Published: February 2, 2021

Otolaryngology Discoveries Sharpened during the Call for Science

With the AAO-HNSF 2021 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience Call for Science behind us, I think warmly of colleagues around the country and the world calling, texting, and emailing each other, excited with new ideas for Expert Lectures and Panel Presentations

Daniel C. Chelius, Jr., MD, AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting Program Coordinator

Daniel C. Chelius, Jr., MDDaniel C. Chelius, Jr., MDWith the Call for Science now over, the 55 members of the Annual Meeting Program Committee (AMPC) enter the busiest and most critical part of the Annual Meeting preparation lifecycle—proposal/abstract review and program construction. The AMPC is divided into the 12 specialty tracks of the Annual Meeting with a rotating specialty group leader for each track. Most committee members will review in at least two specialty tracks according to their content area expertise and interests. Over a four-week period, each of the 55 committee members will evaluate between 150 and 300 proposals and abstracts using a rubric that has been refined over the past decade. Each submission is reviewed both subjectively and objectively by multiple committee members, and then the results are compiled and analyzed. 

In March, the specialty groups will meet virtually to begin organizing the Annual Meeting program with both breadth and depth of education opportunities in mind. They will discuss and rank the submissions in their track based on multiple factors, including the composite review scores and the education gaps identified from prior meetings. During a half-day retreat later in the spring, the AMPC will gather to collate the program with particular attention to presentations that cross specialty areas. In the end, we aim for an agenda that brings together the most current science, the best education opportunities, and the most inspiring discussions in otolaryngology. We aim for a meeting faculty who include both enthusiastic new perspectives and experienced thought leadership. 

The AMPC is preparing diligently for the review period. We always hope to employ a fair process with as much precision and accuracy as possible. This year—to work toward ever-improving inter-rater reliability during proposal review—we have launched an Onboarding and Calibration Strategic Team under the leadership of Clark A. Rosen, MD, to develop an annual training curriculum for committee members. In parallel, Minka L. Schofield, MD, has led our new AMPC Diversity Champions Strategic Team to craft an Implicit Bias Training program for all AMPC members. While many of us are likely exposed to some sort of implicit bias training in our home institutions and communities, we believe that focusing on our potential biases as a group will elevate the quality of our reviews and keep the discussion fresh in our minds. 

On behalf of the AMPC, I would like to thank the submitters to this year’s Call for Science. There is no Annual Meeting without your support for the Academy. We take our review and program organization responsibilities very seriously and are grateful for your trust. 


Annual Meeting Program Committee

Daniel C. Chelius, Jr., MD, Coordinator

Dole P. Baker, Jr., MD

Pete S. Batra, MD

William R. Blythe, MD

Michael J. Brenner, MD

Scott E. Brietzke, MD, MPH

Steven B. Cannady, MD

Michele M. Carr, MD, DDS, MEd, PhD

Scott R. Chaiet, MD, MBA

David H. Chi, MD

Do-Yeon Cho, MD

Cecelia Damask, DO

Megan Durr, MD

Daniel S. Fink, MD

Neal D. Futran, MD, DMD

John C. Goddard, MD

Richard K. Gurgel, MD

Joseph K. Han, MD

Maureen M. Harriman, MD

Stephanie Joe, MD

David H. Jung, MD, PhD

David Kaylie, MD

Kenneth H. Lee, MD, PhD

James Lin, MD

Kelly Michele Malloy, MD

Nicole C. Maronian, MD

David Myssiorek, MD

Teresa M. O, MD

Julina Ongkasuwan, MD

Zara M. Patel, MD

Mark E. Prince, MD

Eileen M. Raynor, MD

Rod P. Rezaee, MD

Clark A. Rosen, MD

Alain N. Sabri, MD

Minka L. Schofield, MD

Gavin Setzen, MD

Yelizaveta Shnayder, MD

Lawrence M. Simon, MD

Jeffrey P. Simons, MD

Eric E. Smouha, MD

Brendan C. Stack, Jr., MD

David L. Steward, MD

Shirley Y. Su, MBBS

Maria Suurna, MD

Travis T. Tollefson, MD, MPH

Esther X. Vivas, MD

Marilene B. Wang, MD

Mark K. Wax, MD

Michael J. Wilhelm, MD

Troy D. Woodard, MD

Bradford A. Woodworth, MD

Christina J. Yang, MD

VyVy N. Young, MD

Mark E. Zafereo, Jr., MD

More from February 2021 – Vol. 40, No. 1
Modelsof Oto
Models of Otolaryngology Practice: Employment Dilemmas Stocked by COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has afflicted every person, every family, every medical practice, the entire healthcare industry, and the overall economic fabric of this nation and abroad.
Snhl
Out of Committee: Equilibrium | Vestibular and Balance Dysfunction in Children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common congenital sensory impairment, occurring in three out of every 1,000 live births.
Covid19
From the Education Committees: Pediatric Otolaryngology in the Time of COVID-19
Initially we thought this pandemic would affect primarily adult patients, but it has become clear that it has had a significant impact on the practice of pediatric otolaryngology.
Wellness Icon
How to Create a Wellness Curriculum at Your Institution: Lessons Learned from the Graduate Medical Education Experience
Physician burnout is a well-established phenomenon pervasive throughout the medical community and is detrimental not only to physicians, but also to the patients they treat.
Wellness Icon
Climbing the Second Mountain: Introducing a Novel Resident Wellness Program
Our program similarly involves a reward system to encourage resident participation and progress toward their Second Mountain, but it differs in that it emphasizes the need to spend time outside of the hospital as a key component of the program.
Diversity Icon
Unequal Treatment: How to Move from Detecting to Understanding and Reducing Healthcare Disparities within Otolaryngology
Recently the coronavirus pandemic has illuminated long-standing social, economic, and health inequities in the United States.
Mild Osa
Out of Committee: Sleep Disorders | Update on the Management of Mild OSA in Children
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is still a relatively “young” field. It was not until the late 1990s that many of the sequelae of pediatric OSA, such as poor focus and behavior problems, became increasingly recognized and reported.
Writelikeapro
How to Write Like a Pro: Paper Sprints, Data, and Sparking Academic Productivity
Writing is hard. Taking an idea to fruition can be a lonely endeavor, littered with the skeletons of unfinished projects.
Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS AAO-HNS/F President
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Otolaryngology: Our Pathway to the Future
I am a fierce advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion. I believe that every individual should have an opportunity to feel valued and to thrive.
James C. Denneny III, MD AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO
Strategic Priorities and Planning to Benefit Members and Your Patients
As we emerge from the pandemic and vaccination becomes widespread, otolaryngologists along with the entire medical community look forward to being able to provide the full spectrum of care they are used to furnishing.
Hal Foster, MD
Milestone Moments
Each month AAO-HNS highlights memorable moments in the history of the Academy.
2019 SIM Tank Winners (L-R): Justin R. Shinn, MD (third place); Fanny Gabrysz-Forget, MD (first place); and Tulio A. Valdez, MD (second place).
Call for Simulation Abstracts: Deadline March 1
Do you have an innovative simulator model or simulation activity that you would like to share with the otolaryngology community?
Humanitarian Grant
Humanitarian Travel Grant: Medical Mission in Mongolia
In May 2020 I traveled with the New York University (NYU) Department of Otolaryngology to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for a humanitarian mission.
Ecs Dise
NEW! Expert Consensus Statement: Pediatric Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy
The new Expert Consensus Statement (ECS): Pediatric Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) was published online in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery on January 5.
Oto Source
Education Opportunities in Pediatrics
Explore the OTO Source Pediatric Otolaryngology Unit to select from multiple educational tools.
World Hearing Day
World Hearing Day: Hearing Care for All
The World Health Organization founded World Hearing Day to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care throughout the world.
Awards
2021 Call for AAO-HNS/F Awards and Lectures Nominees
Online applications are being accepted for the Academy’s various recognitions of outstanding physicians, committees, and societies that have gone above and beyond this past year.
Iab
Call for IAB Chair-Elect Nominees
A 2021-2022 International Advisory Board IAB Chair-Elect will be elected at the AAO-HNSF 2021 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience in Los Angeles, California.
Is Oto In Your Future
Is OTO in Your Future?
Is OTO in Your Future?, which was the AAO-HNS first student forum of 2021, introduced medical students to the field of otolaryngology.
Wio
Section Spotlight: Women In Otolaryngology | Mentorship and Networking in the Era of COVID-19
Each year during the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting, the WIO Leadership Development and Mentorship Committee hosts a networking event for members.
Humanitarian Efforts
Spotlight: Humanitarian Efforts | David D. Nolen, MD
The Spotlight on Humanitarian Efforts recognizes AAO-HNS members who are contributing their time and expertise to otolaryngologic patient needs around the globe.
Pearls Peers
Pearls from your Peers: Gaining Business Acumen for Practice Development
Ashli O’Rourke, MD, is the director of laryngology and holds the Evelyn Trammell Endowed Chair in Otolaryngology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
K Ids Ent
Kids ENT Health Month: For Your Patients | Out of Committee: Pediatric Otolaryngology | Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Children
Over the past 30 years, the growing popularity of amplified sound in portable music and gaming devices has made noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) a serious and growing public health issue.