The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, originally started in the 1924, is the world's largest organization of over 13,000 specialist related to the area of ears, nose, and throat

Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....

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History

Reference
Though it was not official at the time, the AAO began in 1896 when Dr. Hal Foster wrote a letter to invite specialists in the areas of ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...

 and otolaryngology

Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....

 to gather for a meeting in Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

. This began the Western Ophthalmological, Otological, Laryngological and Rhinological Association. It was not until 82 years later that it adopted its official name. Then later it would add Head and Neck Surgery to identify its broader medical view of the foundation from just the ear

Ear

The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....

s, nose

Human nose

The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears the nostrils. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the nostrils...

 and throat

Throat

In vertebrate anatomy, the throat is the anterior part of the neck, in front of the vertebral column. It consists of the pharynx and larynx...

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In 1982 The AAO merged with the ACO as to "speak with a single voice" for the special field of medicine.

External links

• Official Website of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery