Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

Board of Directors, then a non-voting member, and was eventually elected to be an at-large director, which “set the stage for many great things to come.” Issues of diversity and inclusion, health and wellness, and international outreach were important areas Dr. Taylor sought to enhance and grow after being elected president. He also listed three personal goals at the outset of his presidency, including: 1. Being an active listener and having an ongoing awareness of the concerns of the members; 2. Paying attention to the impact relevant issues are having on patients and the practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery; and 3. Having the intention to make a difference through leadership. Another important focus for Dr. Taylor was on patient health, education, and involvement, and he was a strong advocate for the creation of ENThealth. org, the AAO-HNS/F’s patient information website for otolaryngology conditions, treatments, and wellness tips. “I always felt that when I see patients in my office that they are part of a team approach to making sure they get better. And the more information they have— the right information—will make it easier for us to accomplish their goal(s) together.” The unexpected yet defining moment of his time in office was leading the AAO-HNS/F through the unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, healthcare leaders, members, other doctors, news outlets, patients, and concerned citizens all looked to the specialty for information on the novel coronavirus, a potentially lethal respiratory disease. “Unknowingly, our experiences and training in our specialty have equipped us to manage the urgent, emergent, and time-sensitive decisions we are faced with daily, and we will emerge from the turmoil of this previously unchartered territory that surrounds us,” Dr. Taylor wrote in his May 2020 Bulletin column. “We will come through this with a greater sense of appreciation for those who we love, work with, depend on, and who depend on us.” Due to the spread of the virus and the need for social distancing, Dr. Taylor also presided over the AAO HNS/F’s first Virtual Annual Meeting in September 2020, held entirely online over the course of six weeks instead of the normal four-day, in-person meeting. During remarks at the Opening Ceremony he said, “More than any other time in our history, I believe

that this year has demonstrated the importance and value of membership in the Academy and how much it contributes to our specialty. “We faced conditions that overwhelmed our practices and society like we’ve never seen before. I’m proud to say that our Academy rose to the occasion to provide rapid responses and assistance to our members. Guiding this vessel through the storm of the pandemic and the social unrest arising from social injustice has been challenging. “Certainly, these events were unanticipated, but leaders seldom get to choose the circumstances they encounter and must be ready for what occurs. I have been proud to lead our dedicated staff, our Executive Committee and Board of Directors who responded with poise and professionalism. Our committee chairs, section chairs, and our members all stepped up to the task without question when called upon and are appreciated.” Dr. Taylor oversaw a number of activities during the COVID-19 pandemic that helped make a difference for patients and members including the creation and implementation of the Anosmia Reporting Tool, dissemination of pandemic related recommendations and education materials at no charge to worldwide audiences in the creation of “back to practice” guidelines. On ENThealth, information was provided to patients and caregivers regarding the progression of the disease, what precautions to take, proper testing techniques to help patients learn what to expect when receiving a COVID-19 test, information on wearing and communicating with face masks particularly for those with underlying hearing loss, and more. Dr. Taylor himself recorded a video giving an overview of how ENT practices adapted to provide treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the health crisis, Dr. Taylor addressed wide-ranging issues of social injustice and unrest in 2020. “We acknowledge the effects that lack of access, inadequate diversity, implicit bias, and social determinants of health play in the disparity of healthcare, and we are committed to assist our members and their patients to identify and remedy current inadequacies.” He closed his remarks at the 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting noting, “It’s been said that crisis creates opportunity for creativity and innovation and generates the emergence of leadership. When you manage a crisis, defeat is not an option.”

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