Published: September 23, 2020

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.

Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS, AAO-HNS/F President

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. We are now midway through our first Virtual Annual Meeting that is “Bringing Together the World of Otolaryngology” with an exceptional education program.

Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS AAO-HNS/F PresidentCarol R. Bradford, MD, MS
AAO-HNS/F President

In the midst of this upheaval, it is prudent to focus on why leadership matters, at all times, but particularly in times of turmoil and crisis. These times are unsettling for all of us. The pandemic has impacted our profession, our work, and our lives. We have fear of uncertainty and of change. Leadership matters because leaders help us have confidence in our future. Leaders help define the pathway to that future. The Academy has provided important leadership during this time of crisis, and we will continue to serve you, our members, as well as your communities, which include patients, families, learners, and our global colleagues.

In 1675 Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” We are very grateful for the ongoing leadership and deep commitment of Executive Vice President and CEO James C. Denneny III, MD, who, in partnership with Immediate Past President Duane J. Taylor, MD, and the Executive Committee, has guided and supported our membership throughout this crisis. Specific initiatives provided our membership with important guidance for the safe return to practice in the midst of the pandemic, access to the informative podcast series specific to COVID-19, and information regarding provider relief funds. These examples highlight the vital role that the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) plays for all of us.

The strength of the AAO-HNS is our engaged members and dedicated leaders. We have a clear vision for the future: to be the global leader in optimizing quality ear, nose, and throat patient care. We are planning to update our strategic plan this coming year. I look forward to participating in an inclusive strategic planning process that will help us realize our clear vision for the future.

Dr. Taylor and the Executive Committee endorsed our Academy’s strong stand on anti-racism. In this statement, he wrote, “We will continue to support our programs to promote diversity and inclusion, educate our members regarding cultural sensitivity and implicit bias, and seek ways on how we can be part of the solution…” I am committed to continuing our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion during my term, and I hope you will join me in this commitment so that our focused theme, “We Are One: Otolaryngology United for ENT Patient Care,” becomes a core value and rings true for all of us.

I am passionate about ensuring the wellness of all members of our community. I recognize that many members are struggling at this unprecedented time. Please participate in the many great presentations on wellness at our AAO-HNSF 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting & OTO Experience. For example, Dr. Richard Rosenfeld will present the session “Physician, Heal Thyself: Eating for Health, Wellness, and Longevity.” Dr. Michael Brenner will moderate the panel “To Care is Human: Navigating the Pathway from Burnout to Surgeon Wellness and Resilience.” As your President, I will continue to focus on the importance of taking care of ourselves so that we can care for others. We are here to help.

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.
Dupilumab
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.
OnlinePresence
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.
Bulletin October20
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.
MembershipEngagement
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.
Globe
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.
ECS
“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.
Diversity
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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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.
Manning
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.