Why Our History Matters

AAO-HNS/F

The AAO-HNS History and Archives Committee advocates for the preservation, conduct of research, and development of education programs in the history of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. The committee sponsors historical projects such as exhibits, produces publications and seminars, and provides advice and perspective in support of medical professionals and the public. Over the past year, the committee has advanced that mission through several key initiatives.

James J. Kearney, MD, Chair of the History and Archives Committee, spoke with Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, for a special podcast titled, “Why History Matters: Archives, Identity, and Innovation in Otolaryngology.” Dr. Kearney, Chair of Otorhinolaryngology at Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation’s oldest hospital founded in 1751, discussed why making history accessible and experiential strengthens professional identity, guides innovation, and preserves the specialty's values.

The Chevalier Jackson Traveling Exhibit on display at the AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Jackson’s desk, donated by the National Museum of American History, on display at the John Q. Adams History Center.The committee is also bringing history to life through hands-on experiences. In November 2025, the Bulletin featured the 2025 Traveling Museum, curated by committee member Alexander Chern, MD. The exhibit, which was on display at the AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Indianapolis, Indiana, honored the “father of endoscopy,” Chevalier Q. Jackson, MD (1865–1958). It included original laryngoscopes and bronchoscopes, medical illustrations, photographs, textbooks, and personal memorabilia. Attendees explored these artifacts throughout the Annual Meeting, and the collection remains accessible at the John Q. Adams History Center at AAO-HNS/F headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

In a January 2026 Bulletin article by Gregory S. Weinstein, MD, the committee looked back on the past two decades of Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS). And in the February 2026 Bulletin, David J. Brown, MD, Terrence K. Pleasant, MD, and Shannon D. Fayson, MD, shared a brief history of Black recruitment at the University of Michigan Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in honor of Black History Month.

The committee also celebrates scholarly contributions through its annual Resident History of Otolaryngology Paper Competition. In 2025, 11 submissions were received, with four finalists presenting their research. The winning abstract, “Lessons Learned Through the History of Otosclerosis Surgery” by Nicholas Andresen, MD, and Dr. Chern, earned a $5,000 award from the Dory U. Pettit Memorial Fund. Other topics included contributions to the specialty by William W. Montgomery, MD, theories of the nose from Sigmund Freud, MD, and the evolution of the fiberoptic laryngoscope.

Looking Ahead in 2026 

Abstract submissions for the 2026 Resident History of Otolaryngology Paper Competition, including from medical students, are now open at https://tinyurl.com/HistoryENTAbstract. The deadline is June 21, 2026, and finalists will present their research and findings at the AAO-HNSF 2026 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Los Angeles, California, October 17–20. A new exhibition of the Traveling Museum will also debut at the 2026 Annual Meeting. 

The History and Archives Committee encourages Academy members to share their stories and experiences that they consider important to our specialty’s history. Members can email Dr. Kearney at James.Kearney@UPHS.UPENN.EDU.