In this special Voices of Otolaryngology episode, recorded live in Indianapolis at the AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F EVP and CEO, sits down with Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, Editor in Chief of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and OTO Open. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of academic publishing, from peer review innovation and global collaboration to the integration of artificial intelligence in research and publishing.

Dr. Schmalbach shares insights into bringing the journals' editorial operations back in-house, maintaining rigorous review standards, fostering merit-based advancement for reviewers, and her vision for global and technological expansion. The discussion offers valuable guidance for current and aspiring contributors, reviewers, and clinician-scientists seeking to publish their work in the AAO-HNSF flagship journals.