PANORS - ASEAN Academy of Neurotology, Otology and Audiology

PANORS’ MILESTONES FIRMLY ETCHED IN THE YEAR 2008

By: Charlotte M. Chiong, MD

The Philippine Academy of Neurotology Otology and Related Sciences

(PANORS)

is the recognized subspecialty of the PSOHNS (Philippine Society of Otolaryngology –Head and Neck Surgery for ear health and hearing. Since its inception in 2006 it has embarked relentlessly on a road less throdden, forging ahead on challenging missions and not without problems considered as birth and growing pains. An affi rmation by the general assembly of fellows of the PSOHNS during its December 2007 business meeting encouraged PANORS to pursue lofty goals despite all the odds. On January 4, 2008 it already buckled down to work and had a strategic planning workshop as well as elected its offi cers for 2008. The organization’s avowed vision and mission were also set.

The Vision

“Global standard of ear health and hearing for all Filipinos by 2024”

The Mission

A community of professionals dedicated to the betterment of all Filipinos through the promotion of the highest standards of practice and science of neuro-otology, otology, audiology & other related specialties and guided by noble, nationalistic, ethical and moral principles.

The General Objective

To develop and promote the specialty of Neuro-Otology, Otology, Audiology and other related specialties, relevant to the needs of the Filipinos, in collaboration with local and international counterpart organizations.

panors photo001 — *The strategic planning and vision/mission setting and election of officers held at the Brassiere in Alabang last January 4, 2008.*

panors photo003 — Dr. Dan Legita reporting on the newborn hearing screening program in Davao during the CONHSCA Updates and Hands-on Workshop: OAE & ABR last April 30, 2008.

The Specific objectives

To engage in academic, scientifi c and research activities in the specialty of Neuro-Otology, Otology, Audiology and Related Sciences (NOARS);
To contribute information for the formulation of training and teaching curricula
To collaborate with training institutions, gov’t and non-gov’t organizations regarding the promotion of ear health and hearing
To promote public awareness and provide relevant extension services related to ear health and hearing.
To provide guidelines that promote the highest standard for the practice of NOARS.

In its February 2, 2008 meeting the organization spelled out its 7 point agenda for the year 2008. Looking back now, it has accomplished all these envisioned tasks namely:

CoNHScA MEETING IN PSOHNS MIDYEAR CONVENTION

A workshop on evoked potential testing was done at the Mallberry Suites and jointly sponsored by BIOMEDIS and PHARMALINK with participants from all the different chapters of PSOHNS.

INTERNATION NOISE AWARENESS DAY (APRIL 16)

NATIONAL DISABILITY WEEK
(3RD WK JULY)

PMA INVOLVEMENT IN DEAFNESS AWARENESS WEEK

All the above three celebrations will form part of PANORS core activities for its advocacies on hearing and balance health care in the country.

Notably PANORS along with PNEI (Philippine National Ear Institute) hosted a meeting of cochlear implanted children and their families in celebration of the National Disability Week last July.

The DOH has listed the Deafness Awareness week in its annual calendar and the PMA in its 2008 National Convention had a well attended symposium on Newborn Hearing Screening organized by Dr. Alberto de Leon.

RESEARCH SPONSORSHIP

During the First Asean Academy of Neurotology Otology and Audiology Congress PANORS will sponsor a research poster contest for residents and the winner will have the honor of representing PANORS in the upcoming 10th APCD and 10th Hearing International Meeting in Queen Sirikit National Convention Center this August 5-7, 2009

PANORS SYMPOSIUM IN ANNUAL CONVENTION

PANORS took the challenge of hosting the Inaugural Congress of the Asean Academy of Neuro-Oto-Audiology jointly with the PSOHNS Annual Convention at the Hotel Dusit Thani, 28-29 November 2008. A total of about 200 participants to this inaugural congress from Asean countries are expected to participate. This international meeting was purposely dovetailed to the fi rst day of the PSOHNS annual convention in order to give all interested fellows to take advantage of the opportunity to attend this international meeting with a distinguished roster of faculty from all over the world.

NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING INTO LAW

Senate Bill 2390 is the culmination of the first legislative effort that was borne out of combined efforts by the PSOHNS and PNEI that since 2006 under the incumbency of Golden President Nati Almazan worked as a Task Force on Newborn Hearing Screening. This task force came out with a position paper that was passed by the 2007 PSO-HNS Board of Trustees and approved with the additional provision that efforts for pushing for legislation on universal newborn hearing screening be aptly included.

Based on the Task Force Postion paper on Newborn Hearing Screening Senate Bill 1392 was fi led by Senator Loren Legarda in June 2008 and followed thereafter by technical working group meetings that resulted in improved provisions on early intervention along with co-sponsorship with Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and Senator Pia Cayetano of Senate Bill 2390. It is envisioned that PSOHNS Fellows will support wholly this legislative initiative and become the strongest advocates on universal newborn hearing screening in their communities.

PANORS is fully committed to these efforts and will continue to work with other organizations to push for universal newborn hearing screening along with other programs to promote “cradle to twilight years” ear and hearing health.