Innovation Takes Center Stage: Highlights from Indianapolis
Supporting innovation is central to increasing our ability to have better treatments and to ultimately take better care of patients.
Gene G. Brown, MD, RPh
AAO-HNS/F President
The International Advisory Board General Assembly is always a high mark for me. Watching the recipients of the Eugene N. Myers MD, FRCS, Edin (Hon) scholarship take the stage fills me with pride. The excitement from these early career otolaryngologists from underserved countries is tangible, and their motivations are so altruistic as their sole goal is to bring knowledge back to their countries to improve patient care outcomes. The entire program is heartwarming, and I draw upon the energy in that room. I encourage more of you to attend this annual session in the future.
However, among all these memorable moments, one program stood out as truly transformational—the ENT Innovation Connection. Kudos to R. Peter Manes, MD, and Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for implementing this program and launching the Academy into the center of otolaryngology innovation, with a key assist from longtime innovation champion Ronald B. Kuppersmith, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Past President.
This innovation focus represents a paradigm shift for our Academy—a new way of thinking that's the fruit of a strategic decision by Academy leadership to embrace and support innovation within our specialty by supporting investors and industry that are interested in helping us help our patients. Dr. Shah wrote about this in his July column, “Going Farther Together: Industry Partnerships.” The Academy has a unique opportunity to convene physicians, investors, and industry to help address unmet clinical needs and expand our specialty by helping develop additional tools for otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons. I would like to draw a sharper focus onto this sentinel event and spend a few moments highlighting the process.
As Dr. Shah began his term as Executive Vice President and CEO in December 2024, he identified the need to partner with industry. A Corporate Development Task Force was created, and Dr. Manes was appointed as AAO-HNS/F Industry Consultant. Dr. Shah traveled to meet with other specialty societies to study how they structured industry and investor relationships. Building this program was intentional and strategic.
As the year progressed, the concept of bringing industry and investors out of the "whisper suites" surrounding the Annual Meeting and into the big tent became tangible. Numerous meetings were held between Academy leadership and industry across the country. A reception and dinner at the OTO Forum in April emphasized the commitment of elected leadership to this process. And slowly, as the lights started to come on, industry began to realize the value proposition was real.
Corporate Champions are starting to see that product delivery may be facilitated by partnering with the Academy. Companies are eager to use Reg-ent, the AAO-HNSF clinical data registry, to objectively evaluate patient responses to new treatments. Otolaryngologists are excited to access new technologies to better care for patients. Further downstream the Academy is realizing the revenue lift that corporate sponsorship can drive. As a specialty, robust innovation investment is vital so we can continue to evolve treatments that improve quality of life and outcomes for our patients.
During the ENT Innovation Connection, this story was told quite eloquently by the keynote speaker, Joshua Makower, MD, investor, inventor, and co-founder of the Stanford Biodesign Program and Acclarent. His comments regarding the challenging pathway from discovery to market were prescient and moving. His story surrounding the launch of Acclarent, and the obstacles and hurdles that they faced along the way were great examples that underscore the importance of supporting innovation so that more investment will be made into our specialty.
So, buckle up, Academy—we are in new waters. These times are exciting. Looking back, it seems so clear: We are all stronger when we work together. Supporting innovation is central to increasing our ability to have better treatments and to ultimately take better care of patients. And by stepping into the innovation space, we will open the floodgates and raise the tide for all boats along the way.
The ENT Innovation Connection was the highlight of my Academy meeting, and it doesn't take away from the many other parts of the meeting that I found quite compelling. But the strategic pursuit of engaging industry, investors, and innovation is much more than an event. This is a new day with a new focus, and the fruits from these efforts should be impactful for all stakeholders: industry, investors, AAO-HNS/F, our members, and most importantly, patients. The win-win-win that has been created elevates what some may see as an event to what I see as transformational progress. I am excited for next year's event, which is already being planned, and I hope to see more of you there!
