Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

plastic and reconstructive surgery and trauma surgery, having had the honor of training with, and mentorship by, the late Dr. Claus Walter of Switzerland. Dr. Holt has now retired as professor emeritus. During his time of military service and teaching, Dr. Holt began to turn his attention toward physicians’ expressions of empathy for their patients, the importance of the patient physician relationship, and clinical bioethics, which he felt were lacking rigor in residency education, and a discrepancy between what he called “the art of medicine versus the practice of science.” He felt he needed to do something to facilitate change, so he joined the newly developed Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics at UTHSCSA under the directorship and mentorship of the master clinician and humanist, Dr. Abraham Verghese. He received master and doctoral degrees in bioethics and public policy from Loyola University. He also shared his work in bioethics with the AAO-HNS/F as Chair of the Ethics Committee and in his leadership on the Trauma Committee. He was particularly concerned about emerging ethical issues as “Managed Care” became more prevalent, and incentives were in place to limit patient care. He addressed this in the Bulletin , writing, “Advocacy for the patient must be foremost, in keeping with our oath as physicians and practitioners of the honorable art and science of medicine. To do less is to trivialize the profession.” Dr. Holt became AAO-HNS/F President-elect in 1991, but his term in office was interrupted by a four-month assignment to the Persian Gulf as a combat surgeon and senior flight surgeon during the Gulf War, an experience that prompted him to write a novel called The Rising Storm . He returned from the Gulf in time to complete his term as President. Wanting to spend more time with his family after his military service ended, Dr. Holt left clinical and academic medicine, entered private practice, and engaged more deeply with the specialty and the Academy. He became Editor in Chief of the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery journal in 1997 and moved the editorial offices from St. Louis, Missouri, to San Antonio, Texas. Under his leadership, the journal transitioned from paper records to make its online debut by providing access to published articles on the internet, first using Editorial Manager. He also held multiple other AAO-HNS/F leadership roles. In 1999, Dr. Holt was named visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University and was selected to be the next AAO-HNS/F EVP, replacing Michael D. Maves, MD,

MBA, beginning February 2000. Writing in the January 2000 Bulletin of the importance of preserving the legacy of the specialty and specifically the dedication and expertise of those who came before him he said, “My job is to make things happen—the right things—and with the assistance of so many bright and dedicated individuals, I know I can do it.” As he began his term, the organization’s top concerns centered around the proper use of technology, subspecialization, and scope of practice. In connection with a five-year strategic planning session, several key initiatives were identified that became guiding forces for Dr. Holt’s tenure as EVP. First, the specialty sought to become more diverse and increase the proportion of women in the specialty, particularly in leadership roles. Second, otolaryngologists looked to expand ENT services, such as the treatment of sleep disorders. Third, socioeconomic trends indicated a shift in focus toward ambulatory settings. Fourth, more attention to the generalist ENT practitioner was expected. ENet News, the first weekly email digest, was also introduced. A US/UK Third Joint Meeting was scheduled for July 2001. The Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership subgroup (SAHP) sought grants on efficacy of practice in rhinosinusitis patients. And the Section for Residents and Fellows became a standing entity within the AAO-HNS. Under his leadership, the National Center for the Promotion of Research in Otolaryngology was developed, along with the Daiichi Clinical Scholars Program. The 2001 AAO-HNS/F Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, was interrupted by the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. Dr. Holt, along with President Jack L. Gluckman, MD, and President-Elect K.J. Lee, MD, made the difficult decision to continue the meeting, although some attendees were called back to their respective practices around the country. With no domestic flights in operation yet, Dr. Holt arranged to have the AAO-HNS/F staff and leadership transported back to Virginia in buses. Soon after the meeting in 2001, Dr. Holt resigned his position as EVP to pursue additional training in theological ethics and medical ethics, completing his service in June 2002. Following Dr. Holt’s tenure as EVP, the Holt Leadership Award was established to be given annually to a resident or fellow-in-training who best exemplifies the attributes of a young leader: honesty, integrity, fairness, advocacy, and enthusiasm.

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