AAO-HNSF Host to “Otolaryngology in the Service of Peace”

Newswise — On September 19, 2007, the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) hosted a Canada International Scientific Exchange Program (CISEPO) symposium during its Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO.

During the presentation, an invited panel described CISEPO’s multi-year international development work that facilitates cooperation among Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian health professionals in the service of peace. Established more than two decades ago, CISEPO has focused on early detection and habilitation of genetic hearing loss across the Arab and Israeli frontiers as one area of common ground. Its success has included the establishment of universal newborn hearing screening and habilitation into national policy in Jordan.

The audience in Washington, DC heard from a young Palestinian otolaryngologist from Nablus, who with the help of CISEPO, studies ear, nose, and throat surgery at an Israeli university and a Tel Aviv hospital. The resident described how he has lived, worked, and studied alongside Jewish, Christian, and Muslim colleagues in cooperation and learning.

Out-going AAO-HNSF President, Richard Miyamoto, MD, with Executive Director, David Nielsen, MD voiced support of member and colleague efforts to bring peace to all regions of the world and to improve care to underserved populations especially as CISEPO has in areas of infant hearing screening.