Practice Focus

Physician, Know Thyself! Tips for Navigating Mid-Career Transitions in Otolaryngology

‘Physician, heal thyself” is an ancient proverb encouraging the importance of examining one’s own professional identity, strengths, and limitations to better serve patients. But if you’re an otolaryngologist contemplating a mid-career change, “Physician, know thyself” may be a better guidepost for finding the best match for your personal needs and professional talents.

Such self-awareness was one of several tools ENT physicians cited during a panel on mid-career transitions held during The Triological Society’s 2025 Combined Sections Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Hearing Loss Genes Evaluated as Candidates for Therapy

Hearing loss genes vary widely in treatment favorability; thus, targeting development efforts to promising candidates will ensure the highest likelihood of clinical success. Several genes were identified as appealing targets.

Conservative Treatment Comes First When Addressing ENS

Currently, initial treatment approaches to ENS prioritize conservative management; given the complexity and severity of the condition, patients and clinicians should approach surgical options with caution.

Empty Nose Syndrome: Physiological, Psychological, or Perhaps a Little of Both?

ENS represents one of the more complex conditions in otolaryngology, characterized by the paradoxical feeling of nasal obstruction despite objectively patent airways. In addition to the feeling of severe nasal obstruction—one patient called it “suffocating with every breath”—patients also report dryness, burning, and crusting. The quality-of-life impact can be so great that some patients travel the world seeking multiple consultations and revision surgeries.

OCT Imaging Complements CT in Visualizing Normal and Pathological Ears

Although OCT was not capable of replacing CT due to its limited field of view (FOV) and inability to image through thick bony tissues, it visualized signs of pathology that are difficult to visualize with CT, suggesting its usefulness for some middle ear diagnostics.