Orientation to the SRF

Who makes up the Section?

You do! When the rules for this new “Section” were passed in 2000, the AAO-HNS leadership felt that it was important that all ENT residents and fellows who are “active members of the Academy” automatically be members of this section. That means that you can run for office, vote in the election of officers, propose resolutions that the Section will vote on and act upon, and have a voice in determining the course of your profession while you are still in training!

Who is the leadership of the Section?

The Governing Council: Made up of 5 individuals, 4 elected at the fall Academy meeting plus the Immediate Past Chair. All must attend the Governing Council meeting and the General Assembly meeting (both during the Academy meeting in the fall), and the Governing Council meeting at the Surgical Advocacy Conference.

Chair: One-year term, basically runs the organization. Presides over all meetings of the Section (Annual September meeting and Surgical Advocacy Conference), attends all Board of Directors meetings of the Academy and coordinates conference calls throughout the year.

Vice-Chair: One-year term, assists the Chair in running of the Section and takes over any duties that the Chair is not able to perform.

Information Officer: One-year term, (known in most other organizations as the Secretary), facilitates communication within the Section by maintaining an active list of all members and maintaining the electronic communication tools (Website, listserv, electronic newsletter, committee representatives, etc.).

Member-at-Large: One-year term, coordinates the annual Residents Miniseminar.

Immediate Past Chair: One-year term following the Chair year. Lets us all benefit from their wisdom gained as Chair and generally helps anywhere he or she can.

Who represents the Section to other organizations?

Four representatives and four delegates appointed by the Governing Council:

Representatives (must also attend the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting and the Surgical Advocacy Conference):

Governor: (One year term) Represents and is a voting member of the Academy's Board of Governors Grassroots Network. Must attend BOG meetings during the Academy's annual meeting in September and Surgical Advocacy Conference, and serve as a liaison between the BOG and the Section.

Legislative Representative: (One year term) Must attend BOG meetings during the Surgical Advocacy Conference and the BOG meetings during the Academy's annual meeting in September and will update the Governing Council on legislative actions being performed by the BOG via written reports.

Public Relations Representative: (One year term) Must attend BOG meetings during the Surgical Advocacy Conference and BOG meetings during the Academy's annual meeting in September, and will update the Governing Council regarding public relations actions and initiatives being performed by the BOG via written reports.

ABOto Representative: This newly created position will be responsible for coordinating activities and communicating with the American Board of Otolaryngology on resident issues. This key position must attend both Section meetings in September and March.

Delegates (must attend the meetings of the Governing Council during the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting):

AMA Delegate: (One year term) Attends both the AMA-resident and Fellow Section annual meeting and the interim meeting and serves as a liaison between our Section and the AMA-RFS.

Society of University Otolaryngologists Delegate: (One year term) Attends the annual meeting of the Society of University Otolaryngologists and serves as a liaison between our Section and SUO.

ENTPAC Delegate: (Two year term) Attends events held by ENTPAC by invitation, is a liaison between our Section and ENTPAC, and promotes increased involvement among our members in ENTPAC.

RAS-ACS Delegate: (Two year term) Serves as contact person for all relevant information exchanged between the RAS-ACS and the SRF. Attends the American College of Surgeons fall clinical congress, spring meeting, and phone conferences. Updates the SRF regarding actions taken by the American College of Surgeons.

What are the costs/benefits of my involvement?

Costs: As you can see, each office requires attendance at meetings, which leads to responsibilities and a good amount of work between meetings, and the permission for time away from clinical duties to attend these meetings.
Benefits: Many of the offices are eligible for travel awards for some meetings. But the greatest benefit is working with the Academy leaders and your colleagues in all kinds of positions to achieve real change in how we practice our profession!

What does the leadership do besides have meetings?

Produce Change! How? Through having a vote on the Academy's Board of Governors and through direct contact with the Academy's Board of Directors via resolutions drafted by our members stating our position as a group on issues concerning us. We effect change through education at the annual Forum at the Academy meeting, reaching out to different specialties and groups like the AMA, SUO, ENTPAC, and by getting involved and organized early in our careers so that our generation of otolaryngologists can effectively support and improve the future of our specialty.