Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery: retrospective and prospective view

By way of summation, I would point out that otolaryngology--head and neck surgery has been the focal point of interesting, stimulating, and exciting changes in the past decade. From a position in the late 1940s and early 1950s of being considered prematurely moribund, the specialty has had a dramatic revival and has risen like the phoenix from the ashes to take its rightful position as one of the dynamic specialties of our era. It can be proud of its demanding training programs, its enlightened and modern certifying process, its lead in continuing education, its venerable societies, and its Academy, now fully representative of all our colleagues. The residencies that once had to search for young men to fill vacancies now have a choice of the finest minds coming out of our medical schools, and the future of the specialty looks bright indeed. We are privileged to be part of this group of enthusiastic, capable, and well trained young men who will, I am sure, carry the specialty on to heights of which we can only now catch a faint glimpse. To have spent one's life in this work is a gratifying experience. To be permitted to view even dimly the heights to which it can ascend assures one that "the best race hasn't been run." How great to be a part of this cohort and to hope "our reach will always exceed our grasp." If we always remember the words on Trudeau's statue, "To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always," we will always merit the esteem of our colleagues and patients.