Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists

Ear, nose, and throat, or otolaryngology, is the oldest medical specialty in the United States. Otolaryngologists manage diseases of the ears, nose, nasal passages, sinuses, larynx (voice box), and oral cavity and upper pharynx (mouth and throat) as well as structures of the neck and face.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery is the largest professional organization for ENT specialists in the United States. It traces its origins to 1896, when Dr. Hal Foster—an otolaryngologist from Kansas City, Missouri—organized a meeting of ophthalmologists and otolaryngologists to form a professional society. By 1903, Foster's organization was the largest specialty medical group in the United States. Today, the academy has approximately 13,000 members.