A Key Component of Success: Specialty Unity
One of the strongest attractions drawing bright medical students into the specialty of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery is the intriguing variety of subspecialty areas. You can focus on allergy, or facial plastics, or any number of other areas related to the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck. This spectrum of subspecialties persists as a key strength of the overall specialty itself. As the largest organization in the specialty, representative of all otolaryngologists, the AAO-HNS covers a wide range of disciplines. Academy activities are organized with specific attention toward being inclusive of all of our otolaryngology subspecialties (formerly called our “sister societies”). It is a major goal of my presidency to both ensure recognition of the important contribution to the overall specialty that each of the subspecialities provides, and to strengthen the cohesive, cooperative, and collective advantages that a unified participation through the Academy makes possible. At the beginning of my tenure as President of the Academy, I named a number of endeavors in my goals for the organization. These included enhanced support of diversity within the specialty and active support of the role of women in otolaryngology; recognition of the importance of our role at the international level through strengthening our ties with our international otolaryngology colleagues; and encouraging individual member commitment to advocacy support. Equal in importance is the goal of enhancing and strengthening subspecialty unity within otolaryngology—head and neck surgery through the Academy. Continued active unification of our specialty, our subspecialty organizations, and our membership make all of those endeavors a stronger reality. Many of our subspecialty organizations schedule their meetings to coincide with our Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in the fall. At the 2010 Boston meeting, nine societies sponsored a total of 14 miniseminars, and some offered workshops in concert with the Academy. Many also participate in the grants program of the Centralized Otolaryngology Research Effort (CORE). Ten did so last year, and, since 1985, CORE has not only awarded more than $7 million in 400 grants for research training and projects, but by consolidating the effort, has actually increased the amount of money that can go to young researchers. A diversity of specialty interests, but unity of action After a specialty summit meeting three years ago, the AAO-HNS convened the various otolaryngology groups to form the Specialty Society Advisory Council (SSAC), to enhance intraspecialty cooperation and collaboration. Realizing that many of the topics that affect one society affect us all, the SSAC serves as a conduit for information to and from the member groups, and as an advisory body on such issues to our AAO-HNS/F Boards of Directors. The SSAC includes the following 11 groups: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) American Broncho-Esophagological Association (ABEA) American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) American Laryngological Society (ALA) American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society (Triological Society) American Neurotology Society (ANS) American Otological Society (AOS) American Rhinologic Society (ARS) American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) And our outreach extends in other ways. In this issue of the Bulletin, for example, you’ll find the annual report from the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS, page 40). In June 2010, the magazine included an issue of OTO’s Scope, the publication of the Association of Otolaryngology Administrators (AOA), and in May, an update from the American Society for Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO). The American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto) wrote in February 2010 about their cooperative efforts with the Academy called “Red Carpet Meetings.” We welcome contributions from all members of the SSAC. Our collective voice has significantly more impact in meeting the challenges our specialty confronts. We see those advantages in dealing with legislative and regulatory issues, interspecialty interaction, as well as public relations and education. So this year, be sure to add your voice to the collective one—the whole of our specialty needs your input.
One of the strongest attractions drawing bright medical students into the specialty of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery is the intriguing variety of subspecialty areas. You can focus on allergy, or facial plastics, or any number of other areas related to the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck.
This spectrum of subspecialties persists as a key strength of the overall specialty itself. As the largest organization in the specialty, representative of all otolaryngologists, the AAO-HNS covers a wide range of disciplines. Academy activities are organized with specific attention toward being inclusive of all of our otolaryngology subspecialties (formerly called our “sister societies”). It is a major goal of my presidency to both ensure recognition of the important contribution to the overall specialty that each of the subspecialities provides, and to strengthen the cohesive, cooperative, and collective advantages that a unified participation through the Academy makes possible.
At the beginning of my tenure as President of the Academy, I named a number of endeavors in my goals for the organization. These included enhanced support of diversity within the specialty and active support of the role of women in otolaryngology; recognition of the importance of our role at the international level through strengthening our ties with our international otolaryngology colleagues; and encouraging individual member commitment to advocacy support. Equal in importance is the goal of enhancing and strengthening subspecialty unity within otolaryngology—head and neck surgery through the Academy. Continued active unification of our specialty, our subspecialty organizations, and our membership make all of those endeavors a stronger reality.
Many of our subspecialty organizations schedule their meetings to coincide with our Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in the fall. At the 2010 Boston meeting, nine societies sponsored a total of 14 miniseminars, and some offered workshops in concert with the Academy.
Many also participate in the grants program of the Centralized Otolaryngology Research Effort (CORE). Ten did so last year, and, since 1985, CORE has not only awarded more than $7 million in 400 grants for research training and projects, but by consolidating the effort, has actually increased the amount of money that can go to young researchers.
A diversity of specialty interests, but unity of action
After a specialty summit meeting three years ago, the AAO-HNS convened the various otolaryngology groups to form the Specialty Society Advisory Council (SSAC), to enhance intraspecialty cooperation and collaboration. Realizing that many of the topics that affect one society affect us all, the SSAC serves as a conduit for information to and from the member groups, and as an advisory body on such issues to our AAO-HNS/F Boards of Directors.
The SSAC includes the following 11 groups:
American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS)
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA)
American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
American Broncho-Esophagological Association (ABEA)
American Head and Neck Society (AHNS)
American Laryngological Society (ALA)
American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society (Triological Society)
American Neurotology Society (ANS)
American Otological Society (AOS)
American Rhinologic Society (ARS)
American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO)
And our outreach extends in other ways. In this issue of the Bulletin, for example, you’ll find the annual report from the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS, page 40). In June 2010, the magazine included an issue of OTO’s Scope, the publication of the Association of Otolaryngology Administrators (AOA), and in May, an update from the American Society for Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO). The American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto) wrote in February 2010 about their cooperative efforts with the Academy called “Red Carpet Meetings.” We welcome contributions from all members of the SSAC.
Our collective voice has significantly more impact in meeting the challenges our specialty confronts. We see those advantages in dealing with legislative and regulatory issues, interspecialty interaction, as well as public relations and education. So this year, be sure to add your voice to the collective one—the whole of our specialty needs your input.