Published: May 1, 2019

The Turkish Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Society

The Turkish Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Society (VSSS) was founded in 2008 in Istanbul, Turkey, by its honorary President Prof. Ferhan Öz, Prof. Nermin Başerer, Prof. Günter Hafız, Prof. İsmet Aslan, Prof. Hakan Akyol, Prof. Elif Aksoy, Dr. Barış Karakullukçu, Dr. Gayem Köprücü, Dr. Burcu Ardalı, and Dr. Berna Erdebilin.

Associate Prof. Sevtap Akbulut, President

The Turkish Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Society (VSSS) was founded in 2008 in Istanbul, Turkey, by its honorary President Prof. Ferhan Öz, Prof. Nermin Başerer, Prof. Günter Hafız, Prof. İsmet Aslan, Prof. Hakan Akyol, Prof. Elif Aksoy, Dr. Barış Karakullukçu, Dr. Gayem Köprücü, Dr. Burcu Ardalı, and Dr. Berna Erdebilin. The main motive in founding the VSSS was to fulfill a vision of bringing together all professionals who worked with one or more of the specialty areas of voice, speech, and swallowing. Since 2008, VSSS has worked to help all professionals from different areas of voice, speech, language, and swallowing disorder interests to meet with each other to share knowledge and bond under its leadership. In doing so, VSSS aims to share knowledge with the public, patients and their families, public authorities, and medical professionals of all areas of the specialty.

Vsss Turkey Society Guest Photo

The VSSS organization to look at voice, speech, language, and swallowing disorders through the eyes of a multidisciplinary team including speech-language pathologists, ENT specialists, neurologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, pediatric neurologists, pediatric psychiatrists, voice coaches, and teachers. Dealing with voice, speech, language, and swallowing disorders has been a personal effort in our country for many years since the idea of providing treatment in the areas of speech, language, voice, and swallowing is a fairly new area in rehabilitation. As a developing specialty in Turkey, there weren’t any organized efforts or professional associations leading the way.

The VSSS has always aimed to set the standards and define the field, the disorders, the ways of treatment for public and patient awareness, and to be a resource for higher authorities and medical professionals in Turkey. In addition, it works to define the scope of practice for professionals of different areas so that each professional’s role in the area is well understood. In addition, VSSS aims to stay on the cutting edge in understanding and treating voice, speech, language, and swallowing disorders by pursuing medical studies to be performed in Turkey, as well as collaborative studies with other countries. While doing so, the VSSS establishes bases, sets the standards to be parallel, and further unites with international standards as they are being applied in other countries.

With all these goals, we have been affiliated members of the AAO-HNS/F, IALP, ELS, Turkish ENT-HN Society, and Istanbul ENT-HN Society and have regularly participated in Turkish regional and national medical meetings offering workshops and panels, organizing committees, and representing our country in key international meetings. As a growing society, we have taken larger steps every year, and we are working passionately on two upcoming major projects for 2019-2020. These projects include the writing and publishing of a laryngology book and organizing VOICEISTANBUL— International Conference on Voice in All Aspects, September 19-22, 2019.

The Turkish Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Society would like to extend an invitation to AAO-HNS members working in the areas of voice, speech, and swallowing to join us at VOICEISTANBUL in Turkey and to enjoy the scientific discussions as well as the city of Istanbul and Turkish hospitality.

More from May 2019 – Vol. 38, No. 4
5588
Out of Committee: Diversity – Hijabs and the head and neck physical exam
A 28-year-old female patient presents with a history of a progressively enlarging neck mass over the course of a few months. The lesion is causing her to have some difficulties in swallowing. She was examined and diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid gland by her female family physician and hence was referred on to you, a male, for surgical evaluation.
1696
Section Spotlight: YPS continues to expand
It is hard to believe that the Young Physician’s Section (YPS) of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) is only five years old. We transitioned from a committee of fewer than 20 people to a section that now has more than 2,000 members.
TurkishORLsocietyphoto
International Guest of Honor 2019: Turkey
Civani Ananyan was sent to Paris in 1878, training in otolaryngology. Upon his return, he began teaching otolaryngology at Istanbul University as a faculty member. The first department of otorhinolaryngology was established in 1890, and Prof. Sefik Pasha was the first chair of the department.
1550
Special Annual Meeting offer to Millennium Society donors
The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery foundation is pleased to host the Millennium Society Donor Appreciation Lounge, providing exclusive access for all attending Millennium Society donors. Millennium Society donors are the VIPs of the AAO-HNS foundation who have generously donated at least $1,000 ($250 for residents or young physicians) to the Annual Fund or $5,000 to the Hal Foster, MD, Endowment Fund.
7886
About New Orleans
In this little corner of the American South, where European traditions blend with Caribbean influences, the history is as colorful as the local architecture; the food is the stuff of legend. Haitian and African Creoles developed an exotic, spicy cuisine and were instrumental in creating jazz and Cajun Zydeco.
MardiGras
Mardi Gras World
The early days of what has grown into Kern Studios started with Roy Kern, a local artist-turned-sign-painter who worked his way through the Great Depression by painting names and signs on the bows of freighters and barges.
PreconWorkshop_UltrasoundNeck
Pre-Conference Workshops and networking
Back by significant demand, Saturday, September 14, features three encore pre-conference workshops, Endoscopic Ear Surgery and Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation Workshop, AAO-HNS/F and LSU Sialendoscopy Hands-On Course, and AAO-HNSF and ACS Thyroid, Parathyroid, and Neck Ultrasound Workshop. Visit our website for pre-requisites, details, and pricing.
Untitled-2
Program information
Groundbreaking education program formats
May_Bulletin_FeatureCover
Where Experts and Science Converge
Last year, the Academy and its Foundation celebrated “We Are One: Otolaryngology United for Patient Care” with the release of our new logo. This year’s Annual Meeting theme, “Where Experts and Science Converge,” parallels “We Are One” as the best and brightest otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons from around the globe and all subspecialties connect in ONE location for cutting-edge education.
James C. Denneny III, MD AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO
Events and milestones
May kicks off two of our most important events of the year: our Annual Meeting and our elections. In September, the Annual Meeting returns to New Orleans for the first time since 1999. That year, Harold C. Pillsbury III, MD, was President, and I was Chair of the Board of Governors.
Albert L. Merati, MD AAO-HNS/F Past President
Renewal, reflection, regret
On May 18, 2015, Jenny and I went to my one and only appointment at the University of Washington Weight Loss Management Center. I was 49 years old and felt appreciated, effective, connected, and successful. I had lots of energy and a million friends—but I also felt that I was dying a bit as every day passed.