Not Getting Kicked Out of the Room: Leadership Lessons

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 otolaryngology. He shares lessons learned from leadership roles, including building bridges between clinicians, policymakers, and industry, and his efforts to improve patient access, workforce development, and innovation adoption. The conversation spans everything from Medicare reimbursement challenges to the importance of social trust, the rise of women in the field, and how the Academy can act as a neutral platform for technological advancement and global collaboration. Listeners will gain valuable perspective on the evolving opportunities and challenges facing otolaryngology, and how the Academy is working to ensure the specialty continues to thrive for both practitioners and patients. Resources: Donate to the ENT PAC: https://donation.edonation.com/entpac/website/donate Become a Reg-ent Participant: https://www.reg-ent.org Women in Otolaryngology Section (WIO): https://www.entnet.org/wio/ More Ways to Listen: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3UeVLtFdLHDnWnULUPoiinApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voice-of-otolaryngology/id1506655333 Connect to the AAO-HNS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaohns X (Twitter): https://x.com/AAOHNS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAOHNS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-academy-of-otolaryngology/ Website: https://www.entnet.org Shop AAO-HNS Merchandise: https://www.otostore.org Help Us Improve Future Episodes: Share your feedback and topic suggestions at https://forms.office.com/r/0XpA83XNBQ Note: Contributions to ENT PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are voluntary, and all members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery have the right to refuse to contribution without reprisal. Federal law prohibits ENT PAC from accepting contributions from foreign nationals. By law, if your contributions are made using a personal check or credit card, ENT PAC may use your contribution only to support candidates in federal elections. All corporate contributions to ENT PAC will be used for educational and administrative fees of ENT PAC, and other activities permissible under federal law. Federal law requires ENT PAC use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of the employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. ENT PAC is a program of the AAO-HNS which is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code.