From the President: Building Long-Term Financial Stability and a Strong Specialty
I am pleased to report that the Academy is in a sound financial position. In this issue, AAO-HNS/F Treasurer John W. House, MD, presents the proposed FY 2011-2012 combined budgets, which has been reviewed in detail by the Finance and Investment Subcommittee (FISC) and the Boards of Directors. You will note that the budget is balanced and has been prepared on a modified cash basis, taking into account, for the first time, all debt service payments. Dr. House reports too that operations for FY 2010-2011 are expected to provide a contribution to reserves as the result of a great annual meeting experience in Boston and the savings generated in other areas. This budget has been closely linked by our leadership to our strategic priorities and reflects our commitment to prepare for present and future trends. These include demands for: • offering performance-based, behavior-modifying continuing education; • researching and offering evidence-based treatment options; • providing high-quality patient care that is universal; • affecting influence on the increasing government involvement in care delivery; • integrating technology in care and communication; and • anticipating shifting workforce issues. I am grateful to Dr. House, the FISC, and the boards for the leadership they have shown in developing such a responsible budget. The manner in which this is done puts our U.S. Congress to shame. This is a budget that can lead us into the future and sustain the legacy that is otolaryngology. As you review “Candidates for Leadership” on page 31 of this issue, keep in mind the kind of leadership we need to meet these future needs. Guideline Leadership Another positive acknowledgment for the activities of the Foundation came this spring when the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its long-awaited report, “Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust,” and a companion report, “Finding What Works in Healthcare – Standards for Systematic Reviews.” Of note, the IOM report referenced the participation and comments of Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, Foundation journal editor, and referenced the Foundation’s “Clinical Practice Guideline Development Manual,” June 2009, in multiple places throughout the report. The Academy is not only in close alignment with published best practices, but was cited for its processes as reference for IOM recommendations. Part of the report’s work has been to update us all on the evolution of clinical guidelines. In the 20 years since the IOM’s first report on the subject, the definition of a guideline has changed from the original “systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate healthcare for specific clinical circumstances” to “clinical practice guidelines are statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient care that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options.” The Foundation’s influence has been palpable. Membership Renewal Successes Membership retention activities for our Academy have been successful for 2011. This year’s dues billing cycle began with a total membership of 11,635, including 10,219 dues paying active members and 1,416 life and honorary members. As of this writing, we fully expect to reach our stretch goal of 98 percent retention rate for the 2011 membership cycle. In order to continue to refine the dues renewal process, a greater emphasis was placed on encouraging members to renew online. About 37 percent of renewals were completed online, an 11 percent increase over online payments for 2010. With increased focus on online renewals, we were able to reach more members with email reminders. This enabled us to delay the mailing of a physical second dues invoice until late February. As shown in the month-by-month renewal data, we maintained strong renewals while decreasing the size of our second dues mailing from 2,812 in 2010 to 2,517 in 2011. It Calls to Me In the spring I met with Foundation staff to arrange a site visit to begin hands-on preparations for the upcoming AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, September 11-14 in San Francisco. Our time there was well spent. Although the weather was typical of spring anywhere, a little rain and a little sun, the city of San Francisco itself was thrilling in its proverbial display of a dramatic setting combined with cosmopolitan polish. To bring some of that zest to you first-hand, as you begin to register for the meeting, our site team put together a few video presentations that you will see throughout the summer in emails and on the special annual meeting website that opened last month. We hope some of the city’s flavor comes through to you as you watch these clips. I am looking forward to seeing all of you in San Francisco for this terrific annual meeting.

I am pleased to report that the Academy is in a sound financial position. In this issue, AAO-HNS/F Treasurer John W. House, MD, presents the proposed FY 2011-2012 combined budgets, which has been reviewed in detail by the Finance and Investment Subcommittee (FISC) and the Boards of Directors.
You will note that the budget is balanced and has been prepared on a modified cash basis, taking into account, for the first time, all debt service payments. Dr. House reports too that operations for FY 2010-2011 are expected to provide a contribution to reserves as the result of a great annual meeting experience in Boston and the savings generated in other areas.
This budget has been closely linked by our leadership to our strategic priorities and reflects our commitment to prepare for present and future trends. These include demands for:
• | offering performance-based, behavior-modifying continuing education; |
• | researching and offering evidence-based treatment options; |
• | providing high-quality patient care that is universal; |
• | affecting influence on the increasing government involvement in care delivery; |
• | integrating technology in care and communication; and |
• | anticipating shifting workforce issues. |
I am grateful to Dr. House, the FISC, and the boards for the leadership they have shown in developing such a responsible budget. The manner in which this is done puts our U.S. Congress to shame. This is a budget that can lead us into the future and sustain the legacy that is otolaryngology. As you review “Candidates for Leadership” on page 31 of this issue, keep in mind the kind of leadership we need to meet these future needs.
Guideline Leadership
Another positive acknowledgment for the activities of the Foundation came this spring when the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its long-awaited report, “Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust,” and a companion report, “Finding What Works in Healthcare – Standards for Systematic Reviews.” Of note, the IOM report referenced the participation and comments of Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, Foundation journal editor, and referenced the Foundation’s “Clinical Practice Guideline Development Manual,” June 2009, in multiple places throughout the report. The Academy is not only in close alignment with published best practices, but was cited for its processes as reference for IOM recommendations.
Part of the report’s work has been to update us all on the evolution of clinical guidelines. In the 20 years since the IOM’s first report on the subject, the definition of a guideline has changed from the original “systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate healthcare for specific clinical circumstances” to “clinical practice guidelines are statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient care that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options.” The Foundation’s influence has been palpable.
Membership Renewal Successes
Membership retention activities for our Academy have been successful for 2011. This year’s dues billing cycle began with a total membership of 11,635, including 10,219 dues paying active members and 1,416 life and honorary members. As of this writing, we fully expect to reach our stretch goal of 98 percent retention rate for the 2011 membership cycle.
In order to continue to refine the dues renewal process, a greater emphasis was placed on encouraging members to renew online. About 37 percent of renewals were completed online, an 11 percent increase over online payments for 2010. With increased focus on online renewals, we were able to reach more members with email reminders. This enabled us to delay the mailing of a physical second dues invoice until late February. As shown in the month-by-month renewal data, we maintained strong renewals while decreasing the size of our second dues mailing from 2,812 in 2010 to 2,517 in 2011.
It Calls to Me
In the spring I met with Foundation staff to arrange a site visit to begin hands-on preparations for the upcoming AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, September 11-14 in San Francisco. Our time there was well spent. Although the weather was typical of spring anywhere, a little rain and a little sun, the city of San Francisco itself was thrilling in its proverbial display of a dramatic setting combined with cosmopolitan polish.
To bring some of that zest to you first-hand, as you begin to register for the meeting, our site team put together a few video presentations that you will see throughout the summer in emails and on the special annual meeting website that opened last month. We hope some of the city’s flavor comes through to you as you watch these clips. I am looking forward to seeing all of you in San Francisco for this terrific annual meeting.