elie E. Rebeiz, MD, Jacob Pieter Noordzij, MD, and Jagdish K. Dhingra, MBBS. Working in that lab as an undergraduate student, and then as a medical student, had the most profound impact on me. It wasn’t just the research, but it was also the team breakfasts, lunches, and the camaraderie that I shared with these stellar otolaryngologists
At what point did you know you wanted to get your MBA?
As a young kid, I sold candy in my neighborhood setting up stands and delivering the products on my bicycle—suffice it to say, my passion for business started at an early age. I always envisioned a career where I’d be able to intersect my passions for patients, science, and discovery with business. I’ve been fortunate to be able to do that. I knew it was inevitable that I’d get my MBA, the question was just when. The advice I received was to get out there and practice. Once I became an associate professor, I felt that I had learned enough to be able to put an MBA to use. I completed my MBA about 10 years ago at George Washington University, and it was a transformational two years of learning how businesses function and succeed. Getting that MBA changed my career trajectory, and I’m so excited to bring what I learned to our Academy members.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
Dr. Shah (right) cheers on the Washington Commanders football team with his children.I love my family and sports, and mostly when they intersect. Both of my kids play sports. I love watching youth sports. Sometimes it’s more fun than the professionals you see on television.
I’ve been obsessed with Formula One racing since I was a kid. [Shout out to the AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Indianapolis, Indiana!] What attracts me to the sport so much is the intersection of people, science, and discovery; racing is essentially a sport of engineering. It’s about numbers and math and teams. How do you get teams to perform and sustain excellence? That’s a big reason I love sports; because it’s greater than one person.
The Shah family participates in the Children’s National Hospital Race for Every Child.I’m a voracious reader, and I especially love nonfiction. I like learning from other industries. I’m a student of business. I love learning what has failed and what has succeeded in other industries and bringing those lessons learned to my sphere and my span of control. I plan to bring that to the Academy to see how we can learn from others.
Dr. Shah will be transitioning with current EVP and CEO James C. Denneny III, MD, throughout November and will officially assume the role on December 1. Dr. Denneny is retiring after serving 10 years as the AAO-HNS/F EVP and CEO.