ARO CELEBRATES
10th MIDWINTER
MEETING
Top: Happy
Dolphin Inn, St. Petersburg Beach, FL. ARO Midwinter
Meetings, 1978-1984. Bottom: Holiday Inn Clearwater
Beach Surfside, ARO Midwinter Meetings 1985-1987.
With this
midwinter meeting, ARO celebrates the 10th birthday
of the fulfillment of David Lim's dream: an intensive
scientific meeting for researchers in the field of otolaryngology
held informally and economically in a warm climate.
I think it is fair to say that none of us who attended
the first MWM in 1978 envisioned the dramatic growth
of the organization and the changes that have taken
place in the ensuing decade. This special edition of
the ARO News is dedicated to chronicling the growth
of ARO since 1978 and to capturing the flavor of what
ARO has meant to some of those involved in its gestation,
birth, and now progress toward adolescence.
This special issue contains three sections. One is a
formal history of ARO prepared by David Lim, our Editor-Historian.
The purpose is to store in a somewhat archival form
the records concerning ARO's history. It traces ARO's
roots from the ideas of forward-thinking researchers
and clinicians to the execution of research meetings
held first with the Academy and then as a
(Continued next column)
|
separate
meeting in Florida. The second part of the issue contains
personal impressions and reminiscences from some of
those who have served in official capacities for ARO
over the past decade. Finally, a collage of photographs
intended to capture the flavor of the meetings has been
assembled. The editor is grateful to Hal Schuknecht,
David Lim, Norma Slepecky and Cesar Fermin for supplying
pictures for the collage.
(Continued)
HISTORY
OF ARO: I-BIRTH
David J. Lim, Editor-Historian
Historically,
the ARO was an outgrowth of the Committee for Research
of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology
(AAOO). Thus a brief review of the history of the Committee
for Research is appropriate for understanding the genesis
of the ARO.
In the early days (1950-70), research in otolaryngology
was conducted largely by clinicians and by a handful
of non-clinician M.D.'s and Ph.D.'s who were in departments
of otolaryngology as fulltime researchers. They formed
their Research Meeting and met in conjunction with the
AAOO, as described by Juergen Tonndorf in his article
in this newsletter. According to Hal Schuknecht, "In
1955 the Subcommittee for Research of the Committee
for the Conservation of Hearing of the AAOO became actively
engaged in stimulating research in otology. During the
next several years, the committee sponsored several
exhibits on human temporal bone pathology at the annual
meetings of the AAOO with emphasis on the scientific
value of this endeavor and on the technique for removal.
Funds for these exhibits were provided by the AAOO.
In 1960, the Committee for the Conservation of Hearing
was phased out, and the AAOO created a Committee for
Research. This committee adopted the objectives of the
former subcommittee. In addition to exhibits, the committee
established annual research meetings and awards for
(residents') research." Most of the topics dealt with
experimental surgery, histopathology, and audiology.
Audiologists, psychoacousticians, and physiologists
opted to take the Acoustical Society of America or other
meetings as their forum.
(Continued)
|
HISTORY
OF ARO:
II-MIDWINTER RESEARCH
MEETING
The ARO was
unaware of an unexpected event that would help its destiny.
At the 1976 AAOO convention, after much talk, it was
finally decided to split the academy into otolaryngology
and ophthalmology. The focal point of debate at this
time was what form the newly organized academy of otolaryngology
should take and what role it should play among the otolaryngic
societies. This anticipated sudden structural change
of the academy also forced ARO to think of its own future
and what role it could or should play in the new academy.
ARO appointed Max Abramson, Bill Stebbins and Chuck
Berlin to the Future Committee to develop a consensus
among its members. ARO was invited to send its delegates
to the Intra-Specialty Conference of Otolaryngological
Societies called upon by the Division of Otolaryngology
of the academy. The meeting was held at the O'Hare Hilton
on September 11, 1976, and I was one of the two ARO
delegates. The major debate focused on the role of the
newly organized organization. One overwhelming concern
was the financial burden the split would bring to the
otolaryngological division of the academy, because the
otolaryngology membership was far smaller than the ophthalmology
membership. To overcome this difficulty, the idea was
developed to form a federated meeting with shared financial
responsibility. In this new structure, the academy could
maintain its role in education, such as instructional
courses, exhibits and continuing education, and the
remaining part of the meeting would be shared by the
other senior societies (such as the Triological Society
and American Otological Society) for their scientific
sessions. For such a federation, each participating
society would be assessed $5.00 for each member to provide
financial support. ARO with its $500 bank account could
offer only moral support in that difficult time for
the academy. To provide a greater voice in the proposed
federation, a membership drive was initiated at the
suggestion of Ralph Naunton.
The role ARO should play in this newly organized federation
and the future of the ARO was debated earnestly by the
members of the council, the Future Committee, and the
members at large. A majority felt that we should stay
with the academy;
(Continued)
|
