CANDIDATE STATEMENTS: NOMINATING COMMITTEE: PRIVATE PRACTICEJoseph C. Sniezek, MD

What do you see as the priorities of the Nominating Committee in selecting the future leaders of our Academy?

It should be the first priority of the Nominating Committee to select and motivate innovative and creative leaders capable of navigating this very turbulent time in medicine. These leaders should see opportunities where others perceive obstacles and be able to communicate a vision for action despite uncertainty and risk. Second, we must strive to identify consensus builders capable of unifying our peers and creating commonality in our eclectic specialty, where patients range from pediatrics to geriatrics and where our procedures include a wide spectrum, from outpatient allergy testing to complex skull base reconstruction.

Finally, leaders within the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery must possess the commitment to preserve the balance between the educational mission of the Academy and the practical issues of advancing our specialty. This will require an appreciation and understanding of the dual role that our Academy serves: teaching and educating healthcare providers while ensuring optimal care for our patients and a favorable care environment for our members. Quality physician-leaders will recognize that outstanding care and outstanding practices are, and must be, synonymous.