Watch | New Video Series: “It Always Starts with the Patient”
"I never really thought about the science of breathing until I couldn't do it anymore," says otolaryngology-head and neck surgery patient, Liz Haberkorn.
As otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons, we encounter similar words from our patients regularly. In this new video series, we'll explore the profound impacts of our specialty through the lens of those we treat. Meet Liz Haberkorn, MS, MFA, the Academy’s Senior Manager of Publications, who oversees publication of the AAO-HNSF peer-reviewed journals. Liz is also an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery patient. After years of suffering with fatigue and breathing difficulties without finding an accurate diagnosis, Liz was referred by a friend to Ravi S. Swamy, MD, of Metropolitan ENT in Alexandria, VA. Here’s her story.
"Toward the end of 2018, I started having trouble breathing. I had no sense of smell, exercising made me cough, and I would lose my breath after walking for a couple of minutes. I was always tired." Despite consulting many other physicians and healthcare professionals, an otolaryngologist immediately recognized what others had missed.
"He looked up my nose for about 10 seconds and said, 'Yeah, you need surgery.'"
This diagnostic certainty—something we hope for with every patient—led to appropriate intervention through endoscopic sinus surgery. Liz’s results exemplify why we chose this specialty: "Afterward, I could breathe again. And while I didn't get 100% of my sense of smell back, it was still much improved…It was amazing!"
What seems routine to us is life-altering for our patients, and the results extend far beyond the relief of physical symptoms: "The mental health factor of always being tired and unable to catch your breath is real. It had a significant impact on me and even my family. Having this surgery improved a lot of areas in my life,” shared Liz.
Through this series, we'll remind ourselves why we entered this field—to relieve suffering, restore or improve health, and, ultimately, transform lives. Join us in celebrating the meaningful work we do every day through the stories of our patients, one patient at a time.
Share your most memorable patient outcomes by emailing bulletin@entnet.org or on social media (with prior patient consent!) by using the hashtag #patientstories and tagging @aaohns on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.
