Dedicated to assisting the career development of women otolaryngologists
With over 2,000 members, the Section provides opportunities for leadership, education, networking and mentoring. WIO celebrated the 10th anniversary of its founding in 2020. Learn more about WIO’s origins in the historic documentary “Four Days in Boston” by watching the video below.
Governing Council Applications Now Open!
WIO invites those who are interested in serving on the Governing Council to submit an application no later than Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Descriptions of the open positions and terms of service are included on the application.
To be included on the Governing Council ballot, you must register for the AAO-HNS/F 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO Expo in Indianapolis, IN, and attend the WIO General Assembly on Saturday, October 11. Learn more about the Annual Meeting here.
We appreciate your support, and interest in serving the members of WIO!
WIO Webinar: Surgical Coaching
Surgical coaching is gaining momentum and has been shown to have tremendous benefits to not only patient outcomes but also surgeon burnout and efficiency. During this session, a panel of trained surgical coaches (who are women otolaryngologists) discuss what exactly surgical coaching is and how it can benefit both seasoned otolaryngologists and trainees.
WIO Webinar – The Buck Stops with You: Taking Control of Your Financial Future
This webinar dives into the unique financial challenges women face, from the wealth gap and longer lifespans to the impact of career breaks and caregiving responsibilities. Women need to build financial confidence, take charge of long-term planning, and secure their financial health.
Latest WIO Updates
WIO Endowment Grants
The Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Endowment was established in 2010 to provide a perpetual stream of funding, via grants, for projects that support actionable research and/or projects that are designed to benefit the professional development of women in otolaryngology. A grant budget of approximately $20,000 is established for each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Individual grant awards average $1,000-$5,000.
Featured Videos
Hear inspiring stories from women in the ENT specialty dating back to the early 1970s. These pioneers had a vision 10 years ago to create the WIO Section and Endowment which has fostered positive change and growth throughout the specialty.
The AAO-HNS is proud to release a new collection of artifacts and a historic video timeline showcasing the significant impact women have made in the specialty. Thank you to the many women who shared their stories, contributed pictures and memorabilia, and dedicated their lives to the advancement of the specialty, their colleagues, and their patients.
This exhibit showcases the impact women have made, beginning as far back as the late 1800s and continuing through today. Their stories, photographs, and artifacts are a living testament to the significant contributions women have made and continue to make to the specialty.
Optimizing Physical Health and Navigating the Fertility World as a Young Physician in a Demanding Job
This webinar includes pregnancy timing challenges, and the impact of occupational hazards, stress, and anxiety. Questions of how long to wait before considering fertility treatment, the most commonly faced infertility issues in women surgeons, the similarities and differences between medical therapies and more “invasive” therapies, and how these treatments fit into the lifestyle of a busy surgeon are discussed.
Contract Review and Negotiation for Women Physicians
Co-hosted by WIO, YPS, and Resolve, a national firm specializing in physician employment contracts, webinar topics include contract terms which may specifically impact women physicians (pregnancy accommodations, maternity leave, part-time employment, the impact on RVU’s, ergonomic equipment).
