A Message from the 2025 – 2026 ALA President
Dear Fellows and Members of the American Laryngological Association,
I am humbled and honored to have the privilege to serve as the 144th president of this honorable Association. Sometime during my residency, about thirty or so years ago, I was talking to Dr. Berke (my chairman and future Fellowship mentor) in his office and found myself perusing certificates on his wall. When I asked what each of these meant, I clearly recall a pause and sense of pride as he described his membership in the American Laryngological Association. The ALA is a ‘senior society’, one whose membership is comprised of only those who have demonstrated significant and continued scholarship in laryngology. I later attended the annual meetings at COSM and with Dr. Berke’s gracious invitation found myself at (maybe one of the last) black tie receptions. I remember feeling distinctly underdressed and out of place; for those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise that, to this day, I do not own a tuxedo. Thankfully, I did have a dark colored tie and brought an otherwise professional outfit besides my typical shorts and tee shirt. Despite my characteristic fashion faux pas, I was welcomed at the event and left with a sense that the ALA is much more than polished academic presentations and receptions. I enjoyed meeting many of the people and personalities behind the manuscripts and found them to be excellent colleagues and mentors in years to come. Like some of my predecessors in the president’s role, I would have never predicted as I looked at that certificate on the wall that I would one day be part of this Association’s leadership council, let alone president of the ALA.
Last year, the ALA council, under the leadership of our president Dr. Johns, underwent a comprehensive dive into the ALA’s mission and what we seek for our future. This was accomplished with a high-quality, professionally managed strategic planning process. Throughout this, we engaged with and listened to our membership but also interviewed active non-member laryngologists and used this information to hone our vision in the coming years as the leading society of laryngology. We expanded our committee structure to have a meaningful impact on what is important to you, our members and community at large. We have created new committees in the following areas: membership outreach, education, partnerships, and oversight of training standards and leadership in laryngology fellowship programs. As president, I have the duty and privilege to populate the committees of the ALA with representatives from our broad membership. Many of you figuratively raised your hands in response to surveys at our recent meeting and asked to participate. I have selected from this pool for roles in these committees and beyond with attention to fill our workforce with those from a variety of levels of seniority and background. I look forward to all the good that you will do to make our organization successful in years to come.
Some presidents have had themes for their year and annual meeting. If I were to choose a theme that resonates with me, I think it should be community. In my mind, the ALA is and always has been a society of increasingly diverse individuals who, despite differences, look to better the world though laryngology and treatment of laryngological disorders. When I review the transactions of the ALA from generations before me, or when I reflect on that first black-tie dinner I attended, I can see that some of the details of what we discuss or do may change with the times, but our fellowship is an enduring theme that remains. Our camaraderie through the common thread of laryngology is one that I enjoy at the annual meeting but also year-round. Last year’s meeting in New Orleans was fantastic under the leadership of Dr. O’Dell and the program committee. For our planned upcoming 147th annual meeting of the Association, I’ve chosen our program committee to be led by Dr. Bock. I look forward to another engaging and thought-provoking meeting and engagement with our community. I look forward to seeing everyone in Phoenix.
(Don’t forget to attend the President’s reception. I still won’t have a tux!)
Sincerely,
Joel H. Blumin, MD
ALA President 2025-2026