An undertaking of legacy and innovation

After two years in development, The World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery has finally been established. This journal aims to provide a platform for professional and scientific discussion in the field of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery and related specialties viewed through the lens of a changing world. In this era of global communication, the Journal aims to actively promote academic exchange and enhance collaboration between clinicians, allied health specialists, and researchers. Advancements within medical specialties often spur the emergence of professional journals that provide a forum for further development. The establishment and continued success of many of the journals in our field of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery reflect a similar pattern of progress. Literary documentation suggests that our specialty originated in Europe over 200 years ago. Established in mid-18th century Europe, Otology became the first subspecialty within our field. At that time, the knowledge of Otology was largely limited to individual surgeons and their experiences. However, advances in anatomy, physiology, and pathology throughout the 19th century accelerated otological progress. This scientific foundation allowed for the dissemination of otolaryngologic knowledge beyond the individual practitioner and to the “field” of practitioners as a whole. Surgical techniques grew in complexity and ambition due to the emergence of anesthesiology and a focus on sterile processes. In 1829, the first doctor Benjamin Babington who used a laryngoscope to observe the glottis in London founded laryngology. Then in 1870, the first university hospital to combine otology and laryngology was founded in Vienna. The American Otological Society was founded in 1868, and it was the first of the Ear, Nose, and Throat