Expanding the AAO-HNS/F Global Footprint

Through its educational initiatives, collaboration with the International Corresponding Societies network, and humanitarian outreach, the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and its Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) now extend its impact far beyond the United States. The AAO-HNS/F takes pride in its role as a global organization and is dedicated to supporting otolaryngologists—no matter where in the world they are located. Read on to learn more about the Academy’s international activities, including how you can get involved!

Global Membership Is Growing!

As of September 2024, there are approximately 1,850 AAO-HNS members from outside the US, representing 115 countries and six continents. International members now make up 15% of the Academy's total membership!

The value of increasing the Academy’s international membership lies in expanding global knowledge exchange and fostering collaboration on innovative research and medical practices. By welcoming a diverse network of specialists, the Academy enhances its ability to address regional health challenges, promote best practices, strengthen its leadership in the global otolaryngology community, and learn from peers.

“Progress in healthcare relies on the sharing of information, knowledge, and experience. The AAO-HNS fosters a global membership of physicians, spanning countries with a limited number of otolaryngologists to those with a long history of well-established practices in the specialty. Recognizing the importance of diversity, the Academy unites this global community to exchange knowledge, share research, and learn from each other’s experiences. Together, we can advance the field and improve patient care on a global scale.”

— Titus Ibekwe, MBBS, FWACS,

2024–2025 AAO-HNSF International Advisory Board Chair, Nigeria

Welcoming New International Corresponding Societies

The AAO-HNS Foundation collaborates with International Corresponding Societies (ICS) to unite nations and regions in support of the specialty and to improve patient care worldwide. This AAO-HNSF-led effort works to enhance the education and experiences of otolaryngologists around the world through initiatives such as the Global Grand Rounds Webinar Series, Regional Roundtables, and Joint Meetings, in partnership with the International Advisory Board, which serves as the voice of the global otolaryngology community.

Past Coordinator for International Affairs, Eugene N. Myers, MD, FRCS, Edin (Hon), developed this unique network of ICS that affiliate with the Academy on a peer-to-peer level. Starting with the Spanish Society of ORL-HNS in 1997, the network has grown to 80 societies, including three new partners welcomed in 2024: the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, the Slovenian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and the Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Society in Africa.

2023-2024 IAB Chair, Piotr Skarzynski, MD, PhD, MSc, presents an AAO-HNSF ICS Network Certificate to Sam Daniel, MD, President of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery.

Fostering Global Education Opportunities: The 2024 Global Grand Rounds Webinar Series

Open to all otolaryngologists at no cost, the AAO-HNSF 2024 Global Grand Rounds Webinar Series welcomed, educated, and connected physicians from all over the world! For each of the quarterly events, the AAO-HNSF partnered with a different ICS to cosponsor a webinar. This bilateral cooperation was integral to achieving such an expansive reach.

More than 6,500 physicians registered from over 125 countries, including a large representation from low- and middle-income countries. The 2024 series included four webinars with presentations from 32 prominent global otolaryngology-head and neck surgery thought leaders.

The following recordings, as well as all Global Grand Rounds webinars are available at www.entnet.org/ggr:

• Hot Topics in Global Rhinology
• HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
• Cochlear Implants: A Global Perspective
• Hot Topics in Sleep Surgery

The 2025 Global Grand Rounds Webinar Series kicks off in February. More information to come!

“The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery is honored to lead and support initiatives that enhance patient care worldwide, such as the Global Grand Rounds Webinar Series, which leverages the unique knowledge of the international otolaryngology community and our International Corresponding Society partners. It is always rewarding to see colleagues from around the world come together to teach, learn, and collaborate.” 

— Troy D. Woodard, MD, AAO-HNS/F President

Enhancing Collaboration Through International Joint Meetings

The AAO-HNSF joined forces with ICS partners to collaborate or participate in 13 international meetings and events throughout 2024 in locations all around the globe.   In-person collaboration through Joint Meetings enhances relationships with our global colleagues and drives innovation. The Academy’s contributions to these International Joint Meetings include program planning, organizing speakers, and promoting events. Led by Pablo Stolovitzky, MD, Past International Affairs Coordinator and the current AAO-HNSF International Joint Meeting Liaison, the Academy also oversees the Joint Meeting Faculty program, where AAO-HNS members represent the Academy and speak at these global conferences. Below are highlights from three Joint Meetings that the Academy participated in during 2024.

Want to Get Involved in the International Joint Meeting Program? Apply to Join the AAO-HNSF Joint Meeting Faculty

The Academy is often invited to provide faculty for international conferences and events hosted by ICS, including a number of 2025 and 2026 Joint Meetings that are already on the calendar. The AAO-HNSF is looking to grow our cadre of Joint Meeting faculty, representing all otolaryngology subspecialties.

If you are interested in representing the Academy and speaking at ICS events overseas, we’d welcome your application. Please note that while ICSs generally cover registration and sometimes social event fees, faculty are generally expected to cover their own travel-related expenses and accommodations.

Apply Today

Emirates Rhinology and Otology Conference (EROC) 2024 

January 17–19, 2024 | Dubai, UAE

The AAO-HNSF was a proud participant at EROC 2024, the 13th GCC Otorhinolaryngology Audiology and Communication Disorders Conference and the 13th Emirates Otorhinolaryngology Audiology Swallowing & Communication Disorders Congress in Dubai, UAE. AAO-HNSF Joint Meeting Faculty were prominently featured in the robust program, which included 460 lectures, 300 speakers, 570 abstract submissions, and 185 free papers across 72 sessions.

Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, MD, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention for Public Health, Congress President, and President of the International Federation of ENT Societies, emphasized the conference’s significance, noting that it stands as one of the region’s largest specialized gatherings, delving into the latest developments in ear, nose, and throat diseases, covering areas such as allergies, head and neck surgery, cochlear, audiology, swallowing, and communication disorders.

The AAO-HNSF Faculty received the Appreciation Award from Dr. Al Rand in recognition of the Academy’s valuable scientific contributions to the conference. Dr. Stolovitzky expressed his heartfelt honor upon receiving this award, and the Academy looks forward to collaborating on the EROC 2025 Program, which will take place January 16–18, 2025, in Dubai.

Seventh Congress of European ORL-HNS

June 15–19, 2024 | Dublin, Ireland

Held June 15–19, 2024, in Dublin, Ireland, the Confederation of the European Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (CEORL-HNS) 2024 Congress brought together more than 3,400 specialists from 90 countries worldwide to share the latest advancements, research, and clinical practices. This was the largest Confederation event to date.

Over 100 members of the AAO-HNS and Joint Meeting Faculty attended the 2024 CEORL-HNS Congress, participating in a diverse range of presentations, workshops, and educational sessions focusing on groundbreaking specialty research and innovative treatments. Five AAO-HNS/F panels, spearheaded by Joint Meeting Faculty, were featured on the conference program, including a session on the evolution of education and training in otolaryngology, where James C. Denneny III, MD, AAO-HNS/F EVP and CEO, gave an update on the newly launched Otolaryngology Core Curriculum.

The AAO-HNS also participated in the Congress Expo, where Academy staff and leadership promoted the value of the Academy’s International Membership and recruited attendees for the 2024 and 2025 AAO-HNSF Annual Meetings.

Among the many highlights of the congress, attendees remarked that the Official Congress Evening, hosted at the iconic Guinness Storehouse at St. James's Gate, was an unforgettable experience. Guests enjoyed an evening of networking, accompanied by renowned Irish hospitality and lively traditional music.

Excitement is already building for the next congress, the 8th Congress of the Confederation of European ORL-HNS, which will be held April 25–29, 2026, in Gothenburg, Sweden.

XXXVIII Pan-American Congress of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (PANAM-ORL)

June 16–19, 2024 | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 

Over 800 otolaryngologists, representing 23 countries, met in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, June 16–19, to share their knowledge, learn, and network with global colleagues from the Pan-American region and beyond. The 2024 Pan-American Congress provided a unique opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and advances in the specialty.

With seven subspecialty tracks and 423 sessions presented by leading faculty in the specialty, attendees discovered the latest clinical data and medical advances. Twenty-three oral presentations and 34 posters complemented the robust academic agenda. Congress participants also benefited from access to the exhibit area, which showcased leading medical resources, equipment, pharmaceutical products, and tech providers. The Academy staffed a booth and recruited dozens of members during the Congress. 

“The 2024 Pan American Congress was an extraordinary event where cutting-edge advancements in otolaryngology were shared among world-renowned experts in a picturesque Caribbean setting,” said Jacqueline Alvarado, MD, Panamerican Association of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery President. “The social program was fantastic! It was a great blend of professional development and fun times, making it an unforgettable experience.

The Pan-American Congress first convened in 1946 and has been held nearly every two years since. Due to the continued growth and success of recent congresses, the event will now be hosted annually. The Academy is excited to collaborate on another Joint Meeting at the XXXIX Pan-American Congress of Otolaryngology, which will be held in conjunction with the 81st Chilean Congress of Otorhinolaryngology November 11–14, 2025, in Santiago, Chile.

Global Leadership Transition

The Academy extends its heartfelt thanks to Mark E. Zafereo, Jr., MD, Immediate Past International Affairs Coordinator, for his remarkable four-year tenure as International Affairs Coordinator (2021–2024), during which he achieved significant milestones in promoting and expanding the Academy's global programs.

Dr. Zafereo is being succeeded by Maria V. Suurna, MD, previously the AAO-HNSF Regional Advisor to Europe, who will continue to build upon these successes as International Affairs Coordinator. (Keep an eye out for Dr. Suurna’s profile, which will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Bulletin.)

Under Dr. Zafereo’s leadership, the Global Grand Rounds Webinar Series soared in popularity, with participation exceeding 6,500 physicians annually. Building on the program's successful launch by Dr. Stolovitzky, the series expanded significantly during Dr. Zafereo's term, engaging a growing global audience.

Additionally, AAO-HNS international membership reached record highs, increasing by 67% during the last two years of Dr. Zafereo’s tenure. This further highlights his significant impact on the Academy’s international growth and outreach.

One of Dr. Mark Zafereo’s most significant achievements as International Coordinator is the launch of the Eugene N. Myers, MD Global Education Fund, which addresses the ongoing education needs of otolaryngologists in low-resource countries. In just over a year, the Fund has raised more than $120,000. The inaugural class of awardees was recently honored at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

Dr. Zafereo's legacy of servant leadership, commitment to education, and dedication to improving patient care globally is exemplified in this lasting contribution.