AAO-HNS Bulletin | Special Edition | January 2021

ENTNET.ORG/BULLETIN AAO-HNS BULLETIN SPECIAL EDITION: 125TH ANNIVERSARY 11 Zainab Farzal, MD, MPH, Chair S RF has been a dynamic aspect of AAO-HNS since its creation 20 years ago. Arising out of the Committee on Residents and Fellows-in-Training, the designation to a Section made the inclusion of trainees an integral part of the Academy’s goals and initiatives. The SRF has been led by its Governing Council, which includes resident/fellow governor positions to the BOG. Subsequently, the SRF also established delegates to the Society for University Otolaryngologists, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, ENT Political Action Committee, and most recently, the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. To establish a similar alliance with our counterparts around the world, an International Delegate position was established in 2020. Residents and fellows have unparalleled opportunities thanks to the AAO-HNS. Through involvement in the AAO- HNS/F Leadership Forum & BOG Spring Meetings, SRF members can network with AAO-HNS leaders. SRF members also receive AAO-HNSF Humanitarian Travel Grants to fund humanitarian travel and projects. Additionally, SRF submits Panel Presentations on topics that are of particular interest to trainees for the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience. The SRF has stayed true to its mission of understanding the issues most important to trainees and conveying those to AAO- HNS leadership. Since 2002 the SRF has circulated an annual survey to all trainees querying their experiences. Entering the 125th year of AAO-HNS/F is exciting, particularly during this unprecedented time. The SRF will continue to invest deeply in the Academy with future initiatives, and we invite you to join us! Jamie R. Litvack, MD, MS, Chair I n 1906 Margaret F. Butler, MD, the first female otolaryngology chair in the United States, was appointed chair of Ear, Nose and Throat at Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania. An innovator, she designed several instruments used in otolaryngology surgeries, including the Butler tonsil snare and a nasal septum splint. True to her life’s work, she passed away from a myocardial infarction while performing a tonsillectomy at the age of 71. AAO-HNS/F Female Presidents: M. Jennifer Dereberry, MD, was elected the first female President of the AAO-HNS/F Boards of Directors from 2003-2004. She was followed by Gayle E. Woodson, MD (2015-16), Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD (2016-17), and Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS (2020-21). The First Women’s Section within a Surgical Subspecialty: In 2010 WIO achieved AAO-HNS Section status. In a testament to this achievement, an outpouring of $400,000 was pledged to and established the WIO Endowment during the AAO-HNSF 2010 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience in Boston, Massachusetts. In contrast to other specialties, WIO made an intentional decision to create a section within the Academy rather than separate from the Academy. Today: At time of publication, woman otolaryngologists are serving in leadership positions in academic institutions around the United States, and the numbers are increasing. However, while many “firsts” have been achieved, there is still much work to be done. As we look to the future, we strive for an equitable presence in leadership and a disappearance of the gender pay gap. Linda S. Brodsky, MD , one of the WIO founders, eloquently noted, “We are a collaborative group, inclusive, and consensus-building.” Nausheen Jamal, MD, Chair N ot long after its foundation in 1896, the Academy recognized the importance of standardizing education in otolaryngology—leading to the foundation of the American Board of Otolaryngology as one of the earliest specialty boards in 1924. Early on the Academy invested both in the careers of young otolaryngologists as well as in quality improvement and patient safety, which led to the establishment of the Young Physicians Committee (YPC) in 1992. The committee’s charge was to “serve as a liaison between the Academy's governing body and young physicians beginning their practice, promote the development of future leaders within the AAO-HNS…and provide representation of young physicians for the AMA and all other organizations.” Two decades later, with the goal of developing an inclusive body that would engage the Academy’s rich young physician network and develop its future leaders, the Academy transformed the YPC into the YPS in 2014. Upon elevation to Section status, the YPS has transitioned to an inclusive body that works to provide opportunities for early-career otolaryngologists to engage in issues relevant to their needs. The Section’s structure also encourages continued progression and leadership development from the SRF, with whom the YPS partners regularly. The YPS aims to address the interests of Section members through outreach activities and the development of practice management resources. As the YPS continues to progress, the voice of this critical member cohort will continue to be elevated. The future for the YPS over the next 125 years is bright.