WIO’s Continued Focus on Wellness
WIO Day is right around the corner on March 8 and the ideal time to recognize our colleagues, not only for the amazing work they do but in how they help, advise, and mentor other women otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons.
Priya D. Krishna, MD
WIO Chair
WIO Day is right around the corner on March 8 and the ideal time to recognize our colleagues, not only for the amazing work they do but in how they help, advise, and mentor other women otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons. The Women in Otolaryngology Section (WIO), working with the Academy staff, has come up with a fun way to celebrate WIO Day and recognize our outstanding women members.
On March 8, we’ll share a link via the WIO ENT Connect community and other platforms that will include instructions and social media materials to commemorate WIO Day 2022. This information will detail how to submit a short testimonial recognizing one or more of your colleagues that will be published on the Academy’s WIO page for all members to read and enjoy. It will also have downloadable social media graphics and materials that you can personalize and share on your own social media networks. This is just one way this year to take a bow and celebrate each other during this challenging environment.
Supporting each other and recognizing the mental and physical strain we each may be experiencing during these tumultuous times, it is now more important than ever to address burnout and focus on wellness. As we all know, wellness can refer to our emotional or physical well-being, or both. The WIO is focusing on promoting physical wellness through a series of programs over the next several months and at the AAO-HNSF 2022 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience this fall.
As an example, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are extraordinarily prevalent in surgeons, and surgical ergonomics is an area that we are planning on addressing. A recent study cited an over 70% prevalence of back and neck pain in otolaryngologists at a single institution,1-2 similar to what exists in other surgical specialties and thus indicating a pervasive problem. WMSDs impact productivity and, in surgery, that may translate to poorer patient outcomes. Risks factors for WMSDs include younger age, shorter surgeon stature, female gender, and smaller glove size. Therefore, the impact of WMSDs may only deepen as more women enter our field, making it imperative that we discuss and educate ourselves on this issue comprehensively.
REFERENCES
1. Vaisbuch Y, Aaron KA, Moore JM, et al. Ergonomic hazards in otolaryngology. Laryngoscope 2019;129:370-376. doi: 10.1002/lary.27496
2. Catanzarite T, Tan-Kim, J, Whitcomb EL, and Menefee S. Ergonomics in surgery: a review. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2018;24(1):1-12. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000456
