image: Troy D. Woodard, MD, AAO-HNS/F President
Credit: Allison Liffman Photography, used with permission.
October 2, 2024, Alexandria, Virginia— Troy D. Woodard, MD, became the new President of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and its Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) on October 1. He was elected by members of the AAO-HNS and will serve a one-year term leading the Academy’s nearly 13,000 members who specialize in the treatment of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck.
“It is with great honor and excitement that I assume the role as President of the AAO-HNS/F. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and trust the members have placed in me, and I am committed to serving with dedication, integrity, and vision as we navigate the future of our specialty and patient care together,” said Dr. Woodard, who is with Cleveland Clinic Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Prior to assuming this leadership role, Dr. Woodard served as the Chair of the AAO-HNS Board of Governors (BOG) and the Vice Chair of the BOG Legislative Affairs Committee. He is also a passionate advocate for diversity and student mentorship and has demonstrated a deep commitment to strengthening the pipeline for underrepresented youth in medicine in his service as past president of the Harry Barnes Medical Society. Dr. Woodard is the second African American in the Academy’s 128-year history to hold the esteemed position of President.
“When I reflect on my previous experiences and journey within the Academy, I am reminded of the tremendous legacy of leadership, dedication, and innovation that has brought our field to where it stands today. Our success as an organization rests on the active engagement of our members. As the healthcare landscape rapidly changes, the importance of member engagement has never been greater and our collective strength lies within the diversity of our experiences, perspectives, and expertise,” Dr. Woodard shared.
Dr. Woodard is a distinguished professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and serves as the section head of rhinology, sinus, and skull base surgery and surgical director at Beachwood Family Health Center. In addition, he directs the advanced rhinology, sinus, and skull base fellowship. Dr. Woodard graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, completed his internship and residency at Loyola University Medical Center, and went on to complete a research and clinical fellowship in rhinology and skull base at the Medical College of Georgia.
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About the AAO-HNS/F
AAO-HNS, with approximately 13,000 members, is one of the world’s largest organizations representing specialists who treat the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. Otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeons diagnose and treat medical disorders that are among the most common affecting patients of all ages in the United States and around the world. The AAO-HNS Foundation works to advance the art, science, and ethical practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery through education, research, and lifelong learning. Visit the Academy’s website at www.entnet.org for more information.