Special 125th Anniversary Issue – Bulletin

The Future: Simulation, Gaming, and the Ultra-Personalized Digital Learning Experience In September 2019 the AAO-HNSF Future of Education Task Force assessment report was released by Richard V. Smith, MD, Past Coordinator for Education and Chair of the task force. The report included extensive research, multiple user interviews, the study of the evolution of education theory, and a review of technological advances. According to Dr. Smith, “the Academy continually assesses its education methods and platforms to make sure we are at the forefront of contemporary professional education. We do this to ensure we are providing the most interactive, vetted, and directed otolaryngologic education, which will maximize the benefit to and engagement of our members.” The conclusions of the Future of Education Task Force report have been pivotal in providing our education team with a roadmap for our professional education agenda for the next five to 10 years. In the September 2019 Bulletin I shared in detail the ways we are working to propel this agenda forward.

relevant to the contemporary practice of otolaryngology. These games can have several benefits, including increasing learner satisfaction and keeping learners engaged and motivated. They can also be disseminated to a wide audience and allow for self-paced learning, repetition, and continual assessment. Virtual reality and simulation can also be incorporated into games for medical education. As medicine and the healthcare environment continue to evolve at a rapid pace, it will be critically important that the education offerings for trainees and practicing otolaryngologists continue to change to meet the education needs of the specialty. We know that learners today are looking for an ultra-personalized learning experience that’s available on-demand and just in time. The Academy will continue to leverage the power of digital technologies to optimize the learner experience. It is clear to me that AAO-HNSF is devoted to serving the needs of its members and is committed to providing the best in high-quality otolaryngology education well into the future.

It is clear that an important and expanding component of medical education involves simulation. There have been several events supported by the Simulation Education Committee at the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience, led by Chair Kelly Michele Malloy, MD. These events include the annual SIM Tank competition and Simulation Reception, showcasing innovative and novel otolaryngology simulators and simulations projects; and the Worst-Case Scenarios workshop with six simulated otolaryngology emergencies. We are currently looking at ways to incorporate practical and timely simulation education into the sections of the FLEX curriculum. As we move into the future, the Academy’s education team is exploring digital learning solutions that augment medical and surgical training through immersive, interactive simulations and gamification. Serious games have been increasingly used for medical education. They provide a new and enhanced learning modality that can be challenging, interesting, fun, easy to access, and

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SPECIAL EDITION: 125TH ANNIVERSARY AAO-HNS BULLETIN ENTNET.ORG/BULLETIN