Published: February 25, 2020

AAO-HNS History Museum Primary Donor Pays a Visit

The Academy had a surprise visit from John Q. Adams, a major donor and supporter of the AAO-HNS Foundation (AAO-HNSF), who generously donated $1 million as part of the Foundation’s Greater Academy Campaign. In recognition of his outstanding and longtime support of the Foundation, the History and Archives Department of the AAO-HNSF was renamed The John Q. Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 1996.


James C. Denneny III, MD, AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO (left), welcomes John Q. Adams (right), to the AAO-HNS/F offices in Alexandria, VA, on February 12. The History and Archives Department of the AAO-HNSF was renamed the John Q. Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 1996. Mr. Adams is a major donor and supporter of the AAO-HNSF who generously donated $1 million as part of the Foundation’s Greater Academy Campaign.James C. Denneny III, MD, AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO (left), welcomes John Q. Adams (right), to the AAO-HNS/F offices in Alexandria, VA, on February 12. The History and Archives Department of the AAO-HNSF was renamed the John Q. Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 1996. Mr. Adams is a major donor and supporter of the AAO-HNSF who generously donated $1 million as part of the Foundation’s Greater Academy Campaign.

The Academy had a surprise visit from John Q. Adams, a major donor and supporter of the AAO-HNS Foundation (AAO-HNSF), who generously donated $1 million as part of the Foundation’s Greater Academy Campaign. In recognition of his outstanding and longtime support of the Foundation, the History and Archives Department of the AAO-HNSF was renamed The John Q. Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 1996. At that time, the History and Archives Department’s charter was to preserve the history of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, promote historical research, and provide education programs for the profession and the public. The AAO-HNSF was headquartered on Prince Street in Old Town Alexandria, VA, and the AAO-HNSF Museum, which was housed in the lobby, was open to the public with a full-time staff member.

John Q. AdamsJohn Q. Adams

The John Q. Adams Center became The Adams Center, which housed an extensive library and archival museum collections documenting the history of otolaryngology in the United States and Europe. This diverse collection—now housed on the fifth floor of AAO-HNS/F headquarters office at 1650 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA—includes The Rosalind N. and David Myers Hearing Aid Collection, medical illustrations, oral histories, rare books and manuscripts, surgical instruments, and official records of several otolaryngology societies. The Adams Center made news when it was featured in the 2013 post “Adams Center – medical museum in Old Town Alexandra.” According to the post, “One of the many intriguing things about life in Alexandria in Old Town is the assortment of highly specialized trade associations. One of these is the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)”1

Mr. Adams is the founder, former President, and CEO of the Adams Laboratories (renamed Adams Respiratory Therapeutics) of Fort Worth, TX. His company provided specialty pharmaceuticals for respiratory care, including Humibid LA and Entex LA, staples of ENT practice. Mr. Adams has had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical industry and in developing prescription and nonprescription pharmaceuticals for the treatment of respiratory disorders and diseases, including Mucinex.  Mr. Adams remains active in the healthcare industry and retains memberships and board positions with several professional and philanthropic organizations, including the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Vanderbilt Voice Center. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

Mr. Adams was grateful to have the opportunity to visit The John Q. Adams Center and meet with Dr. Denneny. He hopes to celebrate the AAO-HNSF’s 125th anniversary at the AAO-HNSF 2021 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience in Los Angeles, California.

 

References

  1. Nesbitt W. Adams Center – medical museum in Old Town Alexandria. https://activerain.com/blogsview/3815173/adams-center—medical-museum-in-old-town-alexandria

More from March 2020 – Vol. 39, No. 2