Staff Spotlight: Lauren Macisso, MEd, Manager of Professional Education & Digital Learning
January 6, 2026Lauren Macisso, MEd, Manager, Professional Education & Digital LearningThis month, we spoke with Lauren Macisso, Manager of Professional Education & Digital Learning. She collaborates with volunteers, staff, and external partners to coordinate the development of key Academy educational products as well as the simulation education events at…
Hear This: Voices of Otolaryngology
January 2, 2026When the Academy launched Voices of Otolaryngology with host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, in December 2024, the mission was clear: provide a forum for the global otolaryngology community to hear the diverse voices that comprise the…
One Year in: Going Farther Together
January 2, 2026Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBAAAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEOFor those of you who attended the AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Indianapolis, you'll remember when I asked: "Are you fired up?" The resounding response—"Ready to go!"—still energizes…
The Case for Connection and Community
January 2, 2026Gene G. Brown, MD, RPhAAO-HNS/F PresidentAs your President, I have several roles. I have administrative responsibilities, helping oversee and coordinate AAO-HNS/F functions and activities alongside EVP/CEO Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA. There are leadership roles that involve working with the…
The Presenter’s Playbook for Annual Meeting Submission Success
January 2, 2026David M. Cognetti, MD, Annual Meeting Program Committee memberDavid M. Cognetti, MDAs someone who has attended and presented at the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO for more than 20 years, I have witnessed tremendous evolution in our field. Through it all, one truth has…
Stories from the Road: SPARK Gorongosa, Mozambique
January 2, 2026Peter Santa Maria, MD, PhD, on behalf of the Humanitarian Efforts CommitteePeter Santa Maria, MD, PhDThe Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh, led by Peter Santa Maria, MD, PhD, and Mohit Singhala, PhD, established the SPARK Gorongosa program in 2024 to address urgent…
10 Tips for a Successful Scientific Abstract Submission for #OTOMTG26
January 2, 2026Michele Carr, DDS, MD, PhD, FRCSC, Annual Meeting Program Committee memberMichele Carr, DDS, MD, PhD, FRCSCPresenting your scientific work at the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO is an honor and a privilege, and if you’re hoping for a podium pic on your Instagram…
A New Year of Advocacy: 2026 Academy Resolutions
January 2, 2026Anna Hall, AAO-HNS Manager, Health Policy & Regulatory AffairsAs we enter a new year, the Academy’s Advocacy and Health Policy team invites AAO-HNS members to renew their commitment to meaningful advocacy and collaboration. Informed physicians make the best advocates, and we’re relying…
Plain Language, Better Care: Improving Patient-Centered Guideline Materials
January 2, 2026Selena Briggs, MD, PhD, MBA; Kaitlyn Tholen, BS; Zarah Akrami, MPHHealthcare can be difficult to navigate for many patients, especially given the volume and complexity of medical information. It is increasingly critical that evidence is presented in a clear, succinct, and accessible way. Patient education…
20 Years of Transoral Robotic Surgery
January 2, 2026Gregory S. Weinstein, MD, on behalf of the History and Archives CommitteeWhen I look back on the past two decades of Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS), I am struck less by the technology itself than by the people who believed in it, challenged it, and ultimately…
OTO Journal Studies: Link Between Type 2 Diabetes and Hearing Loss
January 2, 2026From the AAO-HNSFThe November and December 2025 issues of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery featured two independent systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hearing loss—a connection that has important implications for the millions of…
The 12 Days of Pediatric Otolaryngology | Holiday Pearls for Practice: Part 2
December 15, 2025Lyndy J. Wilcox, MD, MMHC, on behalf of the Pediatric Otolaryngology CommitteeThis article, begun earlier this month, offers a lighthearted yet evidence-based look at some common pediatric otolaryngology issues that may appear in your clinic or emergency room this season. From a peanut in…
The 2026 Call for Science Is Now Open!
December 15, 2025The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) invites you to submit an education proposal and/or scientific abstract for presentation at the AAO-HNSF 2026 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO. Each fall, the Annual Meeting presents otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons…
Stories from the Road: Microtia Reconstruction in Cambodia
December 15, 2025Sheng Zhou, MD, Amit D. Bhrany, MD, Sam P. Most, MD, and Kathleen C. Y. Sie, MD, on behalf of the Humanitarian Efforts Committee Sheng Zhou, MDThe effort to provide facial reconstructive surgery in Cambodia started in 2006 as a partnership between Craig S. Murakami…
Medicare Payment Changes in 2026: What It Means for You
December 15, 2025Anna Hall, AAO-HNS Manager, Health Policy & Regulatory AffairsThe recently released Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule includes several important policy changes that will affect how otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeons are paid in the coming year. While some of…
From Crisis to Confidence: Tackling Worst-Case Scenarios with Simulation
December 15, 2025Lauren E. Schlegel, MD, Ernest D. Gomez, MD, MTR, Amy S. Whigham, MD, MS-HPEd, Gene Liu, MD, MMM, Richard Goldman, MD, and Katherine R. Kavanagh, MD, on behalf of the Simulation Education CommitteeSince 2018, the Simulation Education Committee (SIMEC) has hosted a "Worst-Case…
PRP Shows Promise for Post-Traumatic Anosmia
December 15, 2025From the AAO-HNSFA new treatment using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections has shown promising results in helping people recover their sense of smell after head injuries, according to a preliminary study published in the November 2025 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. PRP…
Are You ENT Connect-ed?
December 15, 2025ENT Connect, the Academy’s member-only social networking platform, provides you with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage with other otolaryngologists worldwide, collaborate with colleagues on tough cases, and stay up to date with best practices and what’s happening in the…
