AAO-HNS Bulletin | Special Edition | January 2021

8 SPECIAL EDITION: 125TH ANNIVERSARY AAO-HNS BULLETIN ENTNET.ORG/BULLETIN Angela M. Powell, MD A pproaching the 125th anniversary of the AAO- HNS/F affords a unique opportunity to celebrate many milestones within the specialty and delineate how best to invest future resources with specific strategic aims. While promoting growth, innovation, and excellence, we must strive for equity and inclusive diversity to remain relevant and attract future leaders whose backgrounds mirror the many populations that we serve across the globe. Growth, innovation, diversity, equity, and inclusion are mutually beneficial. Advancements in the clinical practice of otolaryngology from the start of the 20th century to present day are beyond the scope of this narrative, but it is worth taking a quick mental inventory of just how much we have achieved in order to sense the enormity of our ability to make a lasting and permanent mark on history and the science of medicine through collective effort. The AAO-HNS/F advocates for all of its members to have equal footing, whether negotiating with insurers, maintaining best practices through expert consensus statements and clinical practice guidelines, or presenting the state-of-the-art in all facets of our specialty from cancer to allergy. So with this backdrop, how can we harness the momentum of the past century into programming and initiatives that will enhance and demonstrate our commitment to cultural competency as a specialty? Through attracting diverse future applicants to our residency programs; diversifying the makeup of the faculty within our academic departments and private practices; training all within our specialty to be cognizant of unconscious biases; and recognizing both micro- and macro-aggressions that are pervasive in interpersonal interactions as a direct consequence of prejudicial societal norms; we can begin a new chapter within the field of otolaryngology that is welcoming to a diverse pool of bright and talented underrepresented and, in some instances, overlooked populations. To break the cycle of inequity impacting promotion, advancement, pay, tenure, awards, and recognition, we must define the issues and obstacles and then act to break down barriers for the good of all. In so doing, the future success of our specialty on a global scale is solidified and further assured. Richard V. Smith, MD O ver the past decade, the AAO- HNSF education has transformed its offerings from traditional print, such as the Home Study Course, to an impressive breadth of digital learning tools and resources to advance otolaryngology education. Examples include OTO Logic, your otolaryngology learning network with nearly 1,400 education activities, and the Academy’s new flagship education product, FLEX—Focused Lifelong Education Xperience—with more than 3,200 learners. As an active member of our Academy since residency, serving in many capacities, I’ve seen tremendous evolution, expansion, and improvement in education since beginning my involvement in 1993. As former AAO-HNSF Coordinator for Education and Chair of the Future of Education Task Force in 2019, I gained extensive insight and perspective on how our members prefer to learn and want to be challenged in order to gain mastery throughout their career. The education evolution is even more pertinent today given COVID-19-related changes and our need for enhanced and optimized remote learning. Our ability to rise up to our present-day challenges to meet members’ needs is critical more now than ever to maintain and strengthen this foundational pillar of our Academy. Through forward thinking and providing the seed money to support the creation of novel and innovative education products and resources, we will be able to leverage the change we have all experienced over the past nine months to our advantage. This education evolution will also enable us to maintain the preeminence of the Academy in the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery education arena. Such a response is imperative to provide the skills and knowledge necessary for our members to continue to excel across the globe. The 125th fundraising campaign is the perfect opportunity for those with a passion for education to participate in the development of some exciting new projects. I am confident your support will propel us even further to be the best clinicians we can be throughout our careers. Angela M. Powell, MD Richard V. Smith, MD