Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

Chapter 1: 1997 – 2001

All of us can encourage growth in our subspecialty, exhibit the best in focused research, and take pride in our own area of expertise. However, without a healthy and vibrant primary specialty, all of our special interest areas will fail. If our Academy membership comes together, in thought and action, our collective voice will guarantee that otolaryngology has a voice in the future of health policy. We will then ensure that all our interests continue to thrive.”

- Antonio De la Cruz, MD, 1997-1998 President, December 1997 Bulletin

only did the public need more information about the diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and head and neck, but the Academy needed to fill the existing gap in knowledge about what an otolaryngologist is. In 2001, the Academy launched a major initiative to educate the public about the specialty with the first-time publication of ENT Extra , a health supplement to the March 6, 2001, edition of USA Today . It reinforced the message that otolaryngologists are the best choice for physician care for disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and head and neck. GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AND HEALTH POLICY Ira Papel, MD, Coordinator for Government Relations, 1996-2003 Lee Eisenberg, MD, Coordinator for Practice Affairs, 1993-1997 Gary Turner, MD, Coordinator for Practice Affairs, 1997-2003 Willard Moran, MD, Coordinator for Socioeconomic Affairs, 1996-2002 The world was becoming a smaller place with quicker and easier ways to communicate. This benefitted the Academy’s robust advocacy and health policy program in its ongoing efforts to increase the voice of the specialty with legislators and regulatory bodies at the federal and state levels. Tools to help the Academy keep members informed included the vast utilization of the Board of Governors (BOG)-developed ENT Outreach . This resource was used to educate, mobilize, and encourage members to take back control of their practices, get involved in negotiations, and influence policy for the benefit

of patients and the protection of the specialty. It was a vehicle for improving relationships between otolaryngologists and their patients. Presidents and president-elects of otolaryngology-related societies made February 24, 1997, a day to focus on common concerns and resources.

When ENT Outreach celebrated its fifth anniversary in 1999, Dr. Pillsbury said in the January 1999 Bulletin , “It is a dynamic mechanism that evolves to meet the challenge of informing all our audiences that patient care is the number one priority of otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons. The framework of

this program – supported by the Board of Governors and Academy staff, offers each member an important weapon in breaking through the information clutter so prevalent today. One of the greatest strengths of ENT Outreach is that its fundamental elements can be tailored to the specific problems impacting the specialty

in your community.” Scope of Practice

Scope of practice issues affecting otolaryngologists continued to be of concern at a national level as

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