BOARD OF GOVERNORSBen Franklin and the Annual Meeting
By Stacey L. Ishman, MD, MPH, Chair, BOG Rules and Regulations Committee Like many of us, Ben Franklin was a busy man and in moments of self-reflection, recognized his deficiencies in a number of healthy habits, which he termed “virtues.” As I get ready to attend our Annual Meeting and the fall meeting of the Board of Governors (BOG), I find that these virtues continue to ring true today. These include: Set aside time for focused efforts. Always look for ways to do things better and faster. Set very few priorities and stick to them. Turn down things that are inconsistent with your priorities. Spot trouble ahead and solve problems immediately. Finish what’s important and stop doing what is no longer worthwhile. The Academy and its Annual Meeting provide us with options to address many of these virtues. Time and efficiency The Annual Meeting allows us to set aside time for education on myriad topics by national and international experts. As such, it often is a time when I am able to find ways to improve and optimize my practice. The scientific content and patient care pearls that I learn are the highlights of my meeting, but there is so much more to learn. This is especially true as the business of medicine and compliance take up increasing amounts of mental energy and time. The BOG Hot Topics Miniseminar is designed to address the latest in practice management updates and perspectives, and I find it to be an extremely high-yield session. In addition, the BOG committee meetings on Saturday, September 26, are focused on the legislative, socioeconomic, and grassroots issues affecting our specialty. They are open to anyone and are a great way to understand the efforts that the Academy and the BOG are making on our behalf. Prioritization In addition to these education opportunities, the Opening Ceremony at the Annual Meeting allows us to more clearly understand the priorities of our Academy as it strives to do more with less. This has led to a streamlining of operations in order to focus efforts on the core values of education, advocacy, sustainability, research, and quality. Toward this end, a new, smarter learning management system is being introduced to allow for easier access to existing and new educational content. Proactive focus Our Academy has understood the need for a focus on quality and safety far before they were buzzwords in the media. This proactive stance has led to our recognition as national leaders in Clinical Practice Guideline development. This same focus has resulted in ongoing creation of CMS Measures groups to be used by our Members for simplified PQRS reporting. At the same time, the staff and physician volunteers are evaluating national and state legislation and addressing payment issues with insurers. I continue to strive to master these virtues passed on by Ben Franklin and embraced by our Academy. Please join us as we witness them in action at the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO℠ and BOG sessions. I hope to see you there.
By Stacey L. Ishman, MD, MPH, Chair, BOG Rules and Regulations Committee
![Stacey L. Ishman, MD](https://img.ascendmedia.com/files/base/ascend/hh/image/2013/10/btn.BOG_ishmans.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&q=70&w=400)
Like many of us, Ben Franklin was a busy man and in moments of self-reflection, recognized his deficiencies in a number of healthy habits, which he termed “virtues.” As I get ready to attend our Annual Meeting and the fall meeting of the Board of Governors (BOG), I find that these virtues continue to ring true today.
These include:
- Set aside time for focused efforts.
- Always look for ways to do things better and faster.
- Set very few priorities and stick to them.
- Turn down things that are inconsistent with your priorities.
- Spot trouble ahead and solve problems immediately.
- Finish what’s important and stop doing what is no longer worthwhile.
The Academy and its Annual Meeting provide us with options to address many of these virtues.
Time and efficiency
The Annual Meeting allows us to set aside time for education on myriad topics by national and international experts. As such, it often is a time when I am able to find ways to improve and optimize my practice. The scientific content and patient care pearls that I learn are the highlights of my meeting, but there is so much more to learn.
This is especially true as the business of medicine and compliance take up increasing amounts of mental energy and time. The BOG Hot Topics Miniseminar is designed to address the latest in practice management updates and perspectives, and I find it to be an extremely high-yield session. In addition, the BOG committee meetings on Saturday, September 26, are focused on the legislative, socioeconomic, and grassroots issues affecting our specialty. They are open to anyone and are a great way to understand the efforts that the Academy and the BOG are making on our behalf.
Prioritization
In addition to these education opportunities, the Opening Ceremony at the Annual Meeting allows us to more clearly understand the priorities of our Academy as it strives to do more with less. This has led to a streamlining of operations in order to focus efforts on the core values of education, advocacy, sustainability, research, and quality. Toward this end, a new, smarter learning management system is being introduced to allow for easier access to existing and new educational content.
Proactive focus
Our Academy has understood the need for a focus on quality and safety far before they were buzzwords in the media. This proactive stance has led to our recognition as national leaders in Clinical Practice Guideline development. This same focus has resulted in ongoing creation of CMS Measures groups to be used by our Members for simplified PQRS reporting. At the same time, the staff and physician volunteers are evaluating national and state legislation and addressing payment issues with insurers.
I continue to strive to master these virtues passed on by Ben Franklin and embraced by our Academy. Please join us as we witness them in action at the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO℠ and BOG sessions. I hope to see you there.