top of page

Search

28 items found for ""

  • Meeting Archive | PAO-HNS

    Meeting Archive Congratulations to the 2024 winners: ​​ First Place Oral Presentation: Asthma and Comorbid Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Outcomes after Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Surgery David Goldrich, MD Penn State Hershey ​ Second Place Oral Presentation: A Novel Proof-Of-Concept Study of Mixed Reality Technology for Ideal Placement of Bone-Anchored Hearing Devices for Application in Complex Patient Populations Kelly Daniels, MD UPMC First Place Poster: Response-Adaptive Surgical Timing in Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Demonstrates Enhanced Pathologic Treatment Response in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Pablo Llerena, BS Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Second Place Poster: Free Flap Neurotization and Radial Forearm Free Flap Reconstruction Improves Functional Outcomes in Hemiglossectomy Defects Eric Wu, MD University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Resident Jeopardy Bowl Winner: Combined team from PCOM & Jefferson Congratulations to the 2023 winners: ​ First Place Oral Presentation: Effects of hypoglossal nerve stimulation surgery on rhinologic quality of life - A cohort study ​Glen D’Souza, Jefferson Second Place Oral Presentation: Cost Effectiveness of Non-echo Planar Diffusion Weighted MRI in the Surveillance of Cholesteatoma Terral Patel, UPMC First Place Poster: The Use of Actigraphy to Assess Sleep Improvement After Parathyroidectomy Christopher Tseng, PSU Second Place Poster: Efficacy of Fibrin Sealants in Reducing Postoperative Complications in Facial Plastic Surgery Hanel Eberly, PSU Resident Jeopardy Bowl Winner: Combined team from AHN, PCOM, & Jefferson Congratulations to the following winners: First Place Oral Presentation: Endoscopic Versus Microscopic Ear Surgery for Management of Cholesteatoma: A Cost Effectiveness Analysis Lauren Gardiner, MD University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Second Place Oral Presentation: The Effects of Adjuvant Radiotherapy on Survival in Elderly Patients with Advanced Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Joann Butkus, MD Thomas Jefferson University Hospital First Place Poster: Acoustic Neuroma: A Surveillance, Epidemilogy, and End Results (SEER) Analysis Thomas Haupt, MD Howard University Second Place Poster: Viral Integration and Genomic Instability in HPV-Transformed Tonsillar Keratinocytes Emily Milarchi, MD Pennsylvania State University Resident ​Jeopardy Bowl Winner: ​Geisinger Medical Center Congratulations to the following winners: First Place Oral Presentation: Validity of the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) in a Pediatric Population Kelly Daniels, MD UPMC Second Place Oral Presentation: Human Papilloma Virus Integration Strictly Correlates with Global Genome Instability in Head and Neck Cancer Max Hennessy, MD Penn State Health Third Place Oral Presentations: Survivorship, At What Cost? Understanding Financial Toxicity in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review Shivam Patel, MD Penn State Health Clinical and Immunological Profile of Patients with Immune-Related Adverse Effects Following Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Angela Alnemri, MD ​Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Resident Jeopardy Bowl Winner: UPMC Pittsburgh Congratulations to the following winners: ​First Place Poster: Implant Failure and Osteomyelitis in the Setting of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Usage: A Case Report & Review of the Literature Katie Melder, MD University of Pittsburgh Second Place Poster: Post treatment Surveillance in Sinonasal Malignancies Prachi Patel, MD Thomas Jefferson University Hospital First Place Oral Presentation: Multi-institutional study utilizing surgery + cesium-131 brachytherapy in recurrent head and neck cancer Adam Luginbuhl, MD Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Second Place Oral Presentation: Analysis of spatial relationships between CD8 and FoxP3 cells using digital imaging in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Uche Nwagu, MD Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Second Place Oral Presentation: Clinical Implications of the Integration Status of HPV in Head and Neck Cancer Brandon LaBarge, MD Penn State Health Resident Quizzo winners: Will Kennedy, MD and Ravi Shah, MD from the University of Pennsylvania. Congratulations to the following winners: First Place Oral Presentation: A Computer-Learning Neural Network Algorithm for the Radiographic Assessment of Thyroid Nodules : A Pilot Study Kelly Daniels​ Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University Second Place Oral Presentation: Assessment of cranial base repair techniques in a validated cadaveric CPAP model Chandala Chitguppi, MD Thomas Jefferson University Hospital ​First Place Poster: Innervation of the Cricothyroid Muscle by the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Implications for Clinical Practice Thomas Kaffenberger, MD University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Second Place Poster: Impact of gender on upper airway stimulation outcomes Kelly Daniels Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University​ Resident Jeopardy Bowl Winners: B. Swendseid, MD, M. Chaskes, MD and J. Goldfarb, MD from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Congratulations to the following winners: First Place Oral Presentation: Defining the role of CD169 macrophages in lymph node metastasis Michael Topf, MD Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University ​Second Place Oral Presentation: High-Level Disinfection of Otorhinolaryngology Clinical Instruments: An Evaluation of the Efficacy and Cost-effectiveness of Instrument Storage Jason Yu, MD University of Pennsylvania ​Second Place Oral Presentation: Identification of Causative Mutations in Two Unrelated Kindreds with Familial Nonmedullary Thyroid Cancer Using Next-Generation Sequencing Darrin Bann Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center ​​First Place Poster: Quality of Life Comparison of exenterated versus non-exenterated patients with sinonasal and craniofacial malignancies Alexander Graf, MD Thomas Jefferson University Hospital ​ Second Place Poster: Perfusion Dynamics in Pedicled and Free Tissue Reconstruction: Infrared Thermography and Laser Fluorescence Video Angiography Tom Shokri, MD Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Resident Jeopardy Bowl Winners: UMPC & PCOM

  • Registration and Hotel | PAO-HNS

    Registration and Hotel 2025 information available soon!

  • Annual Scientific Meeting Registration | PAO-HNS

    Annual Scientific Meeting Registration 2025 information coming soon!

  • Home | PAO-HNS

    Events Read the 2024 Meeting Wrap-Up ​ View the 2024 Photo Gallery ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ PAO-HNS PAO-HNS is a not-for-profit membership organization which represents and serves Otolaryngologists, Head and Neck Surgeons in Pennsylvania and the region. ​ PAO-HNS is dedicated to the professional interests of otolaryngologists and their patients, promoting the highest professional and ethical standards of practice through education and advocacy. We're planning for 2025! Soundings Read the PAO-HNS Newsletter ​

  • Sponsors and Exhibitors | PAO-HNS

    2025 Prospectus available soon!

  • Annual Scientific Meeting | PAO-HNS

    Annual Scientific Meeting Full information available soon! ​ Questions? For questions about the Annual Scientific Meeting, please contact the PAO-HNS Meeting Manager, ​ Jessica Winger: jwinger@pamedsoc.org or (717) 909-2693 .

  • Agenda | PAO-HNS

    Meeting Agenda

  • Thyroid and Other Head & Neck Conditions | PAO-HNS

    Thyroid and Other Head and Neck Conditions In This Section: Obstructive Salivary Gland Disease Parathyroid Adenoma Parotid Gland (Salivary Glad) Tumors​ Obstructive Salivary Gland Disease ​Author(s): Nikolaus Hjelm, MD; David Cognetti, MD. ​ Overview: Obstructive salivary gland disease occurs when there is an blockage in the outflow duct from the salivary gland that prevents saliva from traveling out of the gland and into a patient’s mouth. The backflow of saliva behind the blockage results in enlargement of the obstructed salivary gland. This is similar to a clogged sink drain. When a sink drain (the salivary duct) is clogged, the water backs up into the sink (the salivary gland) and overflows the sink (resulting in a swollen salivary gland). The most common cause of a salivary gland obstruction is a sialolith, also known as a salivary duct stone. Other frequent etiologies include mucus plugging and narrowing of the duct from scarring. The best way to treat obstructive salivary gland disease is to remove the blockage. In the past, treatment was limited to surgically removing the entire salivary gland. However, in the mid 1990s, sialendoscopy emerged in Europe as a gland preserving management option for diagnosing and removing salivary stones. Fortunately, there are several otolaryngologists in Pennsylvania who are experienced with sialendoscopy. Sialendoscopy is a minimally-invasive procedure in which your physician uses a very small camera scope to evaluate the ducts of the salivary glands. The scope passes through your mouth and into the natural entrance of the salivary duct and therefore does not require an incision or result in a scar. The camera ranges from 0.8 mm to 1.6 mm in size, and allows for visualization of the inside of the small salivary ducts. A working channel in the larger endoscopes allows for treatment of salivary stones and scarring with baskets, burrs, balloons, and lasers. The endoscope can also be used to irrigate the duct with saline or steroids to clear mucus plugs and alleviate inflammation. Symptoms: Most frequently include but are not limited to: Salivary gland swelling with eating Discomfort or pain in the salivary glands with eating Dry mouth Feeling of a hard and possibly tender mass in the mouth, on the face, or under the jaw What to Expect at Your Otolaryngologist Office Visit: Your otolaryngologist will ask you about your symptoms including but not limited to when you first noticed them, when they typically occur, how frequently they occur, and any exacerbating or alleviating factors. Careful examination by your physician will include a full head and neck examination to rule out other causes of your symptoms. The exam will include but is not limited to palpation of the affected area as well as palpation inside your mouth to localize the origin of your discomfort. Additional tests may include but are not limited to a CT scan or ultrasound of your head and neck. Treatment: If it is determined that sialendoscopy is indicated for assessment and treatment of your salivary problem, your otolaryngologist will schedule you for the procedure. This typically takes place in the operating room. The risks for this minimally invasive procedure are low as it simply involves looking within the duct. In patients with scarring or blockages in the duct, there is a small risk of damage to the duct. Most patients experience swelling of the salivary gland after the procedure. This is expected and subsides within the first few days. Massage of the gland helps with this, and it is important to stay well hydrated. In patients with a large salivary stone, your physician may need to make a small incision within the mouth to remove the stone. This heals very quickly and without scar (if you ever accidentally bit the inside of your cheek you know how quickly the mouth heals). In some rare cases when the stone is in the parotid gland (salivary gland on side of face) and is unable to be reached with the endoscope or an intraoral incision, a small skin incision in front of your ear may be required. After the procedure, you can resume a normal diet. If an incision was made, you should be careful brushing your teeth in that area. You doctor will likely recommend an oral rinse during the recovery period. Rarely, patients experience numbness along the side of their tongue, which typically improves with time. Occasionally, a stent is placed in the salivary duct at the time of the procedure. This stent is then removed at your postoperative visit after the duct is well healed. Parathyroid Adenoma Authors: Robert Saadi M.D., Elizabeth Cottrill M.D. Overview: The parathyroid glands are part of the body’s endocrine system and are located in the neck close to the thyroid gland. Most people have four glands, each roughly the size of a pea. These glands are responsible for making parathyroid hormone (PTH), a chemical which controls calcium levels in the blood by altering how it is absorbed in the gut, excreted in the kidney, and deposited in or released from the bones. Calcium is vital to the function of many different types of cells in the body, especially muscle and nerve cells. A parathyroid adenoma is a benign growth of one or more of the parathyroid glands which results in over production of PTH. Parathyroid adenomas account for the vast majority of what is called “primary hyperparathyroidism”. Primary hyperparathyroidism is about 3 times more common in women than in men and usually occurs in people in their 50’s and 60’s, but can occur at any age. While some genetic mutations are known, and tend to run in families (Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia or “MEN”), the majority of primary hyperparathyroidism is caused by sporadic mutations. There is no known cause, although radiation exposure to the neck may increase the risk. Most cases of primary hyperparathyroidism are due to over-growth of a single gland (about 80%). Less commonly, there is growth of multiple glands at once, termed parathyroid hyperplasia (about 20%). Less than 1% of cases are caused by a cancer (malignancy) of a parathyroid gland. In all of these cases, too much PTH causes the levels of calcium to rise in the blood. This results from more absorption of calcium from the gut, less excretion of calcium by the kidneys, and more calcium release from the bones. Symptoms: Many patients with primary hyperparathyroidism do not have any symptoms and, very often, it is diagnosed by routine blood work that incidentally finds a high calcium level. Symptoms that may be caused by elevated calcium in the blood include kidney stones, bone pain and weak bones, abdominal cramping, irritability or depression. When a cancer of the parathyroid gland is present, patients are more likely to have severe symptoms due to very high levels of hormone and, although rare, may also note hoarseness or a neck mass. What to Expect at Your Otolaryngologist Office Visit: Prior to seeing your otolaryngologist, you may have already been evaluated by your primary care doctor or an endocrinologist to rule out other diagnoses that are associated with high calcium levels. When the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism is confirmed, additional tests may be necessary. Because parathyroid hormone causes calcium to be absorbed into the blood from bones, you may develop weak bones or osteoporosis which can be determined with a bone density test. If you have symptoms of kidney stones, radiographic imaging of your abdomen may sometimes be necessary. Depending on your medical and family history, your doctor may recommend genetic testing for MEN 1 or MEN2. Your Otolaryngologist will perform a head and neck examination at your visit. Parathyroid adenomas are generally not able to be felt in the neck, therefore, for surgical planning, your Otolaryngologist will often order certain imaging studies and may perform a bed-side ultrasound in clinic. An ultrasound of the neck, which may also be done by a radiologist, is an inexpensive and radiation-free method for looking for an enlarged gland. Sometimes, a Tc-sestimibi scan, which uses a drug that is taken up by a parathyroid adenoma and is then shown on imaging, will be required to locate the enlarged gland. A specialized CT or MRI scan may be necessary in some cases. Treatment: Treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism is often coordinated by a team of doctors including both an Endocrinologist and also an Otolaryngologist. The most common and effective treatment is to remove the enlarged gland or glands, with surgery. For patients who are not having obvious symptoms, there are criteria that help guide when to undergo surgery and when to observe. For patients who are not good candidates for surgery or who have severe kidney failure, a prescription medication may be given to lower the PTH levels. Surgery can be done with a minimally invasive approach through a very small incision in the neck when a parathyroid adenoma is clearly seen on imaging. Additional imaging may be performed the day of surgery to assist with this. If imaging does not localize the adenoma, a slightly larger incision is planned and all four glands are found and evaluated (“parathyroid exploration”). Removal of multiple over-active glands may be necessary to drop the parathyroid hormone to normal levels. Parathyroid hormone levels drop dramatically after removal of the adenoma and this is can be measured during the operation to confirm that all hyper-secreting glands have been removed. In some cases, the surgeon may have to switch from a minimally invasive approach to look at all four glands if levels do not drop appropriately or if visualization is difficult. Rarely, the location of the parathyroid glands will be abnormal and parathyroid glands may be found inside the thyroid gland, in the chest, or higher in the neck. The main risks of surgery include hoarseness, bleeding, and long-term low calcium levels. Hoarseness may result from stretch or damage to the nerve that controls the vocal cords. The risk of damage to this nerve is less than 4% for experiences surgeons. If bleeding occurs following surgery, it can result in a collection of blood in the neck, called a hematoma. Often these are small and resolve on their own over time, or they may require a procedure to drain the blood. Low calcium levels are actually expected for a short period after surgery since function of the normal glands is suppressed by the over-functioning gland, however long term low calcium is rare. Calcium and Vitamin D supplements may be needed after surgery for several weeks. Signs of low calcium include numbness and tingling around your lips and fingertips and in extreme cases muscular contractions called tetany. References 1. Cole DE, Webb S, Chan PC. Update on parathyroid hormone: new tests and new challenges for external quality assessment. Clin Biochem. 2007;40(9-10):585-90. 2. Mourad M, Buemi A, Darius T, Maiter D. Surgical options for primary hyperparathyroidism. Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2015;76(5):638-42. Parotid Gland (Salivary Gland) Tumors Authors: Christopher Pool, MD (Penn State Hershey Medical Center) and Neerav Goyal, MD MPH (Penn State Hershey Medical Center) Overview: The parotid gland is a salivary gland located in front of the lower border of the ear. The nerve responsible for facial expression and movement, called the facial nerve, courses through the parotid gland. Tumors (or masses) of salivary glands occur most commonly in the parotid gland although they can occur less frequently in the sublingual (below the tongue) or submandibular gland (below the jaw).1, 2 The majority (75%) of parotid masses are benign (not cancerous) and a visit to your otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon (ENT) will help determine the nature of the mass.3 Salivary gland tumors are rare, representing six to eight percent (6-8%) of head and neck tumors.1, 2 In the United States, there are approximately 2500 cases per year.1, 2 Although there are no predominant risk factors for salivary gland cancer, smoking has been associated with Warthin’s tumor, a type of non-cancerous salivary gland tumor.4, 5 Possible reasons for a parotid mass include: benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumors, salivary cysts, salivary gland stones, sarcoid, autoimmune conditions, infections or other inflammatory processes. Many of these reasons present with a single-sided mass, but some conditions can be associated with a mass in both glands. Symptoms: Most patients with salivary gland tumors present with painless swelling of the parotid, submandibular (below the jaw), or sublingual (below the tongue) glands. Occasionally, the mass may be associated with facial droop as the facial nerve runs through the gland. Facial weakness or droop is more commonly found in cancerous masses. This droop may sometimes be recognized as a “Bell’s palsy.” Some patients may present with a lump in their neck or cheek. What to Expect at Your Otolaryngologist Office Visit: Your doctor will ask you questions to better understand when the swelling began, where it is located, and if you are in pain or discomfort. The physical exam will include an assessment of the mass or salivary glands as well as an assessment of your facial movement and facial function. Several additional tests may be helpful. Tissue diagnosis remains the gold standard for determining the nature of the mass.6 An ultrasound will be used to identify the architecture of the mass and a fine needle (FNA) will be used to collect a sample for pathologic analysis.7 This maybe done in the office by the otolaryngologist or by a radiologist or ultrasonographer at a separate visit. Some practices have someone (a cytopathologist or pathologist) review the slide immediately to ensure there are enough cells to help make the diagnosis. Your surgeon will also likely get a CT (“CAT”) scan or MRI to assess the extent of the parotid mass.9 Treatment: Surgery is the cornerstone of treatment of this disease, with most benign and low-grade cancers treated with surgery alone.10 Tumors that are high-grade, are treated more aggressively with radiation therapy in addition to surgery.11 Every effort is made to remove the entire tumor while preserving the facial nerve. In experienced hands and in patients with no evidence of facial nerve weakness, the risk to this nerve is usually low. Patients who have tumors that are non-cancerous or benign, can elect to have the masses followed instead of having surgery. However, many of these masses do continue to grow and get larger in size. The surgeon may recommend repeat imaging if you choose to follow the mass instead of surgery. The surgery is usually an outpatient surgery or associated with a short hospital stay. The surgeon may use a drain, or a small plastic tube, connected to a suction bulb to help keep the wound fluid out. The surgeon may also suggest a compressive dressing over the surgical wound. Your surgeon will be able to provide the most relevant information regarding your parotid tumor and how to best address it as well as more details regarding the surgery and associated risks. Further reading: Fine Needle Aspiration Salivary Gland Cancer References 1. Barnes L EJ, Reichart P, Sidransky D. (Eds). Pathology and Genetics of Head and Neck Tumours: Tumours of the Salivary Glands. World Health Organization.2005: 209. 2. Guzzo M, Locati LD, Prott FJ, Gatta G, McGurk M, Licitra L. Major and minor salivary gland tumors. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology. 2010;74: 134-148. 3. Spiro RH. Salivary neoplasms: overview of a 35-year experience with 2,807 patients. Head and Neck Surgery. 1986;8: 177-184. 4. de Ru JA, Plantinga RF, Majoor MH, et al. Warthin's tumour and smoking. B-ent. 2005;1: 63-66. 5. Pinkston JA, Cole P. Cigarette smoking and Warthin's tumor. American Journal of Epidemiology. 1996;144: 183-187. 6. Liu CC, Jethwa AR, Khariwala SS, Johnson J, Shin JJ. Sensitivity, Specificity, and Posttest Probability of Parotid Fine-Needle Aspiration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. 2016;154: 9-23. 7. Christensen RK, Bjorndal K, Godballe C, Krogdahl A. Value of fine-needle aspiration biopsy of salivary gland lesions. Head and Neck. 2010;32: 104-108. 8. Maiorano E, Lo Muzio L, Favia G, Piattelli A. Warthin's tumour: a study of 78 cases with emphasis on bilaterality, multifocality and association with other malignancies. Oral Oncology. 2002;38: 35-40. 9. Lee YY, Wong KT, King AD, Ahuja AT. Imaging of salivary gland tumours. European Journal of Radiology. 2008;66: 419-436. 10. Lim YC, Lee SY, Kim K, et al. Conservative parotidectomy for the treatment of parotid cancers. Oral Oncology. 2005;41: 1021-1027. 11. Mahmood U, Koshy M, Goloubeva O, Suntharalingam M. Adjuvant radiation therapy for high-grade and/or locally advanced major salivary gland tumors. Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. 2011;137: 1025-1030.

  • Terms of Use | PAO-HNS

    Terms of Use TERMS OF USE / LEGAL NOTICE FOR WWW.OTOPA.ORG SITE The Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (“Owner” or “us” or “we” or “our”) owns and operates the www.otopa.org site (“Site”). The following Terms of Use (“TOU”) govern your use of the Site. Other sites or content owned or controlled by Owner may have their own terms of use and should be reviewed. Owner may also offer promotions, sweepstakes, contests, services, or features that have their own terms of use, and to the extent any portion of those special terms conflict with these TOU, the special terms will govern for that specific portion. By using the Site, you agree to be bound by these TOU. If you do not agree to be so bound, you are not authorized to use the Site. These TOU are a legal contract between you and Owner and govern your access to and use of the Site together with any services offered through the Site. Your rights to use the Site are limited by applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Site is intended for adults 18 years of age or older. By accessing the Site, you represent that you are 18 years of age or older. The Site The purpose of the Site is to provide a wide variety of information on otolaryngology along with related membership services to the Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. The information contained on the Site is provided for educational and informational purposes only. You agree that you will only use the Site for its intended purposes, and not for other commercial ventures without first seeking approval from Owner. Medical, Legal, and Financial Disclaimers All Site content is provided for informational purposes only. Nothing on the Site is intended to act as medical, legal, or financial advice, to replace the services of a trained health, legal, or financial professional, and/or to be a substitute for the medical, legal, or financial advice of a licensed physician, attorney, or financial professional. Find a Physician/Surgeon Feature and DisclaimerOwner offers the Find an Otolaryngologist MD directory search feature through the Site, which is an online listing of member Otolaryngologists practicing in Pennsylvania. You are prohibited from copying, reproducing, posting/uploading, modifying, editing, adapting, transmitting, distributing, republishing, translating, creating derivative works from, reverse engineering, displaying, downloading, reselling or duplicating, in whole or in part, for commercial or any other purposes, or for purposes of compiling mailing lists or any other list, any Find an Otolaryngologist MD content or data. You may not use any Find an Otolaryngologist MD content or data to establish any independent data files, databases, compendiums, or any other reference materials. The only permissible use of Find an Otolaryngologist MD is use by the general public to assist them in locating Otolaryngologists within a specific region. All Find an Otolaryngologist MD content and data is self-reported and is not intended for use by organizations requiring credentialing verification. All Find an Otolaryngologist MD content and data is compiled from self-reported information provided by member Otolaryngologists. As such, none of the Find an Otolaryngologist MD content or data originates from, nor is fact-checked or maintained by, Owner. Owner does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose of the information and data contained in Find an Otolaryngologist MD. Owner does not in any way endorse the individuals described in Find an Otolaryngologist MD, nor does Owner verify medical qualification, licenses, experience levels, practice areas or suitability of any listed Otolaryngologist. Owner does not prescreen or conduct any review or analysis of the Otolaryngologists listed in Find an Otolaryngologist MD. You use Find an Otolaryngologist MD at your own risk. You should conduct your own analysis and research of any Otolaryngologists prior to engaging him or her for medical advice or services. In no event shall Owner be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken by you in reliance of any information or data found in Find an Otolaryngologist MD. TOU Changes Owner reserves the right to modify these TOU at any time without prior notice. You should visit the Site from time to time to review the current TOU. By using the Site subsequent to any modification of these TOU, you agree to be bound by such modification(s). Owner will highlight any change to these TOU for 30 days after such change(s) is/are made. Owner does not represent that any of the Site content is completely accurate, and therefore any reliance on the Site is done at your own risk. Intellectual and Other Property Other than the exceptions referenced in these TOU or noted elsewhere, all other content on the Site is the property of Owner or an entity that has licensed the content to the owner, including, but not limited to, all marks, logos, names, text, data, documents, messages, pictures, images, video, audio, graphics, links, software and its underlying code, domain name, or other electronic files (referred hereafter as “Owner Content. Website software and underlying code are property of The Pennsylvania Medical Society. Certain elements of Site, including but not limited to, text, graphics, photos, images, video, audio, color selections, organization and layout, are copyright protected under United States and international copyright laws and treaty provisions. Any Owner Content protected by intellectual property laws may not be copied, republished, posted, modified, edited, transmitted, distributed, used to create derivative works of, or reverse engineered without permission, except that you may print out one copy of each Site page solely for non‑commercial personal or educational use. No right, title, or interest in any Owner Content is transferred to you as a result of you accessing, downloading, or printing such content from the Site. Any use of Owner Content must display the appropriate copyright, trademark, and other proprietary notices. You acknowledge that you have no right, title, or interest in or to the Site and/or Owner Content. The Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery is a mark of Owner. Other marks, names, and logos on the Site are the property of their respective owners. There may be other content located on the Site not owned by Owner, and you should respect those property rights as well. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved to Owner. Copyright Infringement Notification If you believe that any content on the Site infringes your copyright and you want the content removed from the Site, please send a detailed message (under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the following information must be included in the message) to Owner’s designated agent for notice of claims of copyright infringement: (i). A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. (ii). Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site. (iii). Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled and information reasonably sufficient to permit Owner to locate the material. (iv). Information reasonably sufficient to permit Owner to contact you as the complaining party, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail address at which the complaining party may be contacted. (v). A statement that the complaining party has a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law. (vi). A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. Owner’s Designated Agent is: PAO-HNS Designated Agent 400 Winding Creek Boulevard Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 Phone: (717) 558-7750 ext. 1519 Fax: (717) 558-7841 Email: info@otopa.org Owner takes copyright and other intellectual property issues seriously, and will terminate any Site users or related accounts that are connected to valid and repeat copyright infringement complaints. If you believe that any content on the Site violates or infringes your intellectual property rights, other than related to copyright, please send a detailed email to info@otopa.org detailing your allegation. Owner takes infringement of intellectual property rights seriously and will investigate the matter. Links to Third Party Sites And Other Site Interaction The Site contains links to external sites not controlled and/or affiliated with Owner. If you use these links, you will leave the Site. Owner provides these links to you only as a convenience. Owner is not responsible for the content at the linked sites, including, without limitation, links displayed on such sites. You access any linked sites at your own risk. The display of the links are not meant to imply that Owner guarantees, approves, recommends, or endorses the linked sites or any information, content and/or products/services available on those linked sites. The links are not meant to indicate any association with Owner. Owner is not responsible or liable for any linked site nor does Owner warrant that the linked sites or any goods, services, or information on the sites are current, accurate, or error-free. If you access the linked sites, you will be subject to the terms of use, privacy, and other policies applicable to those sites. You visit those sites at your own risk and should consult the sites’ policies. Owner may also allow interaction between the Site and other third party sites such as Twitter and other social media sites. This may include “Like” buttons or other interactions through third party buttons or plugins on the Site that when used, may allow you to share content from the Site or other content with other persons on or through the third party sites or elsewhere. Please consult the privacy policies of these third party sites before using them to make sure you are comfortable with the level of sharing that will take place once you interact with them. It may be very different than how your UGC and other content is shared on the Site. Owner has no control over these third party sites and you use these interaction functions at your own risk. Owner is in no way liable for any harm to you as a result of using one these interaction functions. Third Party Advertisements / Sponsors The Site may contain third party advertisements and/or references to corporate sponsors of the Site. Owner is not responsible for the content of any third party advertisement or sponsor reference, including any linked sites accessible via the advertisements or references. You access any linked sites at your own risk. The display of any third party advertisements and/or sponsor references are not meant to imply that Owner guarantees, approves, recommends, or endorses any of the third party goods or services unless otherwise stated. The display of any third party advertisements or sponsor information is not meant to indicate any association between these third parties and Owner (other than as an advertiser or sponsor). Owner is not responsible or liable for any third party goods or services, nor does Owner warrant that any third party goods or services are safe, useful for a specific purpose, accurate, free of defects, or otherwise error-free. Other Prohibited Conduct In connection with your access and/or use of the Site or any Site services, you agree not to: Violate any federal, state, or local laws or regulations. Impose an unreasonable or disproportionately large strain on Owner’s network or computer infrastructure. Engage in any behavior that is designed to hack into or gain unauthorized access to protected areas of the Site and/or Owner’s computers, servers or networks, and/or any computers or systems used by other users of the Site. Destroy, damage, or impair any portion of the Site or any computers, systems, hardware, or software used by Owner or other users. Make unauthorized attempts to modify any information stored on the Site. Make attempts to defeat or circumvent security features, or to utilize the Site for any other purpose other than its intended purposes. Use any automated technology such as a robot, spider, or scraper to access, scrape, or data mine the Site. Use the Site to send spam or unsolicited bulk email. Provide false or misleading information when signing up for a Site account. The previous list of prohibitions is not exclusive. Owner reserves the right to terminate your access to the Site or any Site services for any reason. By accepting these TOU, you waive and hold harmless Owner from any claims resulting from any action taken by Owner during or as a result of Owner’s investigation and/or from any actions taken as a consequence of investigations by either Owner or law enforcement related to your use of the Site. Indemnity You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Owner, including its officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, licensors, representatives, attorneys, and business partners (“Indemnified Parties”), from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, liabilities, judgments, awards, and expenses (including attorneys' fees, costs of defense, and direct, indirect, punitive, special, individual, consequential, or exemplary damages) Owner or any of the Indemnified Parties suffer in relation to, arising from, or for the purpose of avoiding, any claim or demand from a third party that relates to your use of the Site and/or any Site goods or services, your breach of these TOU, the use of the Site by any person using your password, or any violation of an applicable law or regulation by you. Your indemnification obligation shall survive the termination of these TOU. Disclaimer of Warranties YOUR USE OF THE SITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. OWNER MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR ENDORSEMENTS WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE SITE OR ANY GOODS OR SERVICES OFFERED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE. OWNER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, (EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE), INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SECURITY, COMPLETENESS, TIMELINESS, APPROPRIATENESS, ACCURACY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, FREEDOM FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. THE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES APPLIES TO THE SITE, ITS CONTENT, AND ANY GOODS OR SERVICES OFFERED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE. OWNER DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SITE FUNCTIONS OR CONTENT WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, OR SECURE. OWNER DOES NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE SITE. OWNER DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SITE AND/OR CONTENT WILL BE ERROR-FREE, THAT ANY ERRORS ON THE SITE WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE SITE/SERVERS ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. THE SITE AND RELATED CONTENT, INCLUDING ANY GOODS, SERVICES OR INFORMATION PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE, ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. YOU ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS IN THE EVENT YOU EXPERIENCE ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE ARISING FROM THE USE OF THE SITE OR ANY SITE GOODS OR SERVICES. OWNER MAKES NO WARRANTIES THAT YOUR USE OF THE SITE WILL NOT INFRINGE THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR SUCH INFRINGEMENT. Limitation of Liability IN NO EVENT WILL OWNER OR ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, LICENSORS, REPRESENTATIVES, ATTORNEYS, AND BUSINESS PARTNERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, ACTUAL, OR OTHER INDIRECT DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF REVENUE OR INCOME, LOST DATA, LOSS OF GOODWILL, PAIN AND SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, OR SIMILAR DAMAGES, EVEN IF OWNER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF: (1) THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE OR ANY SITE GOODS OR SERVICES; (2) ANY TRANSACTION CONDUCTED THROUGH OR FACILITATED BY THE SITE; (3) ANY CLAIM ATTRIBUTABLE TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INACCURACIES ON THE SITE; AND/OR (4) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE SITE OR ANY GOOD OR SERVICE OFFERED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE. In no event will the collective liability of Owner or its officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, licensors, representatives, attorneys, and business partners to any party, regardless of the type of action whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, exceed the greater of $100.00 or the amount you paid to Owner for the applicable good or service out of which the liability arose. IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THESE TOU, THE SITE, OR ANY GOOD OR SERVICE OFFERED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE, YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY IS TO DISCONTINUE USING THE SITE. GIVEN THAT SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW FOR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY WILL APPLY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED UNDER THE LAW. Password/Username Protection The Site offers a “Members Only” section where Otolaryngologists can access additional information. In order to get access to the Members Only content, you will need to fill out the membership application[LINK TO APPLICATION PAGE HERE. IF THE MEMBERSHIP SELECTION HAS RULES/GUIDELINES YOU WANT KNOWN, THOSE SHOULD BE POSTED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE APPLICATION FORM]. If accepted as a member, you will be issued a user name and password in order to access content through the Members Only section of the Site. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and user name, and agree to notify Owner if your password is lost, stolen, disclosed to an unauthorized party, or otherwise may have been compromised. You are responsible for all activities that occur under your Site membership account. You may only set up one Site membership account, and must do so in your own name. You agree to immediately notify Owner at info@otopa.org of any unauthorized use of your Site membership account or any other breach of security in relation to the Site known to you. If Owner suspends or terminates your Site membership account under these TOU, you acknowledge that all information and content associated with such account will no longer be available to you. You may cancel your Site membership account at any time by contacting the Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at info@otopa.org or by calling 717-558-7750 ext. 1519. Geographic Limitation Owner operates the Site from its headquarters in the United States, and the Site and TOU are intended only for users within the United States. If you use the Site outside the United States, you are responsible for following your applicable local laws and determining, among other things, whether your use of the Site violates any of those local laws. By using the Site, you agree and acknowledge that information about you, including personally identifiable information, may be transmitted to and stored in the United States. Site Privacy PolicyYour use of the Site is governed by the Site Privacy Policy located at __________________. The Site Privacy Policy is incorporated by reference into these TOU. Miscellaneous You acknowledge that the opinions and recommendations contained on the Site are not necessarily those of Owner nor endorsed by Owner. Any reliance on any opinions or recommendations offered on the Site is done at your risk. Owner does not guarantee or promise that any opinions and/or recommendations on the Site are accurate or will be helpful to any issue you may have. You agree that Owner is not liable to you or anyone else for any harm that might arise as a result of using and/or implementing in any manner any of the opinions or recommendations found on the Site. Please note that Owner does not accept unsolicited content or ideas you may attempt to transmit to Owner directly. As such, we take no responsibility for such transmitted content or ideas. If you do send Owner unsolicited content or ideas, you agree that Owner may use such content and ideas in any way Owner wishes without any compensation to you. Any and all disputes relating to these TOU, the Site, and/or any goods or services offered on or through the Site, are governed by, and will be interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to any conflict of laws provisions. You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (USA)(specifically, Common Pleas Court of Dauphin County or the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania) for any litigation arising out of or relating to the use of the Site, waive any objection to the venue of any such litigation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania courts, and agree not to plead or claim in any Commonwealth of Pennsylvania court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in an inconvenient forum. If any part of these TOU is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, it will not impact any other provision of these TOU, all of which will remain in full force and effect. These TOU constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Site and supersede all prior communications, promises and proposals, whether oral, written, or electronic, between you and Owner, with respect to the Site. If you violate any portion of these TOU, Owner reserves the right, without an obligation to do so, to deny you access to the Site and/or remove any UGC you may have posted/uploaded on the Site. If Owner terminates your access to the Site, Owner may also delete your Site membership account. Owner has the right to terminate any password-restricted account for any reason. Owner's failure to enforce any portion of these TOU is not a waiver of such portion. The proprietary rights, disclaimer of warranties, representations made by you, indemnities, and limitations of liability shall survive the termination of these TOU. Owner reserves the right, without notice and reason, to take down or terminate the Site or otherwise revoke any and all access granted to you related to the Site. You agree that Owner is not liable to you or any other third party for this action. Owner does not assume any liability or responsibility for your use of the Internet or the Site including, but not limited to, any change your computer or related systems may sustain as a result of accessing the Site. You are free to text link to the Site so long as there is nothing deceptive or infringing about the link. Owner may revoke this linking permission at any time and for any reason. Certain software elements of the Site and related Site services may be subject to U.S. export laws and controls. As such, no software may be downloaded or exported to any country or foreign citizen that is under a U.S. embargo or that would otherwise violate U.S. law or regulations. If you need to contact Owner for any reason not already specified in these TOU, please use the following contact information: Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 400 Winding Creek Boulevard Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 Phone: 717-558-7750 ext. 1519 Fax: 717-558-7841 Email: info@otopa.org If you’re a business, talk about how you started and share your professional journey. Explain your core values, your commitment to customers and how you stand out from the crowd. Add a photo, gallery or video for even more engagement.

  • PAO-HNS 2024 ASM Posters | PAO-HNS

    PAO-HNS Abstracts 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Each year the PAO-HNS invites practicing otolaryngologists to share their research, techniques, and ideas that they incorporate into their practices to improve patient outcomes, practice efficiency, or patient safety/quality improvement. All resident levels, including fellows and medical students are urged to submit. We are proud to share this year's top submissions. Thank you to all our participants!

  • COVID-19 | PAO-HNS

    COVID-19 Resources The Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (PAO-HNS) is aware of our members concerns during this challenging time. Information on the coronavirus and COVID-19 continues to grow, which creates new recommendations that evolve and even change frequently. Many national organizations have created resources for physicians seeking guidance on the disease, its impact to our patients, the growing evidence of unique risks we face as surgeons, and the business challenges of practice operation during this time of limited patient visits and surgeries. ​In an effort to guide our colleagues in the state to helpful sources of information, we are providing these resources. The PAO-HNS hopes that as we remain dedicated to the care of our patients, we can likewise function in an educated and safe fashion to protect ourselves, our fellow healthcare workers, and our families. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Coronavirus 2019 Resources American College of Surgeons COVID-19 and Surgery Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Information for Healthcare Providers Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Information for Health Care Professionals ​ Sub-Specialty Societies ​ American Head and Neck Society COVID-19 Bulletin Board American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology IPOD COVID-19 Survey Report American Rhinologic Society Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

  • Advocacy | PAO-HNS

    Advocacy Update Governor Shapiro unveiled his Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget in February. This proposal represents an 8.4% increase ($3.7 billion) over the prior fiscal year. The Pennsylvania General Assembly will now grapple with the details with an eye towards final passage by the end of June. ​ The budget document shows an 8.5% increase in the Department of Health. Of note are three new initiatives: ​ 1. Ten million for the Long-Term Care Transformation Office 2. One million for Firearm Injury Prevention 3. Four million for Medical Debt Relief The entire budget tracking spreadsheet c an be accessed here: 2024-25 PA Budget ​ What we're watching... ​ Medical Licensure Compact Act Although Pennsylvania enacted a medical licensure compact act in 2016, it remains to be one of four states that continues to experience delays in implementation due to language concerns with the FBI over background checks. Once this obstacle is removed, final enactment will take place directly. We are tracking impact on otolaryngology. Septoplasty In December 2023, Highmark BC/BS issued a Policy Directive that stated that a twelve week course of either an intranasal antihistamine or intranasal steroid would be required prior to procedure approval. In February, Highmark issued a Policy Update that reduced the treatment course from twelve weeks to four weeks before approval would be granted. This policy change is to become effective on May 27, 2024. PAO, with AAO, is working on letters to Highmark, the Pennsylvania Insurance Commission, and the Senate and House Insurance Committees to indicate opposition to this policy change. Another septoplasty issue has arisen lately, Highmark’s refusal to reimburse for debridements after sinus surgery. Highmark claims that this procedure is not just part of post-operative care. This issue will be further flushed out with PAO actively expressing concerns with this issue. ​ ​ ​2024 General Assembly Session Dates STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 STATE SENATE June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

PAOHNS_Logo_ALL WHITE TRANSPARENT.png
bottom of page