Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

quality, access, and affordability of patient-centered care for all.” After several successful SUS meetings that involved the current leadership of each specialty society, the Specialty Society Advisory Council that was established in 2008 was sunset in 2017 in favor of the SUS. This immediately improved the intraspecialty communications and collaboration on a number of issues. That collaboration extended far beyond the yearly meetings and resulted in regular conferences on critical issues affecting the breadth of the specialty. In 2017 the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) released recommendations related to the 80-hour work week for resident trainees.

The Academy with other specialty societies made recommendations to the ACGME and were quite pleased with their proposals to increase flexibility in surgical residency training programs while maintaining safeguards for patient safety and resident well-being. Noting the success, Dr. Denneny shared in the March 2017 Bulletin , “This is a great example of how collaborative efforts within the specialty and the house of medicine can result in a favorable outcome for all.” After attending the SUS during the AAO-HNS/F 2019 Leadership Forum & BOG Spring Meeting, in Alexandria, Virginia, Al Merati, MD, 2018-2019 President, wrote in the June 2019 Bulletin , “While the

of the Academy as well as from all specialty societies partaking in the Annual Meeting events. Dr. Bradford noted the ongoing value of the SUS in responding to the ever-changing needs in a post COVID-19 pandemic in the July 2021 Bulletin following the June 5, 2021, SUS meeting, “From my perspective, specialty unity has never been stronger or more important. As we emerge from the pandemic, we recognize that our world has changed in ways we never imagined. We must innovate and work together to prepare for and build our specialty’s future in the post-pandemic world. We need to better understand how the AAO-HNS/F and otolaryngology subspecialty meetings of the future will continue to meet the needs of all our present and future national and global meeting participants.” DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Achieving greater diversity, equity, and inclusion within the specialty and in the leadership, programs, and services provided by the AAO-HNS/F continued to be a central focus. Each President identified this priority and emphasized in their own individual ways. Dr. Randolph focused on creating a more collaborative, connected international community based on the exchange of information and mutual respect. The traditional passing of the gavel between outgoing President Al Merati, MD, and incoming President Duane J. Taylor, MD, at the AAO-HNSF 2019 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience in New Orleans, Louisiana.

2018: John H. Krouse, MD,

PhD, MBA, was reappointed to a four-year term as Editor in Chief of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and OTO Open in 2018 through end of 2022.

conversation ranged broadly from training to workforce and how we might all collaborate on meetings, there was one decisive refrain that was heard around the table: ‘ I am an otolaryngologist. ’ No matter what subspecialty we represent or focus on, each of us is an otolaryngologist first. We are all tied together.” The success of the SUS had been so instrumental in identifying and responding to the needs of the healthcare community during the COVID-19 pandemic (see special section on COVID-19) that by 2021 the SUS was meeting twice a year. A Presidents’ Reception at the AAO-HNSF 2021 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience was planned to be a combined reception, recognizing the president and past presidents

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