Published: September 28, 2020

Perspective: From the Field in Puerto Rico; ENT’s Kinship among Chaos

My ENT peers in Puerto Rico may not have been to war together, but after two major hurricanes in 2017—Irma and Maria—tropical storms, a major earthquake on January 6, 2020, and its ensuing aftershocks, Sahara dust thick as fog for days, and the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, it has been like going to war.

Charles Juarbe, MD, AAO-HNS Board of Governors Member for the Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery of Puerto Rico

My ENT peers in Puerto Rico may not have been to war together, but after two major hurricanes in 2017—Irma and Maria—tropical storms, a major earthquake on January 6, 2020, and its ensuing aftershocks, Sahara dust thick as fog for days, and the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, it has been like going to war. We have gone through death, destruction, landscape devastation, and human suffering, besides the lack of essential services like water and electricity for months.

Social media has been a source of help to us. Sometime just after Hurricane Maria, the Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery of Puerto Rico WhatsApp forum became the source of information sharing between us. Days became weeks and weeks became months. Who had electricity, the internet, or water? Where was gasoline or diesel available?

My ENT practice, back in the early days after the hurricane, was like it had been in the past. The office was only open in the early hours to catch the morning breeze with open windows, and we were using battery-powered otoscopes and headlamps and performing larynx examinations with mirrors. With no electricity and no internet, we were back to writing notes and paper charts.

The usual discussions of ENT problems in the practice became less important as we now shared how to do oil changes in our power plants and install electrical connections with transfer switches, as well as discussed how many watts the refrigerator consumed and how to fix the water tank pump. We exchanged information about which gas stations or grocery stores gave doctors the right to go straight to the front of the line without having to wait for hours for gas or getting into places for essential products and materials. All these things have made me more humble and more grateful for the gifts we have received.

Now again with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are sharing information like where to get wipes, surgical masks, face shields, and air purifiers. Who is getting COVID-19 tests for patients in the office for endoscopy or laryngoscopy? Are we using the same protocols and procedures for surgical patients? How frequently are we and our staff being tested for COVID-19?

We all agree that the practice of medicine has changed forever, but knowing that there is kinship among chaos with our ENT peers from within our society and around the globe, we address these challenges and what they present to our practice, our patients, and our community, one by one, together.

More from October 2020 – Vol. 39, No. 9

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In Memoriam: Howard W. Smith

It is with great sadness that we inform the members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) that Howard W. Smith, MD, DDS, a renowned otolaryngologist, facial plastic and oral-maxillofacial surgeon, passed away peacefully on August 17 at almost 101 years old surrounded by his loving family.

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Out of Committee: Outcomes Research and Evidence-Based Medicine; Is Dupilumab the Answer to the Prayers of the Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patient?

In this Bulletin segment, our committee shares highlights from recent key research in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. We offer concise summaries of significant findings that may alter current surgical practice.

Tech Talk

Tech Talk: ADA Website Compliance

It has been 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. This act was a declaration for equality for individuals with disabilities. The ADA applies to all organizations generally open to the public, with at least 15 full-time employees, that operate for at least 20 weeks during the year.

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Out of Committee: Media and Public Relations; Building an Online Presence: A Primer for Otolaryngologists

The online presence of physicians has become an area of controversy. Following the now-retracted article, “Prevalence of Unprofessional Social Media Content Among Young Vascular Surgeons,” published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, thousands of physicians took to social media as an outlet to express views on the very topic of social media and its role in the medical profession.

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Highlighting the Trails of Women Pioneers in Otolaryngology

Do you know the name of the first woman involved in otolaryngology in 1898? How about who is credited with developing the bronchoscope in 1905? The answers are part of a new collection of artifacts and a historic timeline showcasing the significant impact women have made in the specialty. The “History of Women in Otolaryngology” exhibit is available to members around the world.

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Get Involved: Membership Engagement and the Peer-to-Peer Connection

I continue to renew my membership because of the tradition of community membership and the nimble offerings that allow otolaryngologists to rise to meet the challenges of our present circumstances.

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Fostering a Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Community through Connection and Engagement

The AAO-HNSF Global Affairs Program is multifaceted and offers a multitude of ways to connect and engage with the otolaryngology community from around the world. Guidance and leadership for the program come from the AAO-HNSF Coordinator for International Affairs, J. Pablo Stolovitzky, MD, and the International Advisory Board (IAB).

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Membership Engagement Dashboard: How to Get Involved

In today’s regulatory and legislative climate, it’s vital for U.S. otolaryngologists to use their clinical expertise to advocate on behalf of the specialty. The AAO-HNS provides numerous opportunities for members to influence federal and state healthcare policies, communicate with elected officials, and advocate for your patients. Join Project 535, become a state tracker, join the ENT Advocacy Network, or support private payer advocacy.

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“Clinical Consensus Statements” Are Now “Expert Consensus Statements”

The Guideline Task Force (GTF) has voted to change the name of Clinical Consensus Statements (CCS) to Expert Consensus Statements (ECS), and the AAO-HNSF Executive Committee has approved this name change. The change will apply to all upcoming documents planned for publication.

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Out of Committee: Diversity and Inclusion; Ensuring Better Performance in a Heterogeneous Group Dynamic

I graduated from ENT in Venezuela, in a residency program where 80% of the residents and 50% of the faculty were females. There were many times when resident staff were all women. Frequently, an all-women team was in the operating room, from medical students to the anesthesiologist to ENT attendings.

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Unprecedented Times, Unprecedented Service

As we face professional and personal challenges during these uncertain times, I salute the hard work, devotion, and skill of those within the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) who selflessly sacrifice time, income, and resources to serve their fellow otolaryngologists. As the Board of Governors (BOG) Chair-Elect from September 2019-September 2020, it has been my privilege to learn from scores of incredible people within our organization over the past year.

Kern

American Rhinologic Society

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered nearly all aspects of our daily lives, but otolaryngology in general, and rhinology in particular, face unique challenges. The nose and nasopharynx harbor substantial quantities of the virus and many of our standard methods of examining this region have the potential to aerosolize the virus.

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Humanitarian Travel Grant: Microtia Repair in Ecuador

Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in the Help Us Give Smiles (HUGS) Foundation trip to Ecuador, focusing on microtia, from April 27–May 5, 2019. The annual HUGS trip takes place at Hospital Padre Carollo/Fundación Tierra Nueva in Quito, which provides health services to more than 500,000 patients every year.

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At the Forefront

The WIO Endowment Committee in conjunction with the WIO Governing Council is pleased to announce the following FY20 grant recipients

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Shaping Our Future Together: 125 Strong Campaign

“We have witnessed and continue to experience unparalleled collaboration and cooperation across all specialty societies in otolaryngology and across all regions in the world, as we shared experiences, vital information, and solutions freely and rapidly.” Those are comments made by James C. Denneny III, MD, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO during the Opening Ceremony of the AAO-HNSF 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting & OTO Experience.

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New Lifetime and 30-Year Members

The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery congratulates the following members who have earned Lifetime status with the Academy and those celebrating 30 years of membership in 2020. Your commitment to the Academy is a testament to the dedication you have to your colleagues, your patients, and the healthcare community.

Denneny

Walking a Mile with Empathy

The significant consequences that the COVID-19 pandemic, accompanying economic uncertainty, and social unrest have unleashed on physicians and other healthcare providers has been well described and frequently discussed. These additional stressors have added to a previously escalating wellness issue broadly affecting the healthcare provider community as described in several recent presentations at our Virtual Annual Meeting.

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Why Leadership Matters: A Keen Eye on Equity, Wellness, and More

I am deeply honored and privileged to serve as your President. We find ourselves at a crossroads, battling the COVID-19 pandemic and the healthcare, education, and economic fallout it has created while upholding our commitment to provide outstanding ear, nose, and throat patient care. We continue to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the face of the spotlight that has been placed on racial injustice in our country.