Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

Chapter 4: 2012 – 2016

Specialty Unity Put into Action One of the most significant actions Dr. Denneny took as he entered this leadership role was getting all the subspecialty societies, The Triological Society, and the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto) together in a productive forum. “It is important that a small specialty such as otolaryngology work together whenever possible to maximize our effectiveness in education, research, advocacy, and member services,” he said in an interview in the February 2015 Bulletin . This effort resulted in creation of the Specialty Unity Summit (SUS), which held its first meeting during the AAO-HNS/F 2015 Leadership Forum & BOG Spring Meeting. In order to solidify his intent for the Academy to be the convener for otolaryngology, Dr. Denneny applied for membership to The Triological Society and submitted a thesis that was accepted and won the Maureen Hannley Award. In addition to further entrench the Academy’s commitment to collaboration, he continued as an examiner for the ABOto and then the ABOHNS. He was also chosen as a Regent of the American College of Surgeons, which has also been helpful for collaboration within the house of surgery. This investment in unity would be essential in the years to come as the house of otolaryngology addressed the annual onslaught of legislative and regulatory actions impacting practice and patient care. Collaboration within the specialty was a core element of every program and service provided by the Academy—from advocacy, health policy, and research and quality to education, the Annual Meeting, and patient information. This was no truer then when in 2020 the specialty needed to come together to provide the resources and tools for the global otolaryngology community in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Dr. Denneny’s lead, the Academy did not miss a beat in responding to the pandemic because the foundation of specialty unity already existed with a tried and true, productive, and effective model of cross collaboration. By 2021, the SUS was meeting twice a year via the virtual technology that became a rampant use of communication during the pandemic. (Read more about these actions in Chapter 5) We Are One: Seeking Unity and Inclusion The effectiveness and value of specialty unity and a global otolaryngology community—during a time when diversity, equity, health inequality, and racial disparities were at the forefront of discussions in

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society and within the house of medicine—inspired Dr. Denneny to lead the AAO-HNS/F through a new logo and branding campaign in 2018, We Are One: Otolaryngology United for ENT Patient Care . “One of the things I’m most proud of is our rebranding to We Are One, demonstrating we are multiple specialties, patient groups, and provider groups as well as diverse practitioners treating diverse patients.” (Read more about the rebranding to We Are One in Chapter 5 ) Another area of pride for Dr. Denneny—that was interconnected to the We Are One campaign—was the Academy’s focus on creating an inclusive community for otolaryngology practice and patient care by making a concerted effort to enhance diversity and inclusion in all programs and services. One of the most important areas that Dr. Denneny identified for that to happen was at the leadership level on the Boards of Directors. “And if you look at the elections since I’ve been here, the candidates have been much more representative in general, including multiple demographics allowing broad diversification of our leadership. There is always room to grow but the Academy is embracing our Core Principles via action and outcomes.” Additionally, under his leadership, the Academy actively sought and received grant funding in 2020 to to the situation…and acting on these causes in collaboration with other medical societies and other stakeholders, particularly the physician burnout issue was starting to rear its head.” pressure in the number of ways that made practicing not as fun and not as rewarding. This worsening trend necessitated additional focus to address the root issues contributing

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