AAO-HNS Bulletin | Special Edition | January 2021

ENTNET.ORG/BULLETIN AAO-HNS BULLETIN SPECIAL EDITION: 125TH ANNIVERSARY 7 AAO-HNS #WeAre125 Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD, and Albert L. Merati, MD H appy quasquicentennial (that’s education!) to the AAO-HNS! Our specialty has seen changes and growth since the first society was established by Hal Foster, MD, in 1896, but what remains consistent is our dedication to supporting our members and improving our field. As recent Past Presidents we have seen what the Academy can do and are honored to have been asked by President Dr. Carol R. Bradford to lead the 125th Anniversary Giving Campaign. This campaign is designed and driven by practicing otolaryngologists and will provide direct and immediate funds for programs for otolaryngologists locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. We are asking you to contribute to the #WeAre125 campaign. Even just $125 from each member will get us well on our way to our goal of raising $5 million over the next two years. Our donations give each of us the opportunity to share our passion and to substantively reflect on our privilege to serve our communities in engaging, challenging, and rewarding careers as otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons. By adding funds from corporate and matching contributors, we can accomplish actionable projects. The time to build on this is now. Under the leadership of Dr. Bradford and the #WeAre125 campaign Section Leaders, four main areas for giving have been identified. They reflect the changing experiences and needs of our ever-evolving AAO-HNS membership. As presented in greater detail in the pages that follow, the #WeAre125 campaign’s four main areas are: • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion • Education • Leadership Development and Mentorship • Wellness “I’ve given in the past; how is this time different?” First off, thank you for supporting our Academy and Foundation. Because of the prior generosity of our members to our endowments, we have been able to spend the money that comes off those investments to provide robust basic, clinical, and social science initiatives and infrastructure, which will all continue. The new #WeAre125 campaign provides for immediately usable funds to enable larger programs that will effectively engage more members where their passions lie. Let’s give some examples: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion It is high time to address the hugely impactful social determinants of health in our field. Creating programs that allow us all better understanding of unconscious bias and barriers to health equity experienced by our members and their patients and how they impact the delivery of healthcare to our patients is arguably more likely to improve lives and help our communities than any mnemonic or anatomy lab we ever studied for. Education Without a doubt, our strongest common bond is that we are all educators. We all teach, not just the ivory tower folks but all of us, each and every day in clinic and operating rooms, at lectures, or when we respond to our neighbor’s text message about their cousin with a sore throat. Drawing on our Academy’s superb track record for responsive, timely, and high-quality education, the next decades of education excellence will depend on innovative technology and novel engagement techniques, such as animation and gamification. With both financial and intellectual investment from our members, we can reach all types of learners in all types of settings. Leadership Development and Mentorship How do we deliberately shape our future? Each year we hear the enthusiasm for the AAO-HNS to develop and convene leadership training in our field. This isn’t just about advocacy in Washington, DC, or looking for the next Academy leader—this is about a global strengthening of our voices as we maintain the excellence of our practices and participate actively as physicians and contribute as good citizens in our local, national, and international communities. Establishing leadership development and mentorship programs will open exhilarating opportunities to all otolaryngologists at every step of their careers. Wellness There is an emotional and spiritual crisis among our siblings in healthcare. The incessant drumbeat of demands on our time and attention have brought many to the breaking point. Wellness programs funded by our membership and guided by thoughtful leaders can help us now. An emotionally healthy physician is a better physician, surgeon, teacher, learner, patient advocate, and member of their family and society. Learning to treat ourselves, our trainees, and our colleagues with humanity will go a long way to shaping the health of our communities. There is urgent need for this now. Wow! We’ve said a lot. But now is the time to imagine what the best version of otolaryngology can be. Your investment in the #WeAre125 campaign can bring those dreams to life. We are excited to partner with each and every one of our 12,000 fellow otolaryngologists to shape our future. Stay safe, and here’s to a bright new year. Investing in Ourselves in the Here and Now, for the Future Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD Albert L. Merati, MD