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Joe Jacobs, MD
President, American Rhinologic Society
The American Rhinologic Society successfully celebrated our 50th Anniversary in New York City September 18-20, 2004 with David Kennedy as our honored guest. Over 500 Otolaryngologists registered from both the national and international rhinologic community. The success of this meeting will herald a new era for our Society. These achievements which include both the scientific and social programs as well as enhanced corporate support will provide a building scaffold for the next 50 years. We have positioned ourselves to break new ground and provide the society and our membership with an opportunity to surpass previously established goals. The Society is well represented within the medical community through the untiring efforts of the individuals that comprise your ARS Board and the Committees.
We recently completed the Winter ARS Board Meeting in New York City. This session takes place yearly in a location chosen by the President. Our two annual Board Meetings which are open to all ARS members occur during the Spring (COSM) and Fall programs. During each Winter Board Meeting, the Executive Committee, Board, Consultants and committee representatives review activities and programs which have taken place during the year and, most importantly, establish new goals for the Society. Our success, although certainly based on the work effort and unparalleled experience of the Board Members and Consultants, is also substantially and directly related to the activities of our Committees. The ARS continues to seek out members who are interested in participation within our committee structure.
The Membership and Credentials Committees, chaired by Karen Fong and Peter Hwang respectively, proposed substantial changes in the credentialing process expediting approval of proposed new ARS members. Secondarily, the ARS is embarking on a 50th Anniversary membership drive. The society will utilize the Newsletter as well as direct mailings to highlight the many and substantial benefits of ARS membership. The society is requesting each and every present member to seek out nonmember colleagues with an interest in Rhinology and direct them to Karen (fongka@ohsu.edu).
The society has numerous resources which have proven to be of substantial benefit to our membership highlighted by our newly designed web site, www.american-rhinologic.org. This site contains important and informative material concerning socioeconomic data, patient information as well as upcoming meeting information and registration. Martin Citardi chairs the Information Technology Committee and our "state of the art" web site is an example of Martin's and his committee's dedication to the Society.
The Education Committee, chaired by Todd Kingdom, is actively working on a proposal to solidify and coordinate the Rhinologic Fellowship application, interview and acceptance process. When complete this Rhinology Fellowship Director Consortium would act as an advisory group to the Education Committee on matters related to fellowship program development and modification. Todd has been working with Winston Vaughan, the previous chair, on this project.
Tom Tami, who chairs the Research Grant Committee, has successfully coordinated the ARS CORE grant review process. During the last cycle, January 2004, a total of 8 grant applications were submitted for ARS Research Awards. Kelvin Lee and Tim Smith are the ARS Grant Committee representatives to CORE. The funds that enable the ARS to grant such awards are raised by Paul Toffel, a Past President, through unrestricted corporate research support. The Society is extremely indebted to Paul for his untiring and successful effort.
The Awards Committee, chaired by Allen Seiden, is actively revamping the online abstract submission process to enable authors to simultaneously designate their scientific material for ARS award consideration. These proposals were reviewed at the Winter Board and presented by Rich Lebowitz who is a member of the Committee. Jim Stankiewicz and his successor as chair of the ACCME committee, Jim Palmer, recently completed a thorough and painstakingly detailed submission of material to the ACCME for credentialing purposes. Marvin Fried, our present Secretary and Second Vice-President as well as Wendi Perez, our Administrator, were involved in this endeavor.
Mike Setzen, Chair of the Patient Advocacy Committee, continues to present pertinent information during all of our scientific meetings. He has also been charged with a project to update patient advocacy material on the ARS web site concerning coding, reimbursement as well as sample letters which members can submit to contest payor denials.
The Bylaws Committee through the present Chair, Bill Bolger, as well as Andy Lane who will succeed Bill, has updated our Bylaws and Policy and Procedures Manual. This was a mammoth task which has recently been completed. This material will be modified as needed to reflect changes in ARS structure and function.
We have organized a Business Relations Committee with Jim Hadley, Howard Levine and myself as members. The charge of this committee is to develop programs to attract unrestricted educational grants which will continue to strengthen the Society.
Mike Sillers, President-Elect, is the Program Chair for the upcoming COSM ARS meeting at the Boca Raton Resort and Spa in Boca Raton Florida May 13-15, 2005 while the Fall ARS meeting will take place at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles California September 23-24, 2005. The first David Kennedy Lectureship, established during our 50th Anniversary, will highlight the scientific program in LA. David manages our society's finances as Treasurer and through his many contacts within the International Rhinologic community enhances our reputation. Marvin Fried, our Secretary, working with our superb administrator Wendi Perez, have done a remarkable job of coordinating the increasingly complex administrative aspects related to ARS activities. Brent Senior, Editor of our Newsletter, will assume the Secretarial Position in September of 2005 as Marvin Fried ascends the ladder to become the First Vice-President. Richard Orlandi, a present Consultant to the Society, has accepted responsibility of Editor.
Howard Levine, our First Vice-President, has been appointed President of the Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership which is presently reorganizing to play an even greater role in the sphere of Rhinology. Our past Presidents Jim Hadley and Don Lanza will continue to exert significant influence within our Society and the Rhinologic community. Don and Jim had a major role in the recent publication, Rhinosinusitis: Establishing Definitions for Clinical Research and Patient Care in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
In closing, I want to personally thank our membership for their continuing support of this organization as well as the Executive Committee, Board and Consultants for their wisdom, advice and responsiveness. Lastly, my appreciation for their patience goes to my wife Patti, daughters Stacy and Allison as well as their husbands Rich and Jeff.
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