Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

The AAO-HNSF Global Grand Rounds series was an initiative of the IAB to improve care of patients and physician education around the globe. It was a virtual event, held quarterly, open to all otolaryngologists around the world. Moderated by IAB leaders, each session included world thought leaders and expert panel presentations followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. Other traditional face-to-face Annual Meeting events sponsored by Global Affairs included the Humanitarian Efforts Forum, the International Young Physicians Forum, and the International Women’s Caucus. “AAO-HNSF is ideally placed to promote the excellence of professional standards, to contribute decisively toward the consolidation and expansion of global relations, to reinforce collaboration with regional organizations, and to secure a strong and unified voice among medical specialists,” said Dr. Hoermann, 2020 IAB Chair. As the Global Affairs Program continued to expand its reach, it was important to upgrade the staffing for that unit and for the first time a director-level staff coordinated all global activities and became integral to the growing relationships with the international community as the number of ICSs that affiliated with the Academy on a peer-to-peer level grew to 75. In 2019, prior to the impact on travel restrictions and mandates related to COVID-19, there were a record breaking 15 AAO-HNSF Joint Meetings held in

collaboration with the ICS affiliated network. The growing connection among the ICS was instrumental especially during the COVID-19 pandemic as dissemination of information, resources, and tools needed to happen quickly and efficiently. At the writing of this, the AAO-HNSF was in the midst of planning for hosting the 37th Pan American Congress of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, to be held June 25-27, 2022, in Orlando, Florida in June 2022. The AAO-HNSF submitted a bid for hosting this event and in 2018 was awarded the contract. International Awards, Grants, and Scholarships The AAO-HNSF continued to offer a variety of grants and scholarships to aid and encourage those who furthered the mission of otolaryngology and humanitarian efforts on an international scale. These included the Nikhil J. Bhatt, MD International Awards, Distinguished Award for Humanitarian Service, The Harry Barnes Endowment Travel Grant (in collaboration with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee), and Humanitarian Travel Grants. In addition, every year the AAO-HNSF offered a limited number of scholarships to junior academics from low-resource countries in order to attend the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience and participate in an academic observership at a U.S. otolaryngology department or institution (arranged independently by the candidate). In 2021 to accommodate travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AAO-HNSF implemented a virtual IVS to ensure the experience could still occur. The Bulletin continued to highlight the Humanitarian Efforts Grants and the work of the residents who received those grants. Wanting to find a way to also recognize the dedicated efforts of members contributing their time and expertise to otolaryngologic patients’ needs around the globe, no matter what stage of profession, the Bulletin debuted a new series, “Spotlight on Humanitarian Efforts” in November 2020. Resources and Tools During this timeframe, the International Affairs Program developed a number of resources and tools. In 2019, a new format for the International Newsletter was implemented that focused on providing more

GREW dues-paying membership to 10,447 Fourth Consecutive Year of Growth: 2017 2018 2019 2020 9,949 10,011 10,373 10,447

AAO-HNS experienced consecutive growth in dues paying membership from 2017-2021.

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