From Frustration to Influence: How The ENT PAC Amplifies Your Voice
Release Date: 09/30/2025
Sixteen Cases, One Truth: Writing Breathless
Voices of Otolaryngology
In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Tali Lando, MD, a pediatric otolaryngologist at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital of Westchester Medical Center and author of Breathless: Surgical Tales from the Brink (and Back), joins host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for a candid conversation about writing honestly about medicine. Dr. Lando discusses the 16-case medical memoir's structure, built around both the technical arc of surgery and its personal aftermath, and how surviving Stage IIIC breast cancer as a practicing surgeon shaped her first book, Hell and Back. She covers the HIPAA and...
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Clarity, Originality, Rigor, Effect: The CORE of a Winning Research Grant
Voices of Otolaryngology
In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Matthew L. Bush, MD, PhD, MBA, Chair of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Kentucky and AAO-HNSF Coordinator for Research and Quality, joins host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for a candid conversation on research funding and career growth. Dr. Bush shares how the AAO-HNSF CORE Grant Program shaped his own path from first-time recipient to program steward and offers a practical playbook for young investigators—Clarity, Originality, Rigor, and Effect—on what it takes to write a grant that gets funded. Helpful Resources: CORE...
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The 1-in-10 Mindset: Grit, Reinvention, and Seeing Cancer in Real Time
Voices of Otolaryngology
In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Eben L. Rosenthal, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and the Barry and Amy Baker Chair in Laryngeal, Head and Neck Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, joins host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for a candid conversation on reinvention, resilience, and discovery. Dr. Rosenthal reflects on building a career across five leading institutions, his "one in ten" philosophy on research and failure, and his pioneering work in fluorescence-guided surgery that lets surgeons see cancer in real time.
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Solo, Strategic, and Satisfied: 25 Years of Independent ENT Practice
Voices of Otolaryngology
In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Rajesh S. Kakani, MD, shares his journey from international training to building a solo private practice in the U.S., offering candid insights for early-career physicians navigating today's consolidating landscape. He covers strategic practice location, calculated risk-taking, hybrid employment models, and the operational discipline needed to thrive independently. Dr. Kakani also reflects on workforce challenges, team culture, and his commitment to funding scholarships for future otolaryngologists.
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Choosing Your First Job, Finding Success and Building a Career
Voices of Otolaryngology
In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Soham Roy, MD, MBA, draws on his experience as a mentor to guide early-career surgeons through one of medicine's most pivotal transitions: moving from training into independent practice. Dr. Roy shares the framework he uses when advising residents, fellows, and early-career physicians: define success on your own terms, understand what truly brings fulfillment, and avoid the pressure to find a "perfect" first job. He also offers pragmatic guidance on evaluating today's evolving practice landscape and stresses the importance of building an expert...
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Social Media and Building Your Voice in Otolaryngology
Voices of Otolaryngology
In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Inna A. Husain, MD, Medical Director of Laryngology at Community Hospital Munster, joins host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for a practical and energizing conversation about how physicians can use social media to educate patients, grow their practice, and elevate the specialty. Dr. Husain shares how her platform evolved from a pandemic-era hobby into a referral engine that draws patients from across the country for subspecialty laryngology and LPR care, and why physicians who don't help shape the online medical narrative risk ceding that ground to someone...
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Innovation by Design: Turning Clinical Problems into Real Solutions
Voices of Otolaryngology
In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Peter Santa Maria, MBBS, PhD, discusses his approach to innovation in patient care and how physicians can source ideas and inspiration to chart their own ideation course. Dr. Santa Maria shares his global journey with host Rahul K Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO. Starting with his childhood in Australia, then to Stanford University, and now in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he balances a busy otology/neurotology practice while managing an innovation lab to continue creating medical devices to improve the lives of his...
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Financial Foundations for Physicians
Voices of Otolaryngology
In this wide-ranging episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Craig Dell, CPFA, Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management (a Bank of America company), joins host and AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for an in-depth and candid discussion about financial planning for physicians at every career stage. Drawing on decades of experience advising doctors, Craig explains why physicians face unique financial challenges, from delayed earning years and significant education debt to lifestyle inflation and tax complexity. The conversation covers the power of...
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A Spice, a Patent, and a Purpose: One Surgeon's Path to Cancer Prevention
Voices of Otolaryngology
Cherie-Ann O. Nathan, MD, the Jack Pou Endowed Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport and a founding member of the AAO-HNS Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Section, discusses her journey in translational research, leading with purpose, and building a career at the intersection of clinical medicine and scientific discovery. Dr. Nathan reflects on the perseverance required to sustain NIH funding, the power of collaboration and team science, and how a curiosity rooted in traditional medicine led to a patented curcumin chewing gum with...
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Smell Loss, Science, and the Road to a Cure
Voices of Otolaryngology
Zara M. Patel, MD, Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Stanford Medicine and Director of the Stanford Initiative to Cure Smell and Taste Loss, discusses her pursuit of a cure for olfactory dysfunction, the science behind smell recovery, and the research milestones that have redefined what is possible for patients with smell and taste loss. Dr. Patel reflects on her cross-country training journey, the curiosity-driven path that led her into an underexplored corner of the specialty, and how olfactory training and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections went from novel ideas to...
info_outlineIn this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS EVP and CEO, talks with Matthew D. Scarlett, MD, a private practice otolaryngologist in Charleston, South Carolina, and current Chair of the Academy’s ENT Political Action Committee (PAC) Board. Dr. Scarlett breaks down how ENT PAC amplifies the voices of otolaryngologists on Capitol Hill, from securing meetings with lawmakers to advancing bills on prior authorization reform, Medicare reimbursement, and newborn CMV screening.
Dr. Scarlett shares his personal journey into advocacy—sparked by frustration with barriers to patient care—and explains how ENT PAC strategically supports bipartisan lawmakers who can make a difference for physicians. The discussion highlights how the PAC Board prioritizes issues, the importance of member participation, and how easy actions like responding to “Act Now” alerts can significantly impact legislative outcomes.
Whether you’re a seasoned ENT or a trainee new to advocacy, this episode demystifies ENT PAC, encourages engagement, and shows how collective action strengthens the specialty’s voice in Washington, DC.
Resources:
- AAO-HNS Federal Legislative Advocacy: https://www.entnet.org/advocacy/federal-legislative-advocacy/
- Project 535: https://myspecialty.entnet.org/AAOHNS/Project-535/Project-535.aspx
- Donate to the ENT PAC: https://donation.edonation.com/entpac/website/donate
Note: Contributions to ENT PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are voluntary, and all members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery have the right to refuse to contribution without reprisal. Federal law prohibits ENT PAC from accepting contributions from foreign nationals. By law, if your contributions are made using a personal check or credit card, ENT PAC may use your contribution only to support candidates in federal elections. All corporate contributions to ENT PAC will be used for educational and administrative fees of ENT PAC, and other activities permissible under federal law. Federal law requires ENT PAC use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of the employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. ENT PAC is a program of the AAO-HNS which is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code.