Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE H ealthcare reform, which was front and center during this timeframe, was also constrained by an economic recession and a combative political environment. The AAO-HNS/F leadership continued with the focused integrated approach of the past few years that incorporated research, education, advocacy, and health policy into a holistic strategy to effect change in ways that supported the otolaryngology community in delivering quality patient care. “I have never seen such success in erasing the traditional lines between research, education, and advocacy as we have accomplished in the past year,” noted Ronald B. Kuppersmith, MD, MBA, 2009-2010 President, in the 2010 Annual Report. “High-level integration is now essential. We carefully consider the health policy implications of our education and research activity. We utilize basic and translational research to help find answers to socioeconomic questions. We harness advocacy to provide regulatory, legislative, and financial support for our research and education programs.” A NEW LOOK FOR A NEW DAY The AAO-HNS/F Boards of Directors reviewed the organization’s purpose in 2008 and adopted a new vision statement that aimed to reintroduce the Academy’s purpose to members as well as to better address the public’s understanding of quality ear, nose, throat, head, and neck patient care. The new vision statement that

Empowering otolaryngologist head and neck surgeons to deliver the best patient care.

debuted in 2008 was, “Empowering otolaryngologist head and neck surgeons to deliver the best patient care.” The year of change continued for the AAO-HNS/F when on August 25, 2008, the headquarters location moved from One Prince Street to 1650 Diagonal Road, both in Alexandria, Virginia. David R. Nielsen, MD, Executive Vice President and CEO noted in the September 2008 Bulletin , “Though the distance between the two is just a mile, the change is a significant step forward. Above all, our new layout will give us the space we need to expand our services to our members and stay current as a leading organization for otolaryngology.” James C. Denneny III, MD, 2007-2008 President, noted the significance in the December 2007 Bulletin , “The Academy headquarters at One Prince Street has been a great asset since purchased 18 years ago. As the needs of our members have increased, the staff necessary to provide services and the workspace required to accomplish the tasks has also shifted.”

Coupled with the new vision and new headquarters location, the AAO-HNS/F also revealed a new logo design at the AAO HNSF 2008 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Chicago,

Illinois. The newly redesigned logo captured the spirit of the future of the profession and its relationship with the

Academy. It featured a kinetic swirl of lines strategically placed inside a head profile. On the literal side, the logo represented the profession’s focus of otolaryngology. On the conceptual side, the kinetic quality of the lines was symbolic of the Academy in action on behalf of its members. SPECIALTY UNITY As specialization within otolaryngology became more commonplace and specialty societies flourished, the need for unity within otolaryngology, a small specialty in and of itself, was clearly needed. The first formal attempt to do that emanated from a specialty

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