Lessons learned from a leader and ultimate mentor: Dr. Loring W. Pratt Presented at the triological society combined sections meeting, Scottsdale, Arizona, US

The motto of the Triological Society is “A Noble Legacy.” A legacy is something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past. Once known as Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat; then as Ear, Nose, and Throat, but most commonly referred to nowadays as ENT, the once mundane surgical subspecialty of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery has morphed during the past 50 years into a vibrant, highly respected surgical subspecialty. In fact, Otolaryngology has become one of the most sought after and competitive residencies for graduating medical students; only those of the highest caliber have the opportunity to become Otolaryngologists. How did Otolaryngology undergo such a remarkable transformation from the branch of medicine sometimes derided as “tonsil pluckers” and “nose pickers” to become the specialty encompassing cochlear implants; complex head and neck extirpative surgery; and endoscopic, robotic, and phonosurgery? The change can be traced to two factors: (1) phenomenal rapid technologic advancements; and (2) the men and women who had the foresight, perspicacity, integrity, and demeanor to command the respect of colleagues and the general public. When we think of our groundbreaking forefathers in Otolaryngology, often those who first come to mind are the bigwigs who were chairs of residency programs at university medical centers or the outspoken colorful leaders who held prominent positions in professional societies. In reality, however, many who helped the most to get us to where we are today were not in the big cities, were not at major medical centers, and were not bombastic. Instead, some of the doctors who helped most to advance Otolaryngology were soft-spoken physicians in the smaller towns in the United States, where they were highly respected by patients and colleagues and trusted by everyone. In considering our legacy, it probably is a little known fact that the very first president of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery was Dr. Loring W. Pratt, an Otolaryngologist from Waterville, Maine, a town with a population 15,000. Dr. Pratt, who practiced Otolaryngology for more than 50 years, was a superb physician and an extraordinary man. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and then served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, a precursor to the U.S. Air Force. In 1954 in his Triological Society thesis entitled “Equilibratory Illusions in Aviation,” he described the effect of flight on the vestibular system and explained how pilots should react to a situation-dependent “unreliable vestibular apparatus.” Dr. Pratt was the author of more than 90 scientific reports and publications; but he was also a photographer, a botanist, an ethicist, a raconteur, a humorist, a world traveler, and the father of nine children and the grandfather of 26 grandchildren. Among the many skills that Dr. Pratt possessed, perhaps the most valuable was his ability to be a mentor who adeptly gave sage advice that helped others to achieve their potentials in work and life. There is much to be learned recounting some of the accomplishments and the legacy of Loring Pratt.