Attendees listen to a panel at the Triological Society annual meeting.
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—Washington may not see eye to eye on much these days, but the otolaryngologists and other healthcare professionals at the 2018 Triological Society Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM) in this D.C. suburb agreed that the meeting was well worth their time.
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June 2018COSM drew 2,700 registrants to National Harbor, Md., during the five-day meeting in April. Nearly 900 residents and medical students attended, many who were afforded the opportunity to present clinical and research papers and posters at the society meetings. During the Triological Society’s scientific sessions, 65 podium presentations were given and 125 posters were presented. Numerous panel discussions were held on everything from treating Eustachian tubes to patenting good ideas—all to further attendee education.
“One, you really get exposure to all of the different projects, the breadth and depth of what is going on in the community,” said third-year otolaryngology resident Mallory Raymond, MD, of Emory University in Atlanta. “And then it’s a good networking opportunity for you to meet people in the fields you’re interested in … it’s nerding out together.”
“Being able to see old friends, make new friends, mentor trainees, and continue to contribute scientifically is a key part of this,” added Jose Zevallos, MD, MPH, an otolaryngologist at Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “Every time you come, it inspires you to do better. It inspires your science, it inspires your clinical work, and it drives you forward.”
In discussing the options of treatment, you must appear confident without appearing arrogant. This is a very fine and difficult line to follow. The patient has to have full faith and confidence that you are the one who they can trust with their life. —Mark Persky, MD, president of the Triological Society
Presidential Address: Earning Patient Trust
The trust in the meeting’s value echoed the themes of the presidential address from Triological Society President Mark Persky, MD. His talk focused on whether patient trust is entitled or earned.
“The answer is, it must be earned,” he said. “Is there a simplified formula for earning the patient’s trust? The answer: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Put yourself in the patient’s position … sounds simple, but it’s not so easy.”
Dr. Persky said he engages his patients without a computer to be more personal, even though it means he must later spend additional time completing his electronic health records. During office hours, he apologizes if he is late to the appointment, and he asks over and over if the patient has questions.