Skip to content

Welcome

Celebrating Over 80 Years Of Service!

The American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) represents over 2,700 Board-certified otolaryngologists and health care providers. Otolaryngology, frequently referred to as Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT), uniquely combines medical and surgical expertise to care for patients with a variety of conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat, as well as commonly related conditions. AAOA members devote part of their practice to the diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease. The AAOA actively supports its membership through education, research, and advocacy in the care of allergic patients.

"Advance the comprehensive management of allergy and inflammatory disease in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery through training, education, and advocacy."

AAOA Member Benefits

  • Up to 60% discount for CME programs and free Annual Meeting. All AAOA’s CME programs meet ABOTOHNS Continuing Certification.
  • AAOA US ENT Affinity program, where AAOA members can gain savings on antigen, allergy supplies, and any of the other 5 service lines US ENT offers. For more email info@usentpartners.com.
  • Tools and resources to comply with US General Chapter 797 and practice management tools.
  • Advocacy support.
  • And much more! Learn More

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT CORNER

As part of our on-going member support, we are introducing a new website feature to help with common practice management challenges. We welcome your input with questions or challenges you would like to address. Read More

ADVOCACY UPDATES

Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation (PAVE) Act

Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation (PAVE) Act to be introduced by Rep. Bucshon. AAOA is one…

Read more

CMS Released the Annual Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

On July 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Physician…

Read more

Latest on Federal Issues

This blog will feature weekly updates from our Socioeconomic Committee and Health Policy team to…

Read more

Upcoming Dates

08/02/24: Scientific Abstract Submission Deadline
Learn more

12/01/24: Research Grant Cycle
Learn more

04/01/25: Fellow Exam Application Deadline
Learn more

06/01/25: Research Grant Cycle
Learn more

EDUCATION

AAOA Annual Meeting

Register for FREE* to attend the 2024 AAOA Annual Meeting in-person, in Las Vegas, or virtually!

*The 2024 AAOA Annual Meeting is FREE to all AAOA members in good standing

RESIDENTS

For information about Resident membership, opportunities, DosedDaily, research grants, and other resources. Learn More

IFAR

Available Now

aaoaf-ifar

IFAR Impact Factor: 2.454

IFAR Featured Content: COVID-19 - Free Access
Endonasal instrumentation and aerosolization risk in the era of COVID‐19: simulation, literature review, and proposed mitigation strategies . Read More

Changes in Managing Practices

Working together with AAOA staff, volunteer leadership and members will enable us to have a positive impact on our members’ practices.

Read More

Live and Online CME

2024 AAOA Annual Meeting - Hybrid
November 8-10, 2024
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
Learn More and Register 

Coming Soon! New Explorers Course — Hybrid
90-days Access Feb 27 – May 27, 2025 
March 27-29, 2025 - Live
The Hythe, Vail, CO
Book Your Room

2025 AAOA Basic Course in Allergy & Immunology - Hybrid
90-days Access June 10 – Sep 15, 2025
July 10-12, 2025 - Live
The Chateaux Deer Valley, Park City, UT
Book Your Room

USP 797 Online Module
Learn More and Register

AAOA Educational Stacks
Available Now!

News and Updates

CEO Update, September 2024

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall”. F. Scott Fitzgerald…

Read more

ABOHNS Practice Analysis Job Task Analysis Survey

On September 24 the ABOHNS initiated a Practice Analysis (Job Task Analysis) Survey. All ABOHNS…

Read more
College Allergy Symptoms Treatment Back to Shcool

PRACTICE RESOURCES

AAOA Practice Resource Tool Kit

The American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) Practice Resource Tool Kit is intended as a guide to help AAOA members integrate allergy into their otolaryngology practice and to continually improve on this integration as new information, regulations, and resources become available.

Read More

PARTNER RESOURCE CENTER

AAOA has launched a Partner Resource Center to bring you partner resources that can assist your practice and patient care.

Visit the New Center>

PATIENT CORNER

AAOA Leadership

It Started with the 1998 AAOA Basic Course…

by Christopher Vickery, MD, FAAOA

In the late 90s, I was a fairly typical recent graduate from residency, headstrong in my sophomoric certainty that my “advanced” surgical skills would make for great outcomes for my patients and most certainly secure my fame and fortune. It did not take long for me to realize that despite adequate aeration of the paranasal sinuses, all complaints and pathology did not resolve.  

My prior allergy experience consisted of a month (an entire 20 workdays) I had spent on an allergy rotation as a third year resident, mostly thankful for some free time to study for the inservice. But I was a stranger in a strange land; that world seemed far less fast paced and more nuanced than my familiar turf of Otolaryngology, but other than learning to refer a patient for allergy evaluation, I failed to see direct application.  Had I missed something?

During my first year of private practice, one of my senior partners strongly suggested/required that I attend the Basic course for the AAOA in 1998.  So off I went.  

The setting and course were nice enough, but it was definitely an alien world.  The immunology sounded familiar enough from medical school, but a Cyclical Food Allergy lecture left me completely bewildered.  Nevertheless, I came away with a budding notion; maybe I need to be more cognisant of allergy’s role contributing to the pathology that was walking into my clinic.  

I began to look for allergy patients and began testing and treating what I found.  To my surprise, patients got better. They returned for their recheck after immunotherapy for 6 months and symptoms were legitimately improved, sometimes much more than my postoperative patients.  With this reinforcement of outcomes, I continued to cultivate the allergy component of my practice.

Fast forward ten years. My allergy practice had grown considerably.  I was still busy surgically, but the sinus patients were definitely experiencing better outcomes with more aggressive allergy treatments.  My pediatric patients were doing better with more attention to the allergy side of their pathology. Even my LPR patients who also had allergies were less dependent on PPI therapy if their allergies were managed.  

Despite this growing allergy practice, I had failed to make it to any more of the AAOA meetings.  With a twinge of guilt about this volume of allergy, I decided it was time to further my education and pursue the AAOA fellowship pathway. I signed up to repeat the Basic course and steeled my resolve to follow through with the requirements.  There were charismatic and entertaining lecturers at the podium presenting material that went beyond what I had learned previously in a fresh and engaging format. I was hooked.  

I navigated the course requirements and successfully sat for the written and oral boards, which all proved considerably less painful than I had envisioned.  Meanwhile my allergy practice continued to grow and my general and pediatric Otolaryngology patients had better outcomes and received better diagnosis and education because of my new training.  Furthermore, through these courses, I had developed a network of colleagues who would return my calls and field questions when I was stumped.  

Over the years, I have continued in my involvement with the AAOA; the benefits are myriad.  Attending courses helps to maintain currency as well as fulfilling those pesky CME requirements.  It also provides intellectual and personal stimulation through the network of colleagues whom I now look forward to seeing at meetings.  In a broader sense, there is a huge personal and professional satisfaction in learning what some of the brightest minds in our field are doing and thinking.  Finally, but hardly least, there are incalculable advocacy benefits. Never would busy practitioners have the time, resources, or skills to navigate regulatory quagmires like USP 797. 

Back To Top