Hiromi Kojima, MD, PhD
Chair - Board of Directors
Japan Otological Society (JOS)

 I would like to announce that I was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the Japan Otological Society at the Annual Meeting in October 2024. I am honored to work together with you all to promote otology and serve for its development, and I would also humbly like to ask you for your continued support.

 The progress of science and technology in recent years has been very remarkable. Otological science is of course one of them, and society expects it to develop and continue to develop in various fields, such as advances in surgical instruments and artificial hearing devices, relations with AI, regenerative medicine, genetic approaches, and molecular biological perspectives.

 I recently read an interesting article regarding the study of dinosaur fossils. It is about a 3D reconstruction by CT of the crushed skull of a dinosaur found in the Arctic Circle to study its ecology. I was impressed by how much can be learned from a single crushed skull. Even a major discovery like this starts with an interest in the subject and a willingness to investigate. It is an exciting process to not only excavate fossils, but also to use modern technology to investigate questions that arise, and to uncover the creatures that once roamed the earth in ancient times.

 In the development of medical science, the starting point for ideas comes from daily medical practice and laboratory findings, and this leads to bedside-to-bench and bench-to-bedside research. There are several things that I believe the JSME should do to promote this type of research. One is the further internationalization of the society. I believe that the world's otolaryngologists can contribute to the development of science only when they stimulate and cooperate with each other both clinically and fundamentally. We would also like to focus on the compilation and analysis of big data, which is possible only through the organization of an academic society. We would also like to provide the necessary support for the Japan Otological Society to disseminate a large number of new medical treatments. Education is also very important to promote and develop otology. Simulation education and surgical education using VR, which have become popular in recent years, are effective tools for educating young people. We would like to actively incorporate them into our education programs to convey the appeal of otology to the younger generation.

 There are still many questions and mysteries in otology that need to be solved, and there are patients all over the world waiting for a cure. We would like to convey the appeal of otology to as many people as possible, work hard to contribute to clinical, research, and academic activities, and aim to become a society that can boost otology and contribute to the many patients suffering from ear diseases.