AHNS Leadership

AHNS Council

President
Bevan Yueh, MD, MPH
(2025-2026)

President-Elect
Eben Rosenthal, MD
(2025-2026)

Vice-President
Susan McCammon, MD
(2025-2026)

Secretary
Matthew Old, MD
(2025-2028)

Treasurer
Maie St. John, MD, PhD
(2025-2028)

Immediate Past President
William Lydiatt, MD
(2025-2028)

Past President
Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD
(2024-2027)

Past President
Brian B. Burkey, MD, MEd
(2023-2026)

AHNS Foundation President
James Rocco, MD, PhD
(2023-2026)

Division Chairs

Administrative Division Chair
Cecelia Schmalbach, MD
(2024-2027)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Division Chair
Melonie Nance, MD
(2025-2028)

Education Division Chair
Babak Givi, MD
(2024-2027)

Patient Care Division Chair
Carole Fakhry, MD
(2025-2028)

Research Division Chair
Stephen Lai, MD, PhD
(2024-2027)

Section Chairs

Endocrine Section Chair
Michael Singer, MD
(2024-2027)

Mucosal (UAT) Section Chair
Miriam Lango, MD
(2024-2027)

Reconstructive Head & Neck Surgery Section Chair
Larissa Sweeny, MD
(2025-2027)

Salivary Gland Section Chair
Kiran Kakarala, MD
(2024-2027)

Cutaneous Cancer Chair
TJ (Thomas Julian) Ow, MD
(2024-2027)

Skull Base Section Chair
Shirley Y. Su, MBBS
(2024-2027)

Services of the AHNS 2025-2026

Other than as specifically stated below, The President shall appoint committee members to serve for three years. Initial appointments shall be staggered such that approximately one-third of committee members shall change each year (other than the Scientific Program Committee and Nominating Committee).

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ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

Constitution & Bylaws Service (Staff Person:  Christina Kasendorf)

The charge of this service shall be to review, evaluate, and maintain an accurate and ethical Constitution and Bylaws for the Society. This service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows, with the Secretary serving ex officio.

Development  Service (Staff Person: Colleen Elkins)

The charges of this service shall be to focus on building and strengthening relationships with industry and corporate colleagues and educating them on the importance of AHNS educational and clinical missions and to establish goals and procedures for AHNS development and fundraising that are definable and consistent. This service shall consist of at least six Active Fellows including the Chair of the Service, the Program Chairs for the upcoming two annual meetings, the Program Chair of the upcoming international meeting, three Active Fellows appointed by the Vice President for a three-year term each (in staggered fashion), and Society Program Chairs for other meetings occurring beyond the upcoming two years. The current Chair of the Foundation shall be an ex officio member.

Ethics & Professionalism Service (Staff Person: Christina Kasendorf)

The charge of this service shall be to maintain the highest standards for ethical conduct of AHNS leadership, members and the Society. The Statement of Ethics and Professionalism and the Code for Interactions with Companies will be maintained on the Society website. This service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

Finance Service  (Staff Person: Christina Kasendorf)

This service shall consist of three Active Fellows elected at the business meeting to serve three-year terms so that one member is elected each year. The Treasurer shall be an ex officio member.

History Service (Staff Person: Christina Kasendorf)

The charge of this Service shall be to provide an historical perspective of the Society and head and neck oncology and its leadership. This service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

Nominating Service (Staff Person: Christina Kasendorf)

The Nominating Service shall consist of the three immediate past presidents and two Active Fellows elected at the business meeting.  The Nominating Service shall be chaired by the immediate past President.

Publications & Awards Service  (Staff Person: Ochún Farlice)

This service should consist of at least three Active Fellows appointed by the President. This service shall be chaired by the Associate Editor for the Head and Neck Section of the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. In addition, the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Editor, if a member of the Society, shall be a member of this service, ex-officio. The Secretary and President will be members of this Service.

Website & Social Media Service (Staff Persons: JJ Jackman and Ochún Farlice)

The charge of this Service shall be to recommend and implement newer methods to optimize communication or dissemination of information within the organization. The service shall develop and showcase new and emerging technologies and shall also be responsible for updating and revising the AHNS website and making sure it has current and accurate information. This Service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

EDUCATION DIVISION

Advanced Training Council (ATC) Service (Staff Person: JJ Jackman)

This service shall consist of at least ten Active Fellows, each to serve a five-year term, with appointments staggered so that two Active Fellows are appointed to membership on this service each year. The President’s appointments to this service shall be submitted for approval by the Council.

Curriculum Development & Maintenance Service (Staff Person: JJ Jackman)

The charge of the Curriculum Development & Maintenance Service shall be to maintain the highest standards and evaluation of head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery.

The charge of this Service shall be to develop appropriate educational materials for patients and the public. This Service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

CME Compliance & Measurement Service (Staff Person: Erin Schwarz)

The charge of this Service shall be to monitor and ensure compliance with the CME requirements of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). This Service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

Scientific Program/Resident Courses Service (Staff Person: Rebecca Cranor)

The charge of this Service shall be to research, coordinate and recommend to the Council all programmatic content for the AHNS annual meeting. This service shall consist of Fellows appointed by the President and Program Chair to serve for one year. The Chair of this Service serves a one-year term as Chair. The Chair shall serve on the Service for four years, two years before his or her meeting and two years after; other one-year-term members may be appointed by the President and Program Chair at their discretion. Two representatives from each of the Sections shall serve for four-year terms. The maximum number on this service is determined by the President and Program Chair for that year.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION DIVISION

Diversity Service (Staff Person: Ochún Farlice)

The charge of this service shall be to promote recognition and promotion of diverse representation. This service should consist of at least three Active Fellows.

Global Outreach Service  (Staff Person: Ochún Farlice)

The charge of this Service shall be to develop and promote humanitarian outreach activities in head and neck oncology worldwide. This Service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

International Advisory Service (Staff Person: Ochún Farlice)

The charge of this Service shall be to serve as an interface between the Society and our international colleagues and to facilitate our mission of patient care, education, and research for patients around the world suffering from head and neck cancer. This Service should consist of at least three Active Fellows.

Membership/Credentials Service (Staff Person: Loren Hamilton)

This service shall be chaired by the President and shall additionally consist of the two immediate Past Presidents plus two Active Fellows appointed by the President. In addition, the Secretary shall be a member, Ex Officio.

Women in HNS Service (Staff Person: Christina Kasendorf)

The charge of this Service shall be to inspire, support, and enable women head and neck surgeons to achieve their professional and personal goals. The committee shall consist of at least eight Active Fellows and one Candidate Fellow.

Young Members Service (Staff Person: Ochún Farlice)

The charge of this Service shall be to provide mentorship and networking opportunities to help young Society members with career development. This Service should consist of at least three Active Fellows.

PATIENT CARE DIVISION   

Value & Quality of Care Service (Staff Person: Christina Kasendorf)

The charges of this Service shall be to: formulate quality of care standards for patients with head and neck neoplasms; promote compliance with these standards as a framework for the measurement of quality head and neck care; disseminate these standards to the Fellowship of the Society; and provide AHNS representation to the applicable committees of other head and neck medical societies that are charged with the development of specialty specific quality standards upon which pay-for-performance benchmarks may be based. This service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

Practice Guidelines & Position Statements Service (Staff Person: Christina Kasendorf)

The charges of this Service shall be to provide leadership in the development and documentation of appropriate methods of treatment and care for patients with cancers of the head and neck and to identify and address topics of imminent concern for patients, caregivers, and practitioners of head and neck oncology. This Service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

Cancer Prevention Service (Staff Person: JJ Jackman)

The charge of this Service shall be to develop, facilitate the implementation of, and participate in programs directed toward the prevention and early detection of head and neck cancers and to cooperate with national and international organizations in these efforts. This Service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows. This service shall consist of at least six Active Fellows. 

Survivorship/Supportive Care/Rehabilitation Service (Staff Person: JJ Jackman)

The charge of this Service shall be to promote research into survivorship issues and develop evidence-based guidelines for survivorship and supportive care and rehabilitation. This Service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

RESEARCH DIVISION

Basic & Translational Service (Staff Person: Loren Hamilton)

The charge of this Service shall be to promote the performance of the highest quality basic and translational science research. This Service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.

Population Health & Clinical Service (Staff Person: Loren Hamilton)

The charge of this Service shall be to promote the performance of the highest quality population health and clinical research. This Service shall consist of at least three Active Fellows.