Cherie-Ann O. Nathan, MD, Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport and a founding member of the AAO-HNS Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Section, discusses her journey in translational research, leading with purpose, and building a career at the intersection of clinical medicine and scientific discovery. Dr. Nathan reflects on the perseverance required to sustain NIH funding, the power of collaboration and team science, and how a curiosity rooted in traditional medicine led to a patented curcumin chewing gum with promising applications in oral cancer prevention. The conversation also covers the unique challenges facing HPV-negative head and neck cancer patients, the cultural health risks of betel nut use, and advice for early-career scientists navigating rejection and resilience. This episode is featured as part of celebrating WIO Day every March 8.

Helpful Resources:

• CORE Grants: https://www.entnet.org/quality-practice/research/core-grants-program/
• Get Involved: https://www.entnet.org/get-involved/sections/women-in-otolaryngology/

Zara M. Patel, MD, Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Stanford Medicine and Director of the Stanford Initiative to Cure Smell and Taste Loss, discusses her pursuit of a cure for olfactory dysfunction, the science behind smell recovery, and the research milestones that have redefined what is possible for patients with smell and taste loss. Dr. Patel reflects on her cross-country training journey, the curiosity-driven path that led her into an underexplored corner of the specialty, and how olfactory training and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections went from novel ideas to evidence-based treatments. The conversation also covers the biology of olfactory nerve regeneration, the importance of mentorship in building an academic career, and the expanding frontier of neuro-rhinology. This episode is featured as part of celebrating WIO Day every March 8.

Helpful Resources:

• Links for physicians and patients watching this: Stanford Initiative to Cure Smell and Taste Loss: https://med.stanford.edu/content/sm/smell.html/
• Patient education page for Olfactory Training: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2782042
• PRP studies:Pilot study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32337347/
• Randomized Controlled Trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36507615/
• Long term follow-up cohort study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39740091/
• Systematic Evidence Based Review of PRP use in all fields of ENT: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38914822/
• Case Report for use in Post-Traumatic Anosmia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39913151/

Kelly M. Malloy, MD, MBA, Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School and the AAO-HNS Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Section Financial Officer, discusses leadership, intentional career development, and the many hats and evolutions of her career. Dr. Malloy reflects on the non-linear nature of leadership growth, the value of strategic network building, and why otolaryngologists are uniquely positioned as healthcare executives. The conversation also covers physician resilience, the strategic value of earning an MBA later in one's career, and the important influence of WIO's 15+ year history within AAO-HNS and the specialty. This episode is featured as part of celebrating WIO Day every March 8.

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS, AAO-HNS/F Past President and the Interim Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Interim Dean of the Medical School at the University of Minnesota University, joins for an inspiring conversation with host and AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, about leadership, resilience, and building a career rooted in purpose. Dr. Bradford shares her journey as a head and neck cancer surgeon, researcher, and leader — spanning roles as department chair, dean, and Academy leader. She reflects on balancing career and parenthood, building a research career, and navigating leadership setbacks. Key themes include mentorship, patient-centered care, and staying grounded in your "why."

In this in-depth episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Andrew J. Tompkins, MD, and Chair of the AAO-HNS Workforce and Socioeconomic Task Force, unpacks one of the most consequential topics facing the specialty today: workforce data and what it means for patient care, compensation, and access.

Dr. Tompkins walks listeners through the origins of the Academy's workforce reports and explains how rigorous methodology, transparency, and member participation have shaped a series of publicly available reports used by otolaryngologists across the country. The discussion highlights trends in practice settings, compensation, gender disparities and call coverage, while emphasizing how these data can be used responsibly to inform decision-making and improve care delivery.

In this in-depth and candid episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, sponsored by the Academy's Young Physicians Section, Miguel Rivera, MD, partner at ENT and Allergy Associates of Florida, unpacks one of the most consequential decisions early-career otolaryngologists will make: choosing a practice environment. Drawing on more than two decades of experience across military medicine, academics, VA practice, and private practice leadership, Dr. Rivera offers practical, unfiltered guidance for residents and fellows navigating today's complex employment landscape. The conversation explores how to evaluate practice settings, understand compensation models, interpret contracts, and weigh long-term tradeoffs between autonomy and stability.

Kara D. Meister, MD, Chair of the AAO-HNSF Pediatric Otolaryngology Education Committee and pediatric ENT at Stanford Children's Health, shares how environmental exposures are shaping the future of pediatric otolaryngology. Learn about emerging evidence linking wildfire smoke to croup presentations, air quality's role in sleep-disordered breathing, and groundbreaking microplastics research in pediatric tonsils. Dr. Meister, whose personal journey includes losing both parents to cancer after growing up near industrial plants, explains why environmental health is firmly "in our lane" as otolaryngologists. Discover practical ways to integrate simple environmental health questions into your clinical workflow, counsel families on exposure reduction, and leverage AI and large datasets to understand population-level impacts. Get actionable strategies for staying current with this rapidly evolving field while meeting modern patients' questions about climate, air quality, and environmental toxins affecting their children's health.

James J. Kearney, MD, Chair of the AAO-HNS History and Archives Committee and the Chair of Otorhinolaryngology at Pennsylvania Hospital, explores how preserving the past shapes the future of otolaryngology. Learn about the Academy's rich historical collections—from Chevalier Jackson's desk and early endoscopic equipment to archival diaries—and discover how the John Q. Adams Center Traveling Museum brings artifacts directly to members at the Annual Meeting. Dr. Kearney shares stories from Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's oldest hospital founded in 1751, and explains why making history accessible and experiential strengthens professional identity, guides innovation, and preserves the values of the specialty. He also discusses the resident history paper competition, future traveling exhibits focused on otology, and encourages members to document and share their local otolaryngology history with the AAO-HNS Bulletin.