In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Tali Lando, MD, a pediatric otolaryngologist at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital of Westchester Medical Center and author of Breathless: Surgical Tales from the Brink (and Back), joins host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for a candid conversation about writing honestly about medicine. Dr. Lando discusses the 16-case medical memoir's structure, built around both the technical arc of surgery and its personal aftermath, and how surviving Stage IIIC breast cancer as a practicing surgeon shaped her first book, Hell and Back. She covers the HIPAA and confidentiality questions that come with writing about real patients, the mentors and editors who helped her find the confidence to publish, and why she believes storytelling belongs alongside clinical skill as a tool for teaching the next generation of otolaryngologists.

Dr. Lando's book: https://amzn.to/4f4ZaxG

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Matthew L. Bush, MD, PhD, MBA, Chair of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Kentucky and AAO-HNSF Coordinator for Research and Quality, joins host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for a candid conversation on research funding and career growth. Dr. Bush shares how the AAO-HNSF CORE Grant Program shaped his own path from first-time recipient to program steward and offers a practical playbook for young investigators—Clarity, Originality, Rigor, and Effect—on what it takes to write a grant that gets funded.

Helpful Resources:

• CORE Grants: https://www.entnet.org/quality-practice/research/core-grants-program/

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Eben L. Rosenthal, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and the Barry and Amy Baker Chair in Laryngeal, Head and Neck Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, joins host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for a candid conversation on reinvention, resilience, and discovery. Dr. Rosenthal reflects on building a career across five leading institutions, his "one in ten" philosophy on research and failure, and his pioneering work in fluorescence-guided surgery that lets surgeons see cancer in real time.

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Rajesh S. Kakani, MD, shares his journey from international training to building a solo private practice in the U.S., offering candid insights for early-career physicians navigating today's consolidating landscape. He covers strategic practice location, calculated risk-taking, hybrid employment models, and the operational discipline needed to thrive independently. Dr. Kakani also reflects on workforce challenges, team culture, and his commitment to funding scholarships for future otolaryngologists.

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Soham Roy, MD, MBA, draws on his experience as a mentor to guide early-career surgeons through one of medicine's most pivotal transitions: moving from training into independent practice. Dr. Roy shares the framework he uses when advising residents, fellows, and early-career physicians: define success on your own terms, understand what truly brings fulfillment, and avoid the pressure to find a "perfect" first job. He also offers pragmatic guidance on evaluating today's evolving practice landscape and stresses the importance of building an expert advisory team to protect your future. Ultimately, Dr. Roy reminds young physicians that their legacy won't be defined by any single surgery, but by the lasting, positive impact they leave on their patients, colleagues, and loved ones.

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Inna A. Husain, MD, Medical Director of Laryngology at Community Hospital Munster, joins host Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for a practical and energizing conversation about how physicians can use social media to educate patients, grow their practice, and elevate the specialty.

Dr. Husain shares how her platform evolved from a pandemic-era hobby into a referral engine that draws patients from across the country for subspecialty laryngology and LPR care, and why physicians who don't help shape the online medical narrative risk ceding that ground to someone less qualified. The discussion covers the do's and don'ts to platform strategy, privacy pitfalls, and the unexpected opportunities that follow when you simply show up and share what you know.

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Peter Santa Maria, MBBS, PhD, discusses his approach to innovation in patient care and how physicians can source ideas and inspiration to chart their own ideation course. Dr. Santa Maria shares his global journey with host Rahul K Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO. Starting with his childhood in Australia, then to Stanford University, and now in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he balances a busy otology/neurotology practice while managing an innovation lab to continue creating medical devices to improve the lives of his patients. Dr. Santa Maria outlines how his approach to innovation is needs-driven and structured and focuses on projects that deliver near-term relief for patients.

In this wide-ranging episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Craig Dell, CPFA, Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management (a Bank of America company), joins host and AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, for an in-depth and candid discussion about financial planning for physicians at every career stage. Drawing on decades of experience advising doctors, Craig explains why physicians face unique financial challenges, from delayed earning years and significant education debt to lifestyle inflation and tax complexity. The conversation covers the power of compounding, goal-based bucket planning, maximizing tax-advantaged retirement accounts, and managing debt strategically. Whether you are in residency or well into your career or anywhere in between, this episode sponsored by the Young Physicians Section offers actionable steps to start building financial security today.

Cherie-Ann O. Nathan, MD, the Jack Pou Endowed Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport and a founding member of the AAO-HNS Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Section, discusses her journey in translational research, leading with purpose, and building a career at the intersection of clinical medicine and scientific discovery. Dr. Nathan reflects on the perseverance required to sustain NIH funding, the power of collaboration and team science, and how a curiosity rooted in traditional medicine led to a patented curcumin chewing gum with promising applications in oral cancer prevention. The conversation also covers the unique challenges facing HPV-negative head and neck cancer patients, the cultural health risks of betel nut use, and advice for early-career scientists navigating rejection and resilience. This episode is featured as part of celebrating WIO Day every March 8.

Helpful Resources:

• CORE Grants: https://www.entnet.org/quality-practice/research/core-grants-program/
• Get Involved: https://www.entnet.org/get-involved/sections/women-in-otolaryngology/

Zara M. Patel, MD, Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Stanford Medicine and Director of the Stanford Initiative to Cure Smell and Taste Loss, discusses her pursuit of a cure for olfactory dysfunction, the science behind smell recovery, and the research milestones that have redefined what is possible for patients with smell and taste loss. Dr. Patel reflects on her cross-country training journey, the curiosity-driven path that led her into an underexplored corner of the specialty, and how olfactory training and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections went from novel ideas to evidence-based treatments. The conversation also covers the biology of olfactory nerve regeneration, the importance of mentorship in building an academic career, and the expanding frontier of neuro-rhinology. This episode is featured as part of celebrating WIO Day every March 8.

Helpful Resources:

• Links for physicians and patients watching this: Stanford Initiative to Cure Smell and Taste Loss: https://med.stanford.edu/content/sm/smell.html/
• Patient education page for Olfactory Training: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2782042
• PRP studies:Pilot study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32337347/
• Randomized Controlled Trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36507615/
• Long term follow-up cohort study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39740091/
• Systematic Evidence Based Review of PRP use in all fields of ENT: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38914822/
• Case Report for use in Post-Traumatic Anosmia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39913151/