Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

spawned many lasting friendships. During that trip their extremely generous Chinese hosts arranged for them to lecture at historical medical facilities and see the historical sites in the area. ENT Connect—the AAO-HNS global discussion board where members can raise issues and concerns across the entire spectrum of healthcare delivery—was another priority for Dr. Randolph as President. And he encouraged members to seek out and join specialty communities, such as the Board of Governors, Women in Otolaryngology, Diversity Committee, Young Physicians, and more. He championed international networking, the International Task Force, and the International Advisory Board, as well as improved access to member education resources. Dr. Randolph was quick to acknowledge the sacrifices and commitments made by his immediate family, which allowed him to devote time to his patients, the specialty, and a career in healthcare. “You have to be organized,” he said. “It’s a matter of doing one thing after another and you can keep it organized if you have other organized people around you.” Reflecting on other challenges of the office, Dr. Randolph spoke of the need for wellness campaigns to help care for members, acknowledging that “we’re not supermen and superwomen…it’s okay to take care of ourselves and recharge your batteries to optimize your performance and maintain your other commitments to family and yourself.” At the close of his time as President, Dr. Randolph encouraged members to “know yourself, be yourself. While striving for change is tremendously important,” he wrote, “it is also important to recognize your own core resources. To identify what you love and to be able to ruthlessly follow, that is a recipe for success.” Dr. Randolph came to realize that the honor of being a leader is that you can let your humanness, your personality, infiltrate some of the decisions expected of and afforded by a president, while blending and taking advantage of the data available to you. “Leadership is being able to bring your personality and morality into the decision-making that you are presented with. And that is an unbelievable honor.”

International outreach, worldwide partnerships, and the exchange of information and education are important aims of the AAO-HNS/F, and Dr. Randolph was the AAO-HNSF International Coordinator from 2009-2013. “Some time into my international work I had an epiphany—my own personal recognition that the interplay between the AAO-HNS/F and the world is very much a two-way street,” he wrote in the 125th Anniversary Special Edition of the Bulletin . “I understood that I have in fact learned more from our global partners than I personally have taught. For this I am deeply grateful.” Dr. Randolph recognized that advancing global surgery and international affairs would become a vital mission for the specialty. “Now we have, I think, 75 different international societies, corresponding newsletters, eight to 12 joint international meetings. International relationships have burgeoned the last few years.” He described the continued growth of International Corresponding Societies (ICS) and joint meeting sponsorship as evidence of the growing success of our global program. “It’s a big world and you don’t really know what’s [happening] on this planet unless you’re aware of that [global activity], and the Academy is a wonderful venue for learning and teaching from otolaryngologists in other parts of the world.” One of the highlights of his presidential year was a trip to China with Dr. Denneny where they met with the leadership of the Chinese otolaryngology community that culminated in the large Chinese delegation attending our annual meeting as a Guest Country of Honor and activity], and the Academy is a wonderful venue for learning and teaching from otolaryngologists in other parts of the world.” It’s a big world and you don’t really know what’s [happening] on this planet unless you’re aware of that [global

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