CEO Update, October 2025

Change is never easy. We all spout the idioms around continuous quality improvement and tell ourselves we are evolving, but it involves more than just telling ourselves.  It requires action, effort, and determination with a few slip ups and obstacles along the way.

At AAOA we pride ourselves on our innovation — or perhaps it is our lack of fear or at least willingness to step out of the comfort zone.  How do we balance what members value and still grow to offer new resources, programs, and services?

While our educational programming leads our innovative efforts, it goes beyond that.

From a member benefit, value add perspective, we are into our second year of our Affinity program.  Members are averaging 9-30% savings on antigen alone. And the program goes beyond allergy supplies with more than 38 ENT-centric vendors offering reduced pricing without the need for negotiations.  Costs are up and reimbursement is not.  The AAOA Affinity program offers members some great costs savings, reduced headaches, and more.  Not a member yet?  Reach out to Evan Parker (eparker@aaoallergy.org) to find out how to take advantage of our newest member benefit.

Our Education team has been focused on adult learning and interactive formats that bring everyone — faculty and attendees — into the discussion to showcase their expertise and ingenuity in tackling practice challenges encompassing both clinical and management issues.  We have several sessions at the Annual Meeting doing just this.  From managing patient expectations while debunking TikTok myths to today’s tools to help build and grow your patient base, each of you has experience we can learn from.  Annual is part of your dues.  Why not sign up to get access to “free” CME. [https://www.aaoallergy.org/education/aaoa-annual-meeting-2025/]

Our newest live program is our Explorers Course launching with pre-work in December and featuring 3-days of live content January 22-24 at the Fairmont Mission Inn Sonoma. Focusing on surgical and medical management of airway disease in ENT, Exlporer’s allows for deeper dives into topics impacting both clinical and practical aspects. For 2026, the course will take deep dives into:

• The frontal sinus
• “Sinus” headache
• Ocular manifestations of allergies and treatments beyond antihistamine eye drops
• Food allergy
• Microbiome and allergies/sinusitis
• Changing environment
• Immunodeficiencies
• Autoimmune diseases and allergies/sinusitis
• Immunosuppression and allergies
• Geriatric allergy & immunology
• Health supplements and allergy
• Hypersensitivity reactions to food additives
• In-office procedures

We are creating a more innovative approach to exhibiting too.  Join us for some hands on demo labs with our corporate partners to gain some better insights from both the vendors and your colleagues. [https://www.aaoallergy.org/education/aaoa-explorers-course-2026/]

Our crowdsourcing underscores the challenges around staffing and staff retention.  Do you sometimes feel like there is a revolving door in your office?  What is that perfect blend of growing and supporting your existing staff and recruiting and training for the skills your current staff is lacking or could use more of?   Learn with us as we explore how best to build a strong staff culture that improves retention.  

New staff you need to “train up” as they say?  We have culled the best of our educational content to offer to Educational Stack cohorts.  We know your time and resources are limited.   The stacks are a great way to use AAOA tools to help train your staff to your “standard operating procedures (SOP).”   Offering up to 8 hrs of CME each, the cohorts can be a great resource, requiring 1 to 2 hrs a week for a few weeks to help reinforce the how and the why.  With three modules to choose from, you can match the content to your practice needs.  Not only are these great to help train new staff, the modules can be a great team builder to review your SOP, gain staff insights for ways to improve efficiency and patient care, and more.  [https://www.aaoallergy.org/education/]

Adding Allergy	On-Boarding Staff	Work Smarter, Not Harder — Recharge Your ENT Business Practice
Allergy in Head and Neck Panel	Allergy Emergencies	Coding Conundrums
Immunology and Principles of Immunotherapy	Skin Testing I: Testing Board, Controls, Indications and Contraindications	“If it is not documented, it didn’t happen” – Coding Conundrums
Adding Allergy to Your Practice Panel	Skin Testing 2: Skin Prick Testing and Modified Quantitative Testing	Payer Policies and How to Win in an Audit From the Payer
Allergy Emergencies	Specific IgE Testing	Evaluation and Management Tips for 2023
Allergy Testing Method Panel	SCIT Vial Prep and Protocol	Before You Hire
Skin Testing I: Testing Board, Controls, Indications and Contraindications	SLIT Vial Prep: Escalation, Maintenance, Withdrawal	What’s in Your AR?
Skin Testing 2: Skin Prick Testing and Modified Quantitative Testing	Office Tour Panel	The Price is Right! Adopting New Technology Panel
SCIT Vial Prep and Protocol	Skin Testing Practicum	Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Panel
SLIT Vial Prep: Escalation, Maintenance, Withdrawal	What Immunotherapy Do You Offer Panel	In-Office Rhinology Panel
Dose Calculations & Vial Preparation Practicum	Challenges in Skin Testing Panel
Adding Allergy to Your Practice- Logistics Panel	Sample Office Forms; Dose Calculation Worksheets; Practice Resource Toolkit

Change can be hard.  It is so much easier to just muster through.  We are hoping some of these new tools and resources make innovation easier and give you the tools you need for your practice.   We hope to see you at one of our upcoming programs!