The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) is one of the world's largest

professional association A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) is a group that usually seeks to advocacy, further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in ...

s for medical specialists, with nearly 12,000 specialists in the area of otolaryngology (

otorhinolaryngology Otorhinolaryngology ( , abbreviated ORL and also known as otolaryngology, otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (ORL–H&N or OHNS), or ear, nose, and throat (ENT)) is a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the surgical an ...

) - caring for the ears, nose, and throat and

surgery Surgery is a medical specialty that uses manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or treat pathological conditions (e.g., trauma, disease, injury, malignancy), to alter bodily functions (e.g., malabsorption created by bariatric surgery s ...

of the

head and neck This article describes the anatomy of the head and neck of the human body, including the brain, bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, glands, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, and throat. Structure Bones The head rests on the top part of the vertebr ...

. The medical disorders treated by these physicians are among the most common that afflict all Americans, young and old. They include chronic ear infection, sinusitis, snoring and sleep apnea, hearing loss, allergies and hay fever, swallowing disorders, nosebleeds, hoarseness, dizziness, and head and neck cancer.

Membership

The Academy represents the interests of more than 12,000 ENT physicians worldwide and their patients. Membership categories range from board certified Physicians to Residents.

History

The organization began in 1896 as the Western Ophthalmological, Otological, Laryngological and Rhinological Association ("Western" referred to the

Western United States The Western United States (also called the American West, the Western States, the Far West, the Western territories, and the West) is List of regions of the United States, census regions United States Census Bureau. As American settlement i ...

). In 1898, the association became known as the Western Ophthalmologic and Oto-Laryngologic Association. In 1903, it was renamed again to reflect its nationwide membership as the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Oto-Laryngology (AAOO). By 1962, there was recognition that the specialties of ophthalmology and otolaryngology were diverging enough to warrant separate professional associations. By the early 1970s, some separation of offices and functions was in place. The AAOO was incorporated in 1978, and was dissolved the following year after the membership voted to create an American Academy of Otolaryngology and an

American Academy of Ophthalmology The American Academy of Ophthalmology is a professional association, professional medical association of ophthalmologists. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Its membership of 32,000 medical doctors includes more than 90 percent ...

in its stead. The American Academy of Otolaryngology existed for 2 years before adding "Head and Neck Surgery" to its name, yielding the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery in 1980. In 1981, the American Council of Otolaryngology (ACO), which had formed in the 1960s for purposes outside the scope of the original educational organization (such as

lobbying Lobbying is a form of advocacy, which lawfully attempts to directly influence legislators or government officials, such as regulatory agency, regulatory agencies or judiciary. Lobbying involves direct, face-to-face contact and is carried out by va ...

), merged with the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

References

External links

*
Official website of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

Official website of the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO
{{DEFAULTSORT:American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Otorhinolaryngology organizations Organizations established in 1924 1924 establishments in the United States