American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy Focused on Advocacy, Patient Care

As an otolaryngology professional organization committed to enhancing the knowledge and skills of physicians and others in their care of the allergy patient, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) prides itself on its educational efforts and socioeconomic achievements that help fulfill this mission. Representing more than 2,700 members, the AAOA centers its resources on the role of allergy diagnosis and management within the practice of otolaryngology. Our primary member services focus on education and advocacy.

From an advocacy standpoint, we have developed a collaborative relationship with general allergy through the Joint Council of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology to pool our resources and expertise with the goal of supporting our members and their patients in the areas of access to care issues, relative value and CPT issues, and related health care delivery and compliance issues. This synergy has helped both general allergists and otolaryngology allergists increase their voice within the health care system to improve care.

From an education perspective, the AAOA has developed and refined an evidence-based scope of knowledge to serve as the basis for all of our educational programming. Annually, we offer four educational programs focused on the diagnosis and management of allergy and related upper respiratory disorders, specifically as they impact the otolaryngology practice.

Educational Programs

The “Core Basic Course/Allergy and Rhinology Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Review Course,” which takes place February 1-3 at the Four Seasons Dallas at Las Colinas, will present basic concepts and techniques applicable to the clinical care of allergy patients, as well as review key fundamental components in preparation for MOC examination. The course is limited to a physician audience.

The program goals for this course are:

• Enhanced understanding of allergic disease—differential diagnosis, testing techniques and therapeutic modalities;
• Enhanced understanding of allergy symptomatology, its role within otolaryngology and the inflammatory disease process;
• Enhanced knowledge of patient management fundamentals; and
• Enhanced understanding and therapeutic management of sinus disease, including differential disease, co-morbidities, disease management and complications.

Allergy is an integral part of general otolaryngology practice, and inhalant allergy will be one of only four medical knowledge competency milestones that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) plans to monitor in the next accreditation cycle for otolaryngology-head and neck surgery training programs. To assist with this goal, we invite each of the ACGME-accredited programs to nominate resident candidates to participate in the core allergy components of the program. Our goal is to support the training programs in their educational endeavors by offering complementary programming tied to allergy diagnosis and management. We reach out to the training programs directly for candidate nominations. Resident candidates must be AAOA resident members or resident member candidates to qualify.