The American Otological Society - Celebrating 150+ Years! 

The American Otological Society has a rich and relatively well documented history which goes back a century and a half.  The inaugural meeting was held in the Ocean House, Newport Rhode Island, on July 22, 1868 when 9 members of the American Ophthalmological Society (founded 1864) met to organize a society focused upon "aural" medicine.

Founding Members of the American Otological Society.

C.R. Agnew - New York
F.J. Bumstead - New York
John Green - St. Louis
H. D. Noyes - New York
O.D. Pomeroy - New York
C.E. Rider - Rochester
C.A. Robertson - Albany
D.B. St. John Roosa - New York
E. Williams - Cincinnatti

The first elected president of the AOS was Dr. E. Williams.

Annual Meetings: Since its inception the society has met annually, except for three years. The meeting was cancelled in 1877 due to lack of a quorum (railroad strike). No meetings were held in 1943 and 1945 due to war time transportation difficulties.

Meeting Locations: For many years the American Otological and Ophthalmological Societies in the same location on subsequent days. The first eight meetings were held in Newport, Rhode Island and thereafter in a number of east coast cities (particularly Atlantic City, New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Phildelphia, and New London Conn.)

Between 1885 and 1902 the Society met 13 times in New London, Conn. The Society met in Canada six times: 1915 (Niagra Falls), 1926 (Montreal), Toronto (1935, 1952), and Montebello, Quebec (1956, 1967). The first west meeting was held in San Francisco in 1950. The Society has met off of the North American Continent only twice: San Juan , Puerto Rico in 1966 and Wiakoloa, Hawaii in 1991.

Membership: During the first century of the society, the active membership remained around 100, reaching a peak of 119 members in 1944. In recent years a modest growth has taken place and by 1992 there were 135 active members. In our 150th year, we had nearly 300 members. AOS members are an elite group, selected from the "best of the best", we grow at a slow but steady pace. 

Annual awards: Since 1949, the society has granted two annual awards to esteemed members of the Society -  
"The Award of Merit" and "Guest of Honor"

Publications: There are currently three publications in honor of the sesquicentennial on the history of the AOS! 

* Centennial History of the American Otological Society, Inc 1898-1968
* History of the American Otological Society, Inc 1898-1993
* The American Otological Society Sesquicentennial Supplement 

AOS Membership

The American Otological Society is always looking to increase our membership with highly qualified individuals. In addition to our Active members, the AOS hosts a number of Associate and Corresponding members. Associate members are individuals, including audiologists or PhD’s, who have overlapping interests in the AOS. As an example, we recently inducted a superb auditory research scientist. Corresponding members include those who would meet AOS membership criteria but are from outside the USA or Canada. Guidelines for each category of membership can be found in the AOS bylaws and guidelines for proposers of Active members may be found here. 
If you feel you know someone who would be a good candidate for any of these membership category, please feel free to forward their name(s) to the AOS Administrator, Kristen Bordignon. Applications and all supporting documents are due September 1st. Successful Candidates will be notified in December, induction will take place the following Spring. 

​​​Otology & Neurotology

Otolology & Neurotology, the official Journal of the American Otological Society and the American Neurotology Society publishes original articles relating to both clinical and basic science aspects of otology, neurotology, and cranial base surgery.
As the foremost journal in its field, it has become the favored place for publishing the best of new science relating to the human ear and its diseases. The broadly international character of its contributing authors, editorial board, and readership provides the Journal its decidedly global perspective.