Announcing the 2022 Hall of Distinction Inductees

The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and its Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) are pleased to announce the selection of the second class of inductees into the AAO-HNS Hall of Distinction. A special thank you to the Awards Committee, chaired by Past President Al Merati, MD, who selected six individuals for the “Pioneer” category and six individuals for the “Living Legends” category. Those recommendations were approved by the Board of Directors in April.

President Ken Yanagisawa, MD, will honor this outstanding class of inductees during a special presentation, followed by a reception at the AAO-HNSF 2022 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 11, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (ET).

Hall of Distinction (Pioneers)

Bobby R. Alford, MDBobby R. Alford, MD, was a renowned, national leader whose dedication to excellence permeated all facets of his career, leading to an amazing legacy that expanded the specialty’s scope of practice to include head and neck surgery. In 1981, he simultaneously served as the President of both the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and the American Council of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (ACO-HNS) and was instrumentational in the unification of the two organizations into the Academy we know today. During Dr. Alford 40+ year tenure as chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, he imbued generations of physicians with a deep commitment to leadership and public service. He believed strongly in the link between research and patient care. Among his many achievements, he played a significant role in the creation of the Neurosensory Center of Houston for The Methodist Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine and was a founder of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute. 

Jack R. Anderson, MDJack R. Anderson, MD, was a visionary and dedicated leader with a passion for increasing the public visibility and understanding of otolaryngology and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, qualities that were assets to the many organizations he served, including the American Council of Otolaryngology as President (1975-1976); American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery as President (1980); and American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as the first Secretary (1964-1969) and President (1971-1972). Dr. Anderson championed the addition of “head and neck surgery” to “otolaryngology,” noting that otolaryngology did not encompass the entire practice of the field. He was a proponent of public relations and public education and was an outspoken advocate and pioneer of the right of otolaryngologists to perform facial plastic surgery. His efforts in the 1970s and 1980s in this arena have had a long-lasting impact that is present today in defining the scope of practice for the specialty.

Reginald F. Baugh, MDReginald F. Baugh, MD, dedicated his life’s work to advancing the field of otolaryngology. His reach was far and wide as a physician, mentor, published author, colleague, collaborator, and more. His undoubtable passion and tireless pursuit for quality, patient care, and education was contagious and had a long-lasting impact on the countless lives who crossed his path throughout his remarkable career. The AAO-HNS/F was the honored recipient of his volunteerism. Dr. Baugh dedicated his time, expertise, and diplomacy to advancing the AAO-HNSF’s clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Specifically, his leadership led to the development of the Tonsillectomy CPG in 2011 and the Bell’s Palsy CPG in 2013, both of which he served as Chair, as well as the Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo CPG in 2008 when he served as Assistant Chair. He also served on the AAO-HNS/F Voice and Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Committees and on the Editorial Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 

Linda S. Brodsky, MDLinda S. Brodsky, MD, is lauded for her dedication to and advocacy for the equitable treatment of all who practice in the specialty and was a driving force behind the creation of the Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Section. She was also one of the major supporters of the AAO-HNSF WIO Endowment and one of the first to pledge a Millennium Society Life Member commitment to help seed the endowment. This action set an example of her philanthropic leadership, which inspired others to contribute to provide funding for research activities that supported the advancement of women in the specialty. Dr. Brodsky also founded Women MD Resources, an organization dedicated to helping women physicians navigate the medical work environment and offering mentorship to early-career women in medicine. Throughout her life, Dr. Brodsky strived for excellence in her commitment to quality patient care. She established the “Brodsky Classification” of tonsillar disease, a diagnostic tool utilized by medical professionals throughout the globe. 

William Wayne Montgomery, MDWilliam Wayne Montgomery, MD, a world-renowned professor at Harvard Medical School and a surgeon at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, had a major influence on the development and transformation of the specialty through his ingenuity and innovation, writing, mentorship, and teaching. The breadth of his scientific contributions and illustration is demonstrated in his two-volume book and atlas, Surgery of the Upper Respiratory System. These works helped shape contemporary otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and displayed his broad portfolio of seminal contributions to otology and neurotology; cranial base surgery; head and neck surgery and reconstruction; laryngology; rhinology, especially frontal sinus surgery; and pediatric otolaryngology. Dr. Montgomery was the inventor of the tracheal T-tube, the laryngeal keel, a facial nerve stimulator, and one of the first stapes prostheses. He introduced the frontal sinus obliteration procedure in the United States and was an early advocate of the use of closed suction drains in head and neck surgery. 

Joseph H. Ogura, MDJoseph H. Ogura, MD, whose surgical innovations forever changed the treatment of laryngeal cancer, was chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, and a legend in the field. Dr. Ogura helped change the direction of the specialty by serving as a national pioneer progressing otolaryngology into more advanced head and neck surgery. Dr. Ogura developed many surgical techniques in head and neck cancer surgery, especially conservation surgery of the larynx. During a distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years, he did more than improve surgical technique and patient care. He was a prolific researcher, writer, and lecturer. The extent of his legacy also reaches the lives he touched during his professional career—the patients who benefited from his surgical brilliance, his residents who were inspired to pursue excellence through his mentorship, and his colleagues who achieved more supported by his strength and encouragement.

Hall of Distinction (Living Legends)

Charles D. Bluestone, MD

Charles D. Bluestone, MD, is a pioneering leader in the formalization and recognition of pediatric otolaryngology as a subspecialty, particularly for his contributions as founding chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Pediatric Otolaryngology Section, which provided an educational venue between otolaryngologists and their pediatric colleagues that continues today; as a charter member and past president (1990-1991) of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology; and as a founder of both the Society for Middle Ear Disease and the NIH-funded Pittsburgh Otitis Media Research Center. Dr. Bluestone in collaboration with Sylvan Stool, MD, also created the first formal pediatric otolaryngology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh from 1975-1976. Additionally, he, David J. Lim, MD, and Ben H. Senturia, MD, organized the first of 10 quadrennial international symposia in 1975 on advances in otitis media. Dr. Bluestone’s distinguished career and leadership earned him the first University of Pittsburgh Eberly Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology. 

Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MDSujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD, is a dynamic influencer in leadership and an extremely effective ambassador for the specialty. She was instrumental in transforming the Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Committee into the WIO Section. And through her collaboration and determination, helped to establish the WIO Endowment, raising over $400,000 in pledges and gifts in four days. Dr. Chandrasekhar served as the Chair of the AAO-HNS Board of Governors (2012) and then was elected to serve as the AAO-HNS/F President (2015-2016). She brought an energy level and excitement to her presidency and leadership in general and instilled a vision that put diversity and inclusion at the forefront of the Academy’s Strategic Plan. Her contributions to the Academy and specialty continue to flourish and expand. In her commitment to patient care, Dr. Chandrasekhar served as Chair to the Guideline Development Group for the Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss, and she has worked as a content expert for ENThealth.org, among many other contributions. 

James C. Denneny III, MDJames C. Denneny III, MD, is an innovative visionary who has contributed decades of service to the specialty and patient care. He served as both AAO-HNS/F President (2007-2008) and AAO-HNS Board of Governors Chair (1998-1999). Immediately prior to his appointment as Executive Vice President/CEO (2014)—a position he currently holds—he was simultaneously the Coordinator of Socioeconomic Affairs, Co-chair of the Physician Payment Policy Workgroup, and Chair of the Ad Hoc Payment Model Workgroup. He has been instrumental in prioritizing specialty unity to maximize the Academy’s effectiveness in education, research and quality, advocacy, and member services. His leadership has positioned the Academy at the forefront of the global otolaryngology community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increased international presence and collaboration; has focused on enhanced value for members, their practices, and their patients through varied mechanisms, such as Reg-ent^SM; and has strengthened the voice of the specialty within the house of medicine and with decision-makers in the ongoing climate of healthcare reform. 

Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, MBARichard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, MBA, is a trailblazer in research and quality patient care, having substantial impact on the implementation of evidence-informed research and measures in the specialty. His notable contributions are significant, demonstrated by being only one of two individuals to have received five AAO-HNS Distinguished Honor Awards in the Academy’s history. His leadership is demonstrated by his service as Editor in Chief of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (2006-2014); Senior Advisor for Quality and Guidelines; and Chair of the Research Committee (now CORE), Guidelines Task Force (GTF), Science and Education Council (SEC), Cochrane Scholars Program, and the Subspecialty Advisory Council (SSAC). Dr. Rosenfeld has been a driving force behind the AAO-HNSF clinical practice guideline (CPG) program. He is the lead author of the “AAO-HNSF Guideline Development Manual,” and he has authored or co-authored a considerable number of CPGs. Among other leadership roles, Dr. Rosenfeld founded the Guidelines International Network North American Community.

Pablo Stolovitzky, MDPablo Stolovitzky, MD, is a dedicated champion of the international otolaryngology community who has contributed decades of service to the Academy and the specialty. Among many leadership roles, he served as Chair of the AAO-HNS Board of Governors (2007-2008), Coordinator for International Affairs (2017-2021), and President of the XXXVII Pan American Congress of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2022). During his term as Coordinator, he had a profound influence in enlarging the Academy’s international footprint leading to increased membership and expanded global partnerships. His vision and work toward a more collaborative global otolaryngology community has resulted in expanded education opportunities with the International Corresponding Societies through joint meetings and the creation of the Global Grand Rounds—both in person and virtual—as well as for individuals with the International Visiting Scholars program and the AAO-HNSF journals. His contributions toward weaving the international otolaryngology community into the threads of the AAO-HNSF International Affairs Program is significant with everlasting impact.

M. Eugene Tardy, Jr., MDM. Eugene Tardy, Jr., MD, is a proactive, pioneering leader who identified and addressed several significant issues facing the specialty and helped guide the Academy onward after the merger with the American Council of Otolaryngology. During his term as AAO-HNS President (1985-1986), the Academy drafted and formally approved its first code of ethics. He also initiated a fundraising campaign to support the building fund for an Academy-owned headquarters, providing financial stability to support enhanced programs and services. Dr. Tardy has demonstrated a commitment to encouraging specialty unity to preserve the highest level of quality in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and was able to integrate that vision as President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (1982) and President of the American Board of Otolaryngology. Dr. Tardy’s dedication to education and the advancement in quality patient care has defined his professional life and influence on the specialty and those who had the opportunity to learn from him and work with him.