President’s Message
Welcome to the spring issue of Soundings!
This will be my last message as the President of the Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology as we welcome Dr. Colin Huntley from Thomas Jefferson into the role in June.
Over the past couple of years, the PAO-HNS has been busy in advocacy and government relations. We brought on a new lobbyist, Phil Dunn, and reinvigorated the legislative committee, chaired by Dr. Rich Ferraro, of Carlisle ENT. Some key issues receiving special attention range from the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact bill, changing reimbursement for post-FESS debridement, and requests from the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology and Hearing Instrument Technicians to expand scope of practice to include cerumen debridement in the outer ear canal. The PAO-HNS executive officers met with representative Dr. Venkat to discuss the Otolaryngologists role and provide input on the Interstate Compact
Bill to the House Professional Licensure Committee. I encourage you to read the legislative update from Phil Dunn and Dr. Karen Rizzo’s Board of Governors updates in this issue.
This past year, long-time PAO-HNS member and leader, Dr. Andy McCall, transitioned his practice to California to be near family. We thank him for his long-term service to our specialty. This move left a vacancy for the PAO-HNS executive officer role of Secretary/ Treasurer, with Dr. Pam Roehm of St. Luke’s University Health System being elected to fill this position. The PAO-HNS has had an inactive PAC and one of Dr. Roehm’s first task in her new role was to work with TEAMS (association management) to complete the dissolution of the OTOPAC. Dr. McCall’s move also left vacant the PAO-HNS representation on the State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Although the replacement to the state board comes from the Governor’s office, the PAO-HNS has offered support for the nomination of Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA, FACS, FCPP to be appointed in an effort to maintain specialty representation on this state board.
Other changes to your PAO-HNS executive council include the retirement from his advisory role of long term PAOHNS leader Dr. Maurits Boon and we congratulate him on his new position as Chief Medical Officer of Nyxoah Medical. We also welcome new resident members to the Executive Council, central PA representative Dr. F. Jeffrey Lorenz from Penn State College of Medicine, and Dr. W. Jack Palmer of Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals.
Finally, as we move through spring into summer, we look forward to coming
together at the next PAO-HNS annual scientific meeting June 14-15 at the Hotel Hershey. Course Directors Dr. Sandra Stinnett from UPMC and Dr. Neerav Goyal from Penn State Health, have a put together an exciting agenda with sessions on Pediatric Otolaryngology, Facial Plastic Surgery, Clinical Practice Guideline Updates, Social Media in Medicine, Rhinology and Recruitment pearls and Pitfalls. We are also looking forward to guest speaker Dr. Rahul Shah, Executive Vice President of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, who will provide an update on our national society and advocacy in OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery. We also look forward to seeing you at our non-CME events including the Industry-Sponsored Symposium, the Women in Otolaryngology session, networking reception and annual awards dinner. The meeting will wrap up with the ever entertaining and popular Jeopardy session.
As always, I look forward to seeing you in Hershey in June and it has been my great honor to serve as your PAO-HNS President.
Best regards,
Jessyka G. Lighthall, MD FACS
President, Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Chief, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Department of Surgery
Director, Facial Nerve Clinic
Medical Director, Esteem Penn State Health Cosmetic Associates
Fellowship Director, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health
Jessyka G. Lighthall, MD, FACS
PAO-HNS President
President Jessyka G. Lighthall, MD, FACS
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery
President-Elect
Colin T. Huntley, MD Jefferson University—Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery
Secretary-Treasurer
Pamela C. Roehm, MD, PhD
St. Luke’s University Health Network, Lehigh Valley, PA Division of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
Administrative Office 400 Winding Creek Blvd. Mechanicsburg, PA 17050-1885 833-770-1544
855-918-3611 (fax) Visit our website at www.otopa.org
Soundings accepts classified advertisements; however, there is no guarantee that they will be published. All submissions are subject to review. The advertisement should be of interest/ pertain to otolaryngologists, their practice, and health care in Pennsylvania. Submissions that are self-promotional or commercial in nature will not be accepted. Publication of advertising does not imply endorsement of the products advertised or the statements contained in such advertising by Soundings or the PAO-HNS. The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinion of PAO-HNS.
Sjögren’s
Syndrome, Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy, and Sialendoscopy: The Role of the Otolaryngologist
Alyssa K. Givens, MD, Mariah McCready, MD, Mayes Dormosh, MD, Guy Slonimsky, MD
Department of Otolaryngology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Department of Pathology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Corresponding Author: Guy Slonimsky,
MD
Introduction
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder with chronic inflammation and dysfunction of exocrine glands, mainly the salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in severe dryness of the eyes and mouth.1 SS disproportionately affects females and is estimated to affect approximately 0.01% to 0.72% of the population.2 Extraglandular involvement varies and may include fatigue, chronic pain, inflammatory arthritis, interstitial lung disease, and lymphoma. Diagnosis is made by a combination of clinical history, physical examination, serology, minor salivary gland biopsy, and functional tests of tear and saliva production. The hallmark of SS is epithelial destruction of the exocrine glands as a result of hyperreactivity of B and T cells to autoantigens Ro/SSA and La/SSB, among others.2 Anti-Ro/ SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies are pathognomonic for SS, though not always present. The rates of positive autoantibodies are reported to range from 45% - 75% of patients, and some data suggests the frequency of autoantibody positivity decreases as age at diagnosis rises.3 Serology also frequently demonstrates elevated rheumatoid factor (RF) and antinuclear antibody (ANA). When the diagnosis is not clear or if patients are seronegative for the classic autoantibodies, the role of the otolaryngologist can be pivotal by performing a minor salivary gland biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.1
Diagnosis of Sjögren’s Syndrome
Classification criteria exist to help clinch
the diagnosis. In 2016, the American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism developed consensus and data-driven classification criteria based on the weighted sum of 5 clinical items (Table 1).4 Patients with signs or symptoms of SS and a total score ≥ 4 meet the criteria for a formal diagnosis of SS with a sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 95%, respectively.4 While the anti-Ro/ SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies are pathognomonic for SS, in seronegative cases, a minor salivary gland biopsy is critical for making the diagnosis.
Factor
Anti-SSA/Ro antibody positivity
Focal lymphocytic sialadenitis
with an 8-fold higher prevalence of MALT lymphoma.5 Several studies have shown that SS patients with ectopic GCs present on salivary gland pathology have a striking 7.8 – 15.4 fold higher risk of developing lymphoma compared to patients without ectopic GCs.6,7,8 The prognostic information conferred by minor salivary gland biopsy is valuable in counseling patients on expectations of their disease course and prognosis. Therefore, minor salivary gland biopsy could be offered to seronegative patients to make the diagnosis of SS, and to seropositive patients for risk stratification of lymphoma development.
Weighted Score
3
3 with a focus score ≥ 1 foci/4mm2
Ocular Staining Score ≥ 5 1
Schirmer’s Test ≤ 5mm/5 minutes Unstimulated 1 salivary flow rate ≤ 0.1 mL/minute
Table 1: American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism 2016 Diagnostic Criteria of Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS). A cumulative score ≥ 4 for the above items meets criteria for the diagnosis of SS.4
Role of Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy
Emerging data indicates that minor salivary gland biopsy is valuable beyond simply confirming the diagnosis of SS. Pathologic evidence of high lymphocytic focus score (FS) and the presence of ectopic germinal centers (GCs) are associated with more aggressive disease and increased risk of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Focus score is defined as > 50 infiltrating inflammatory cells in 4 mm2 of gland tissue, with a focus score of ≥ 1 being the most specific histologic criteria for making the diagnosis (Figure 1). Ectopic germinal centers (GCs) are periductal lymphoid aggregates rich in B and T cells positive for CD3, CD20, and CD21. Risselada et al. reported that FS ≥ 3 and the presence of GCs were associated
Role of Sialendoscopy
Since the early 2000s sialendoscopy gained popularity for the management of obstructive salivary gland disorders.9,10 A semi-rigid endoscope, with a working channel for various instruments, is inserted into the salivary duct, following dilation of the papilla, and driven within the ductal system under constant irrigation.11 Indications include retrieving sialoliths, dilating ductal strictures, and more recently, alleviating the oral symptoms of SS by restoring salivary duct patency and salivary flow. In patients with SS, common sialendoscopy findings include strictures (Figure 2), mucus plugs, and inflamed ductal walls.12 A multi-institutional systematic review published in the Laryngoscope in 2021 by Coca et al. found that in six studies with 125 patients, sialendoscopy with local steroid irrigation of the parotid and/or submandibular glands was found to provide at least temporary subjective improvement in SS symptoms
Sjögren’s Syndrome, Minor Salivary
Gland Biopsy, and Sialendoscopy: The Role of the Otolaryngologist
in 90 – 99% of cases.13 Similarly, Hagai et al. found that patients with SS who underwent sialendoscopy with ductal irrigation had objectively increased salivary flow rate at least up to 12 months after sialendoscopy compared to controls with SS who did not undergo sialendoscopy, with 84% of patients reporting subjective improvement in dry mouth symptoms.12 Some have hypothesized whether irrigating with steroids is helpful to decrease local inflammation, though many studies suggest that saline alone is just as effective as steroid irrigation.14 A randomized control trial by Karagozoglu published in 2021 found that salivary flow was improved even up to 60 weeks in patients with SS following sialendoscopy, regardless of whether they received saline irrigation alone versus saline with steroids.14 Capaccio et al. reported an 87% reduction in obstructive symptoms following interventional sialendoscopy.15 In addition to systemic anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant medications and short-term therapies such as salivary substitutes and sialagogues, sialendoscopy is an exciting treatment modality to offer for symptom relief of xerostomia and obstructive symptoms for patients with SS.
Conclusion
Otolaryngologists have a pivotal role in the diagnosis and management of patients with SS. Minor salivary gland biopsy can be essential for making the diagnosis of SS in seronegative patients. Additionally, minor salivary gland biopsy can provide risk stratification for the development of lymphoma in cases of higher focus scores or in the presence of ectopic germinal
centers. Interventional sialendoscopy is a promising adjunctive tool for the symptom management of SS. Future research will enable otolaryngologists toto better delineate the optimal timing and frequency of sialendoscopy into a consistent therapy protocol for patients with SS.
References
1. Baldini, C., Berardicurti, O., Giacomelli, R., & Bombardieri, M. (2024). Is minor salivary gland biopsy still mandatory in Sjogren’s syndrome? Does seronegative sjogren’s syndrome exist? Autoimmunity Reviews, 23(1), 103425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. autrev.2023.103425
2. Brito-Zerón, P., Baldini, C., Bootsma, H., Bowman, S. J., Jonsson, R., Mariette, X., Sivils, K., Theander, E., Tzioufas, A., & Ramos-Casals, M. (2016). Sjögren syndrome. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2(1). https://doi. org/10.1038/nrdp.2016.47
3. Retamozo, S., Acar-Denizli, N., Horváth, I. F., Ng, W.-F., Rasmussen, A., Dong, X., Li, X., Baldini, C., Olsson, P., Priori, R., Seror, R., Gottenberg, J.-E., Kruize, A. A., Hernandez-Molina, G., Vissink, A., Sandhya, P., Armagan, B., Quartuccio, L., Sebastian, A., et al. Brito-Zerón, P. (2021). Influence of the age at diagnosis in the disease expression of primary Sjögren syndrome. analysis of 12,753 patients from the Sjögren Big Data Consortium. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 39(6), 166–174. https://doi.org/10.55563/ clinexprheumatol/egnd1i
4. Shiboski, C. H., Shiboski, S. C., Seror, R., Criswell, L. A., Labetoulle, M., Lietman, T. M., Rasmussen, A., Scofield, H., Vitali, C., Bowman, S. J., & Mariette, X. (2017). 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League against rheumatism classification criteria for Primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 76(1), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1136/ annrheumdis-2016-210571
5. Risselada, A. P., Looije, M. F., Kruize, A. A., Bijlsma, J. W. J., & van Roon, J. A. G. (2013). The role of ectopic germinal centers in the immunopathology of Primary Sjögren’s syndrome: A systematic review. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, 42(4), 368–376. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2012.07.003
6. Bombardieri, M., Barone, F., Humby, F., Kelly, S., McGurk, M., Morgan, P., Challacombe, S., De Vita, S., Valesini, G., Spencer, J., & Pitzalis, C. (2007). Activationinduced cytidine deaminase expression in follicular dendritic cell networks and Interfollicular large B cells supports functionality of ectopic lymphoid neogenesis in autoimmune Sialoadenitis and malt lymphoma in sjögren’s syndrome. The Journal of Immunology, 179(7), 4929–4938. https://doi.org/10.4049/ jimmunol.179.7.4929
7. Theander, E., Vasaitis, L., Baecklund, E., Nordmark, G., Warfvinge, G., Liedholm, R., Brokstad, K., Jonsson, R., & Jonsson, M. V. (2011). Lymphoid organisation in labial salivary gland biopsies is a possible predictor for the development of malignant lymphoma in primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 70(8), 1363–1368. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2010.144782
8. Sène, D., Ismael, S., Forien, M., Charlotte, F., Kaci, R., Cacoub, P., Diallo, A., Dieudé, P., & Lioté, F. (2018). Ectopic germinal center–like structures in minor salivary gland biopsy tissue predict lymphoma occurrence in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 70(9), 1481–1488. https://doi. org/10.1002/art.40528
9. Marchal F., Dulguerov P., Becker M., Barki G., Disant F., & Lehmann W. Specificity of parotid sialendoscopy. (2001). Laryngoscope. 111(2), 264-71. doi: 10.1097/00005537-200102000-00015. PMID: 11210873.
10. Nahlieli O., Bar T., Shacham R., Eliav E., & Hecht-Nakar L. Management of chronic recurrent parotitis: current therapy. (2004). J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 62(9), 1150-5. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2004.05.116. PMID: 15346370.
11. Gallo, A., Martellucci, S., Fusconi, M., Pagliuca, G., Greco, A., De Virgilio, A., & De Vincentiis, M. (2017). SIALENDOSCOPIC management of Autoimmune Sialadenitis: A review of literature. Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica, 37(2), 148–154. https:// doi.org/10.14639/0392-100x-1605
12. Hagai A., Mohana A., Shalabi A., Adawi M., Porat Ben Amy D., Abu El Naaj I. (2023). Sialendoscopy enhances saliva production of parotid glands in primary Sjögren syndrome patients. Quintessence Int, 17(3), 234-240. doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b3609681. PMID: 36426719.
13. Coca, K. K., Gillespie, M. B., Beckmann, N. A., Zhu, R., Nelson, T. M., & Witt, R. L. (2020). Sialendoscopy and Sjogren’s disease: A systematic review. The Laryngoscope, 131(7), 1474–1481. https://doi. org/10.1002/lary.29233
14. Karagozoglu, K. H., Vissink, A., Forouzanfar, T., de Visscher, J. G., Maarse, F., Brand, H. S., van de Ven, P. M., & Jager, D. H. (2020). SIALENDOSCOPY increases saliva secretion and reduces xerostomia up to 60 weeks in Sjögren’s syndrome patients: A randomized controlled study. Rheumatology, 60(3), 1353–1363. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaa284
15. Capaccio P., Canzi P., Torretta S., Rossi V., Benazzo M., Bossi A., Vitali C., Cavagna L., & Pignataro L. Combined interventional sialendoscopy and intraductal steroid therapy for recurrent sialadenitis in Sjögren's syndrome: Results of a pilot monocentric trial. (2018). Clin Otolaryngol. 43(1), 96-102. doi: 10.1111/coa.12911. PMID: 28585263.
Advocacy for effective communication with patients with hearing loss
J., Wight, R., Davis, L., Whitaker, M., & Zimmerman, J.
In February 2020, the Justice Department updated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines requiring that “title III entities (businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public) communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities” such “that communication with people with these disabilities is equally effective as communication with people without disabilities.”1 The update clarifies that covered organizations, such as Penn State Health hospitals, “provide auxiliary aids and services.” Specific examples include: sign-language interpreter, closed-captioning on TVs, and assistive listening devices, such as amplifiers or hearing aids. Furthermore, the Joint Commission for the accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), by which accreditation is a requirement to obtain a hospital license in Pennsylvania, has very specific requirements. According to PC.02.01.21, hospitals are required to effectively communicate with patients when providing care, treatment, and services2. Clearly, patients have the right to communicate about and understand their health information.
Not only is communication access mandated by law, but a lack of access has also been shown to have detrimental effects. Age-related hearing loss is an increasingly important public health problem affecting more than half of those 75+ years old in the United States3 Untreated hearing loss is related to cognitive decline, including up to 9% of all new dementia cases4. This is a preventable risk factor. While appropriately fit hearings aids are the desired solutions, there are barriers, such as awareness, acceptance, and affordability.
In addition to the elderly, other age groups are undeniably impacted as well. In Pennsylvania, hearing aids are covered for children. Unfortunately, not all states offer this medical necessity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that
1-3 in every 1000 children5 have hearing loss, and much of this population is best served with professionally fit amplification.
In the hospital setting, providing assistive listening/amplification devices is good policy, and communicating effectively with patients is paramount to delivering highquality, informed, and patient-centered care. Healthcare professionals know the importance of patients being involved in decisions about personal medical situations. By being an active participant or at least by offering the opportunity to participate, treatment compliance increases, and better outcomes are more attainable. In addition, access to communication is a key component for age friendly care as stated by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement6 This access drives the healthcare decisions of older adult patients, and amplifiers assist with this vital conversation and help to provide better patient centered care.
There are factors that the adept professional will determine regarding patient communication. A patient may require a different spoken language or a visual language, such as American Sign Language (ASL). In this instance, an interpreter is requested and used to allow for fluent communication. For patients that are hard of hearing and rely on Listening and Spoken Language (LSL), communication may be ineffective. At Penn State Health (PSH), a team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, audiologists, and administrative staff have banded together to address this gap to communication access. By providing a non-custom, low-cost amplifier to those with hearing loss who are not successfully using amplification and who use LSL, we can now add an entire subset of patients to the masses who can now advance their health literacy and increase their self-advocacy. This device costs approximately $50.00 per unit. In comparison, a one-hour use of a medical translator—a communication requirement that we must also support in order to communicate with patients in terms that they understand - costs approximately $200.00.
These devices are available to PSH inpatients who have apparent hearing loss as observed by a hospital clinician or through
a needs assessment and/or otoscopy performed by a clinician or provider. A simple, one-page reference sheet describing how to use the device and how to follow up with audiology for further assessment and treatment is provided for both the caregiver and the patients. Patients who receive devices keep them.
While amplifiers can be an effective solution in a one-on-one, quiet environment, hearing aids are the appropriate solution for many adults with hearing loss. Because professionally fit hearing aids and/ or assistive listening devices can ease communication in a variety of settings, including noisy restaurants, classrooms, and conference rooms, patients will ultimately be encouraged to consider these options. The best way to determine the ideal solution(s) is for the patient to meet with a doctor of audiology for an evaluation.
In addition, the PSH team is dedicated to expanding this initiative to all areas of the hospital system to ensure advocacy for effective communication with patients with hearing loss. The team is also invested in monitoring the outcomes of readily available amplifiers on patient care, outcomes, and the overall experience.
Citations
1. US DOJ, Civil Rights Division. (2024, June 13) ADA Requirements: Effective Communication. https://www.ada. gov/resources/effective-communication.
2. The Joint Commission. (2011, February 9). Requirement, Rationale, Reference. R3 Report, 1.
3. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023, March 30). Hearing Loss. Hearing Loss - Symptoms and causes. https://www. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/ symptoms-causes/syc-20373072.
4. Brewster, K. & Rutherford, B. (2020, October 29). Hearing Loss, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Cognitive Decline: An Increasingly Important Triad in Older Adults. American Journal or Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(6), 554 – 556.
5. CDC. (2024, May 15). Hearing Loss in Children. Research and Tracking. https://www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children.
6. Laderman, W., Jackson, C., Kevin Little, K., Duong, T., & Pelton, L. (2019). “What Matters” to Older Adults? A Toolkit for Health Systems to Design Better Care with Older Adults. Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
McClelland,
Philip Dunn PAO HNS Lobbyist
The Pennsylvania General Assembly began its 2025-26 legislative session on January 7. As in years past, a flurry of bills that were not enacted in the previous session were re-introduced along with new measures that were incubated over the winter months.
Governor Shapiro gave his budget address outlining his legislative priorities for the upcoming year and how they would be funded. From his address, the following highlights are pertinent to the medical community.
Addressing structural challenges at rural hospitals. This will be accomplished by investing $20 million in new state funding to provide immediate relief to Pennsylvania's rural hospitals. These
Spring Legislative Update
monies will help to bring an additional $26 million in federal funding to help alleviate the financial crisis. In addition, Governor Shapiro is proposing another $20 million for a new program entitled " Patient Safety and Support for Hospitals" which will address barriers to care at all Pennsylvania hospitals.
Also mentioned in his budget message was his support for full practice authority for nurse practitioners who have worked under a licensed physician for at least three years.
Two pieces of legislation that PAO will need to monitor related to this proposal are:
•Senate Bill 25 (Bartolotta). This measure has previously passed by the Senate.
•Representative Venkat is circulating a co-sponsorship memo to introduce legislation entitled Certified Nurse Practitioner Pilot Program.
Representative Venkat also reintroduced his audiology and speech language pathology interstate compact bill. This session the bill number is House Bill 80. Last session, PAO held talks with Representative Venkat to express our concerns with the measure. We are prepared again to submit a letter of opposition should HB 80 be scheduled for consideration in the House of Representatives Professional Licensure Committee.
Another possible issue that bears watching is an attempt by Pennsylvania Hearing Healthcare Association to allow for cerumen removal by their members. We have not seen language regarding this effort but will need to be vigilant so that PAO has a seat at the table should this proposal sprout legs.
Karen A. Rizzo, MD, FACS Chair BOG PA Governor/BOG
The Board of Governors continues to advocate for legislative and political activity that directly impacts our patients and practices. Negotiations continue on the Medicare physician payment cut. Recently requests were sent out to grassroots members to contact their individual congressman regarding this issue. Please continue to advocate through this with your local congressman and senators.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) – Head and Neck Surgery OTO forum was held April 25 - 26 at the Westin in Alexandria VA. This event provided a productive forum for leadership discussion and practice management tools highlighting current and future
BOG Update Spring 2025
private practice physician needs in caring for otolaryngologic patients. A focus on networking, benchmarking, innovation, and healthcare trends impacting private practice was discussed by leaders in the field. This high impact forum focused discussions on cutting edge practice management breakthroughs, revolutionary healthcare innovation frameworks including the role of AI in patient care, and current benchmarking trends that can drive exceptional results. Advocacy updates were discussed as well.
The following represents the 2025 candidate slate for leadership of the Academy:
1. President-elect: Daniel C. Chelius, Jr., MD and Cherie-Ann O. Nathan, MD.
2. Director at Large (Academic) Christine Franzese, MD and Jennifer J. Shin, MD.
3.Director at Large (Private Practice) David E. Melon, MD and Joseph C. Sniezek, MD, MBA
4. Nominating Committee (Academic) Erynne A. Faucett, MD, Christina M. Gillespie, MD, Nausheen Jamal, MD, MBA, and James W. Rocco, MD, Phd.
5. Nominating Committee (Private Practice) Greg E. Davis, MD, MPH, Paul C. Frake, MD, and Jedidiah J. Grisel, MD. Audit Committee: Ashutosh Kacker, MD, MBBS, MS and Shawn D. Newlands, MD, Phd, MBA.
Please remember to vote on this excellent slate of candidates this upcoming May.
There are many new podcasts available now on the AAO website covering many aspects of otolaryngology and members are encouraged to visit them.
The next annual otolaryngology meeting will be held in Indianapolis from October 11-14. Please consider attending to earn CME, network, visit exhibitors with the latest technology, and get updated on the most recent hot topics impacting our specialty.
MEET THE BOARD
President
Jessyka G. Lighthall, MD, FACS
Chief, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Director, Facial Nerve Disorders Clinic
Medical Director, Esteem Penn State Health
Cosmetic Associates Fellowship Director, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Department of Surgery Penn State College of Medicine
Secretary/Treasurer
Pamela C. Roehm, MD, PhD
St. Luke’s University Health Network, Lehigh Valley, PA Division of Otolaryngology— Head and Neck Surgery
The Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery
2021-2023 David M. Cognetti, MD, FACS 2019-2021 Johnathan D McGinn, MD
2017-2019 Ahmed M.S. Soliman, MD
2015-2017 Jeffrey P. Simons, MD, FACS 2013-2015 David Goldenberg, MD, FACS 2011-2013 Jason Newman, MD, FACS 2009-2011 Scott M. Gayner, MD
2007-2009 Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD, FACS 2005-2007 Robert T. Sataloff, MD, FACS
2003-2005 Edmund A. Pribitkin, MD, FACS 2001-2003 Karen A. Rizzo, MD, FACS
1999-2000 J. David Cunningham, MD, FACS
1998-1999 Carl L. Reams, MD
1997-1998 Phillip K. Pellitteri, DO, FACS
1996-1997 Barry E. Hirsch, MD
1995-1996 Alan M. Miller, MD, FACS
1994-1995 Ernest L. McKenna, Jr., MD, FACS
1993-1994 Frank I. Marlowe, MD, FACS
1992-1993 Thomas L. Kennedy, MD, FACS
1991-1992 G. William Jaquiss, MD
1990-1991 Louis D. Lowry, MD, FACS
President-Elect
Colin T. Huntley, MD
Associate Professor, Jefferson University, Otolaryngology— Head & Neck Surgery
Immediate Past President
David M. Cognetti, MD, FACS
Jefferson University—Otolaryngology— Head & Neck Surgery
PAST PRESIDENTS
Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology (1943 – 1990)
1989 Helen F. Krause, M.D.
1988 Dorothy C. Scott, M.D.
1987 Webb Hersperger, M.D.
1986 Edward A. Jaeger, M.D.
1985 Donald P. Vrabec, M.D.
1984 James L. Curtis, M.D.
1983 George H. Conner, M.D.
1982 George J. Gerneth, M.D.
1981 Donald B. Kamerer, M.D.
1980 Jerome Dersh, M.D.
1979 Eugene B. Rex, M.D.
1978 William C. Frayer, M.D.
1977 Silvio H. DeBlasio, M.D.
1976 Paul A. Cox, M.D.
1975 Louis E. Silcox, M.D.
1974 Robert D. Mulberger, M.D.
1973 James M. Cole, M.D.
1972 C. William Weisser, M.D.
1971 Joseph P. Atkins, M.D.
1970 Robert J. Beitel, Jr., M.D.
1969 H. Ford Clark, M.D.
1968 Harold G. Scheie, M.D.
1967 John T. Dickinson, M.D.
1966 Benjamin F. Souders, M.D.
1965 Merril B. Hayes, M.D.
1964 Glen G. Gibson, M.D.
1963 Raymond E. Jordan, M.D.
1962 Robert E. Shoemaker, M.D.
1961 Norbert E. Alberstadt, M.D.
1961 Benjamin H. Shuster, M.D.
1960 John Knox Covey, M.D.
1959 Paul C. Craig, M.D.
1958 Murray F. McCaslin, M.D.
1957 J. Floyd Buzzard, M.D.
1956 Chevalier L. Jackson, M.D.
1955 William T. Hunt, Jr., M.D.
1954 James H. Delaney, M.D.
1953 Paul McCloskey, M.D.
1952 Samuel T. Buckman, M.D.
1951 Matthew S. Ersner, M.D.
1950 Jay G. Linn, Sr., M.D.
1949 Daniel S. DeStio, M.D.
1948 James J. Monahan, M.D.
1947 Gilbert L. Daily, M.D.
1946 Thomas F. Furlong, Jr., M.D.
1945 Lewis T. Buckman, M.D.
1944 Lewis T. Buckman, M.D.
1943 James E. Landis, M.D.
400 Winding Creek Blvd.
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050-1885
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
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Members receive hard copies of Soundings, the PAO-HNS member newsletter
Legislative Representation
Representation in the state legislature via our own lobbyist
Direct Input with Medicare
Representation on the Novitas Solutions Carrier Advisory Committee (CAC), which has input into local Medicare reimbursement policy
Specialty Events Listings
Members may post their specialty events at no cost
Priority Review for ENT Journals
Priority review for possible publication in ENT Journal, the official journal of the PAO-HNS
National Representation
Representation on the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head Neck and Neck Surgery's Board of Governors
Discounted Registration forAnnual Science Meeting
Discounted registration to our annual Scientific Meeting featuring CME-approved educational seminars focused on current otolaryngology topics and family-oriented social functions