Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

Chapter 5: 2017 – 2021

The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery strives to serve as a positive example of inclusive excellence, where all our members have the opportunity to thrive. We strive for a workforce that has parallel diversity to the communities we serve. We aspire to overcome healthcare disparities such that we can provide high-quality, equitable care to all. These are our aspirational goals.”

- Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS, 2020-2021 President, February 2021 Bulletin

Dr. Setzen worked with the Annual Meeting Program Committee to define parameters on program and speaker selections that would guarantee diversity in representation and ensuring expanded opportunity for participation. Dr. Merati identified ways to diversify the faces who represent otolaryngology by growing interest in the specialty at the high school and medical student level and enhancing both the committee application and awards nominations processes. Dr. Taylor, who dedicated decades to this effort at every turn of his career, imparted his expertise as social unrest exploded in the United States and the Academy responded to a global pandemic. Dr. Bradford led the 2021 Strategic Planning process ensuring the inclusion of diverse Under Dr. Taylor’s leadership, the AAO-HNS issued the following June 3, 2020, statement in response to the growing protests and social unrest occurring in the United States: “The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) realizes that our country is currently in the midst of a crisis and potentially at a crossroads. The recent current events have placed a spotlight on the racial injustice in our country and made us all question why we as a nation have tolerated the disregard for a human life solely based on our differences. Our Academy is speaking out to denounce the individuals, elements, and institutions in our society that perpetuate the racism, social injustice, and disparities that exist. We empathize and support our members who have been and continue to be subjected to this unfortunate divide. We stand together to do our part as leaders in our local, state, and national

perspective and the end result of added inclusive language in the Core Purpose and Core Guiding Principles. She also identified Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as one of her four areas of focus as President and as a key area for the 125 Strong Campaign providing for more funding to programs and services that support this goal. Diversity at the highest leadership level occurred in 2018, when the membership voted for the Academy’s first African American President-elect. Duane J. Taylor, MD, assumed the role of President in October 2019 and served through the end of his term in September 2020. Following Dr. Taylor as President was Dr. Bradford, the fourth woman in AAO-HNS/F history serving in this capacity. The diversity at the presidential level during this timeframe also was indicative of the diversity happening on the Board, committees, Board of communities to highlight the need for change, initiate the dialogue, and work toward peaceful change. Even as the COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated the disproportionate impact on our minority communities with limited access and greater mortalities, we are also faced with the more obvious blight on our society—of hatred, discrimination, and bigotry. We as leaders in our community have the potential to demand change. We will continue to support our programs to promote diversity and inclusion, educate our members regarding cultural sensitivity and implicit bias, and seek ways on how we can be a part of the solution to change these destructive narratives threatening to undermine our country. The AAO-HNS remains committed to providing the best care for all patients regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or social status and advocating for equal access and treatment for all people. We are one.”

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