Voices of Otolaryngology

Join host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS EVP and CEO, for a historic conversation with two pioneers of surgical sleep medicine, Kathleen Yaremchuk, MD, MSA and B. Tucker Woodson, MD. Both were at Henry Ford Health in the early 1980s—the epicenter of American surgical sleep medicine—where they witnessed the birth of modern sleep apnea treatment. In this episode, discover how sleep apnea went from...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS EVP and CEO, talks with Matthew D. Scarlett, MD, a private practice otolaryngologist in Charleston, South Carolina, and current Chair of the Academy's ENT Political Action Committee (PAC) Board. Dr. Scarlett breaks down how ENT PAC amplifies the voices of otolaryngologists on Capitol Hill, from securing meetings with...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F EVP and CEO, sits down with Douglas D. Reh, MD, a fellowship-trained rhinologist and former academic leader at Johns Hopkins, who now practices as part of ENT Specialty Partners. Dr. Reh reflects on his journey from academia to private practice, exploring how subspecialists can succeed outside academic institutions...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F EVP and CEO, talks with Karen A. Rizzo, MD, a seasoned private practice otolaryngologist and past president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Dr. Rizzo, who is also Past Chair of the AAO-HNS Board of Governors, shares her journey from being encouraged by a mentor during residency to representing otolaryngology a...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, host Rahul Shah, MD, MBA, talks with Srinivas R. Kaza, MD, a veteran otolaryngologist from Rochester, New York, who leads by example when it comes to creative, resourceful practice growth through  marketing and reputation management. Dr. Kaza explains how his group leverages word-of-mouth, Google reviews, patient feedback, and targeted outreach to refer...

In this compelling episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, host Rahul Shah, MD, MBA, talks with G. Lee Bryant, Jr., MD, a veteran private practice otolaryngologist based in Nashville and an innovator in in-office procedures. Dr. Bryant recounts his extraordinary personal journey as a melanoma survivor, including the self-biopsy that saved his life, and how that experience reshaped his approach to pat...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, host Dr. Rahul Shah sits down with Nora W. Perkins, MD, a private practice otolaryngologist with Albany ENT & Allergy Services, in New York, and liaison for advanced practice providers (APPs) in her group. Dr. Perkins shares how her practice grew from a single APP in the early 2000s to more than 20 today, creating a thriving model for expanding patient...

Voices of Otolaryngology host, Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO, talks with David M. Yen, MD, about his practice, Specialty Physician Associates in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has established a fully accredited residency program. The two discuss how the hybrid private-academic model represents the future of the specialty and how their program uniquely prepares residents to provide exceptiona...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, host Dr. Rahul Shah sits down with Douglas D. Backous, MD, neurotologist, Immediate Past President of the AAO-HNS/F, and longtime leader in advancing specialty care. Dr. Backous reflects on his diverse career—from academic medicine and private practice to advocacy and international engagement—and how those experiences shape his vision for the future of...

Join host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, as he chats with Maria V. Suurna, MD, AAO-HNSF Coordinator for International Affairs, about her journey from Estonia to leading global ENT initiatives. From quarterly Global Grand Rounds to joint meetings spanning continents, Dr. Suurna reveals how the Academy is strengthening international partnerships and expanding acc...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, talks with Amanda Dilger, MD, and Neelima Tummala, MD, about practical sustainability strategies that otolaryngologists can implement to reduce environmental impact while maintaining excellent patient care and achieving significant cost savings. Resources: Reducing Glove Overuse in Outp...

Join Kayla Hicks, MD, and Harry DeCabo, AAO-HNS Director for Advocacy, for an essential discussion on advocacy in otolaryngology, exploring why physician and resident engagement in healthcare policy has never been more critical. This episode breaks down the key legislative priorities affecting otolaryngologists and their patients, with a special emphasis on why residents must be active participant...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO, talks with AJ "Workforce" Tompkins, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Board member from Ohio ENT & Allergy about critical insights from the latest otolaryngology workforce survey. They discuss the dramatic rise in Advanced Practice Provider utilization, growing urban concentration of specialists, and compensation realities ac...

In this episode of  Voices of Otolaryngology , Jeffrey S. Weingarten, MD, shares insights on creating a thriving otolaryngology practice that serves as a true "one-stop shop" for ENT care. Learn how his Detroit-area practice successfully integrates 11 physicians, 17 audiologists, and specially trained staff across six locations. Dr. Weingarten discusses the innovative Certificate Program for Otola...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology , Maie St. John, MD, PhD, the Thomas A. Calcaterra, MD Endowed Chair at UCLA's Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, shares her extraordinary journey from a pivotal childhood moment in Egypt to becoming a world-renowned surgeon-scientist. Learn how she developed innovative intraoperative cancer detection systems and polymer delivery technol...

In this episode of  Voices of Otolaryngology , Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, talks with Willard C. Harrill, MD, and David E. Melon, MD, in a conversation exploring succession planning and private practice evolution in otolaryngology. They share insights on leadership transition, building sustainable practice models, and navigating the shift to value-based care...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO, talks with Vince Loffredo, EdD, Chief Learning Officer at the American Society for Anesthesiology, about the future of medical education, providing advice to lecturers on how to engage audiences. They discuss how technology has accelerated changes in medical learning, moving from traditional lectures toward mic...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Matthew Bush, MD, PhD, MBA, AAO-HNSF Coordinator-Elect, Research and Quality, joins Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, as they explore how interventions are impacting healthcare delivery for vulnerable populations.  Dr. Bush shares insights on innovative approaches to hearing healthcare in rural communities from his grou...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, join Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO as he interviews Dana M. Thompson, MD, MS, MBA, AAO-HNS 2024 Hall of Distinction inductee and Division Head of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Lauren D. Holinger Professor and Chair of Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chi...

In this special episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, developed on behalf of the AAO-HNS Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Committee, Matthew W. Ryan, MD, talks with Antoine Azar, MD, about how otolaryngologists often see immunodeficiency patients first through recurring infections. Learn about screening techniques, key warning signs, and treatment approaches for conditions affecting up to 23% of chr...

In this episode of  Voices of Otolaryngology , Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, talks with Sarah N. Bowe, MD, EdM, current AAO-HNS Nominating Committee member and Otolaryngology Core Curriculum Editorial Board member, in a conversation blending professional wisdom and growth as well as commitment to the Academy and the specialty. Dr. Bowe shares insights on milit...

In this special edition of Voices of Otolaryngology, join Cecelia Damask, DO, and Matthew W. Ryan, MD, as they explore the critical differences between subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis treatment. This in-depth discussion covers efficacy comparisons, safety profiles, cost considerations, and practical factors affecting patient adherence. Learn how these immunotherapy...

In this episode of  Voices of Otolaryngology , Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, talks with two leaders in the field of sleep medicine: Ryan J. Soose, MD, Director of the Sleep Division and Associate Professor, and Thomas M. Kaffenberger, MD, Assistant Professor, both from the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery University of Pittsburgh School of Medi...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, visits Eugene G. Brown III, MD, RPh, AAO-HNS/F President-elect at his practice, Charleston ENT & Allergy in Charleston, South Carolina. The two discuss Dr. Brown's unique journey to otolaryngology, the 2023 Otolaryngology Workforce Report , the trajectory of his practice's composition, ...

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO, visits Annette M. Pham, MD, Chair of the AAO-HNS Otolaryngology Private Practice Section, at her practice, The Centers for Advanced ENT Care, in Rockville, Maryland. The two discuss an array of topics from the urgency of greater advocacy participation across the specialty; augmented ver...