Surgical Management of Sinus Headache and Migraine
Faculty: Mark Mehle, MD
Sinus headache complaints are the least likely symptoms to be successfully treated with endoscopic sinus surgery. This course will review the mechanisms for sinus headache complaints, and review the literature regarding FESS, turbinate resection, contact point resection, and posterior nasal nerve ablation. A focus will me made to discuss selection of appropriate patients for intervention, and options for the surgeon. Even in patients with “sinus headache” presentation of mid facial migraine, recent studies have shown some promising options for these frustrating patients.

Joint AAOA-ARS: Contemporary Management of Allergic Fungal Sinusitis
Faculty: Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA; Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA; Amber Luong,MD, PhD; Chris Brooks, MD, FAAOA; and Aria Jafari, MD
Our AAOA-ARS panel will discuss contemporary Management of Allergic Fungal Sinusitis. We will dive into etiology, barrier disfunction, diagnosis and current controversies. Subsequently, we will discuss therapies including surgery, steroids, choice of biologics, when to use biologics, revision cases, and the higher propensity of recurrence in these patients. We will wrap up with difficult cases and future directions with research.

Avoidance Measures & Allergies — What Really Works
Faculty: Farrah Siddiqui, MD, FAAOA

Introduction to Migraine and Sinus Headache
Faculty: Mark Mehle, MD
This pre-work lecture is an introduction to sinus headache as a complaint and migraine headache as a diagnosis. Be sure to attend the live session given by Dr. Mark Mehle at 10:45 AM PST on Saturday, September 12 on the Sinus Headache and the Allergy/Migraine Connection, which will expand on this pre-work lecture.

If It Is Not Documented, It Didn’t Happen – Coding Conundrums
Faculty: Teresa Thompson, Robert Puchalski, MD, FAAOA
Join Teresa Thompson and Robert Puchalski, MD, FAAOA as they discuss common coding conundrums and best practices to avoid miscoding and reduce the likelihood of an audit. Ms Thompson and Dr. Puchalski review testing codes and when to bill EM, vial prep and the nuances of the CME billable unit and CPT dose, as well as the impact USP General Chapter <797> is having on payer compliance, and incident to and direct supervision. They also share some common payer denials and how to prevent those payment denials, as well as how to view audits as learning and teaching opportunities for better outcomes.

Easy Data Insights for ENT Practices
Faculty: Cheyenne Brinson

Case Study AAOA Affinity Program Boosts Bottom Line
Faculty: Cheyenne Brinson

Unique Mechanical Allergens
Faculty: Scott Hardison, MD, FAAOA

Please find the DRAFT agenda* for the live portion of the meeting in the Friday-Sunday tabs!

* Subject to change, times in MST

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Welcome to 2026 Annual Meeting
We’re excited to kick off this year’s Annual Meeting with a special gathering in the Exhibit Hall. Join us for an exciting start where you can connect with our valued Corporate Partners, network with fellow attendees, enjoy desert-inspired refreshments, and discover exciting opportunities to win prizes!

10:45 AM – 10:55 AM: Welcome to the 2026 AAOA Annual Meeting
Faculty: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
Dr. Robert Stachler officially kicks off the 2026 AAOA Annual Meeting! Get ready for some fun icebreakers.

11:00 AM – 11:10 AM: Really?!: Worst Denials Panel
Moderators: Arvin Rao, MD, FAAOA; Rebecca Kamil, MD, FAAOA
This panel shares examples of denials; Next Panel shares mitigation strategies; need 2 cases, ideally relating to PNN approval/Vivaer, biologics, Imaging, or allergy testing, bringing continuity with the next session.

11:10 AM – 11:30 AM: Reducing Denials: Applying the New Sinus Guidelines for Worst Denials
Moderator: Rebecca Kamil, MD, FAAOA
Panelists: Arvin Rao, MD, FAAOA; Keith Sale, MD, FAAOA and Kevin Wilson, MD, FAAOA
Panel shares mitigation strategies and how guidelines can be effective tool; “Reducing Denials Applying New Sinus Guidelines or Worst denials
a) PNN approval/Vivaer – AAOA role
b) Biologics
c) Imaging
d) Referrals for allergy testing
Bring some challenges before the panel and bring in summary pearls for each case”

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: AFRS Update: Medical? Surgical? Challenging Patients
Moderator: Charles Ebert, MD, FAAOA
Panelists: Arvin Rao, MD, FAAOA;  Kenneth Rodriguez, MD; Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA, Dole Baker, MD, FAAOA
Emerging Horizons in AFRS: panelists will discuss a case study and a tiered approach to managing AFRS including a foundation of surgical management followed by advances in long-term medical therapy to prevent high rates of recurrence.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Non-AAOA Satellite Event

1:05 PM – 1:25 PM: Beyond Saline: Adjuncts in Nasal Rinse therapy
Moderator: Charles Ebert, MD, FAAOA
Panelist: Kenneth Rodriguez, MD; Heidi Martini-Stoica, MD, PhD

1:25 PM – 1:40 PM: Posterior Nasal Nerve Management in Rhinitic Patients with Migraine. A New Opportunity for the Otolaryngologist?
Faculty: Mark Mehle, MD
1. PNN ablation has emerged as a very effective tool for managing chronic rhinitis that is refractory to medical treatment.
2. in recent years, other medical specialties have found that ablation of the sphenopalatine ganglia may offer a benefit to migraine sufferers.
3. Almost 70% of allergic rhinitis patients have concomitant migraine. Almost 70% of migraine patients have concomitant rhinitis.
4. This year, for the first time, we have new evidence surrounding whether PNN ablation for rhinitis may offer a benefit to patients who also have migraine headaches. This was first presented at COSM this year and will be discussed in this presentation

1:40 PM – 2:00 PM: Everybody Lies: Clinical Cases Challenges When Patients Do Not Give Information
Moderator: Christine DeMason, MD, FAAOA; Panelists: Kenneth Rodriguez, MD, Bryan Leatherman, MD, FAAOA; Christopher Brook, MD, FAAOA

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Demo Labs

2:15 PM – 2:30 PM: More than Polyps: Individualizing MABs Care
Moderator: Christopher Brook, MD, FAAOA
To include data for treating comorbid conditions that we see as otolaryngologists and allergists including atopic dermatitis.

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Beyond Meds: Diet as a Tool for Sinus Care
Moderator: Nalin Patel, MD, FAAOA

2:45 PM – 3:15 PM: Deny or Try TikTok Myths
Faculty: Christine DeMason, MD, FAAOA

3:15 PM – 3:35 PM: Health + Tech Literacy: “Lost in Translation: Health Literacy in the Age of Dr. Google”
Faculty: Keith Sale, MD, FAAOA

3:35 PM – 3:50 PM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Demo Labs

4:20 PM – 4:40 PM: “I Know I Have Allergies but My Doctors Can’t Find Them”
Faculty: Jack Fornadley, MD, FAAOA
Nonallergic rhinitis and second opinion assessments

4:40 PM – 5:30 PM: Shark Tank: Prior Authorization
Moderator: Haidy Marzouk, MD, MPH, FAAOA
Sharks: Tucker Harris. MD, FAAOA & Jack Fornadley, MD, FAAOA
Presenters/Pitchers: Edwin Lee, MD, FAAOA

• Focus on AI and automation
• AI tools for prior auths and appeals.
• AI-assisted coding and documentation(e.g., suggestions to support higher-level billing).
• Automation of referral processes and payer requirements.

* Subject to change, times in MST

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Open House

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: AAOA Foundation Research Forum
Moderators: Charles Ebert, MD, FAAOA; Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
Moderated by Carlos Ebert, MD and Kenneth Rodriguez, MD from the AAOA Foundation. Join us to support our young investigators and gain insights on state-of-the-art research.

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Poor Compliance: Managing Patient-Related Factors to Improve Outcomes
Faculty: Jack Fornadley, MD, FAAOA

• Therapy-Related Factors: Complexity of the regimen (number of pills/times a day), duration of treatment, and side effects.
• Socioeconomic Factors: Financial limitations/cost of medicine, lack of social support, and lifestyle constraints.
• Healthcare System/Provider Factors: Quality of patient-provider communication, trust in the doctor, availability of care, and patient education.
• Disease Factors: Cognitive function, knowledge, motivation, beliefs about medication (fear of side effects), and routine-setting skills.

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Demo Labs

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM: OSA Changes on the Horizon
What is new in OSA? What changes are on the horizon? Session will focus on new approaches to second hypoglossal nerve stimulator. Usin cases, it will off a brief overview of new and existing technology and how it is similar/different.
Faculty: Kevin Wilson, MD, FAAOA

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM: “Precision Sleep: Tailoring OSA Therapy to the Individual”
Faculty: Matthew Patterson, MD, FAAOA
Individualizing OSA treatment in patients.

9:45 AM – 10:00 AM: Meds for Bed: Medications for OSA
Faculty: Christine DeMason, MD, FAAOA

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Demo Labs

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Not All Coughs Are the Same
Faculty: Rob Stachler, MD, FAAOA

10:45 AM – 11:05 AM: The Migraine/Allergy Connection and the Sinus Headache Patient
Faculty: Mark Mehle, MD
Migraine and allergy are both common diseases. Many patients suffer from both, and the vast majority of patients with “sinus headache” complaints are found to have migraine, making migraine identification important to otolaryngic allergists. This review will confirm that allergy and migraine are comorbid conditions, focusing on epidemiology, shared biochemical pathways, and underlying mechanisms. Therapeutic implications of this relationship have been the subject of several recent studies, making a review of this association timely and prudent.

11:05 AM – 11:45 AM: Co-Morbidities Impacting Outcomes: “It’s Complicated: When Your Patient Brings Baggage”
Faculty: Christopher Brook, MD, FAAOA
Jeopardy Format | Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Chronic Lung Disease, Kidney disease, Obesity, Immunodeficiency, Sleep Quality

11:45 AM – 12:00 AM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Demo Labs

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Non-AAOA Satellite Event

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM: “Operating on Yourself: Surgeon Health and Ergonomics”
Faculty: Christine DeMason, MD, FAAOA & Charles Ebert, MD, FAAOA

1:15 PM – 1:45 PM: Workflow/Efficiency
Faculty: Christine DeMason, MD, FAAOA, Haidy Marzouk, MD, MPH, FAAOA & Tucker Harris, MD, FAAOA
a) Testing/shots; b) Immunotherapy compliance; c) In office procedures; d) Office day flow (scribes, AI, triage, etc.); e) How to manage call responsibilities with office flow; f) Automated appointments, confirming patients etc.

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Demo Labs

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Using APPs Effectively
Faculty: Haidy Marzouk, MD, MPH, FAAOA & Tucker Harris, MD, FAAOA
APP usage panel; Revenue strategy data; Referral flow; WRVU/hour OR vs. office; Specialization of APPs; Training – NP vs. PA and formalization of training.

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Expansion Strategies; Provides + Setting up for success; Space; overhead; referrals; new services/market selection; support from industry without COI

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Demo Labs

3:15 PM – 4:00 PM: Growing Pains: Expanding Your Practice Without the Headache
Faculty: Haidy Marzouk, MD, FAAOA & Tucker Harris, MD, FAAOA
Interactive Expansion Group Work — my group is actually opening a new office location in the next few months. We can offer some questions like should all services be available at both locations or specialize? How should the staff be divided and travel days? APPs vs. Surgeons? Should we expand services with upfront overhead vs. piecemeal? …hopefully the group can chime in with more things we can use to design some cases. Perhaps each table can tackle one or two particular challenges and bring summaries at the end? 1. STOP: Pinpoint & Mitigate top mistakes; 2. START: New Streams | Determine high-impact ancillary service line; 3. OPTIMIZE: Connect clinical service performance to operational efficiency (staffing, scheduling, billing) to ensure maximum reimbursement; 4. NEXT STEPS Commit to three immediate actions to implement in your practice this week.

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Cultural Competency: AI
Faculty: Keith Sale, MD, FAAOA

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Rapid Fire Cases
Faculty: Christopher Brook, MD, FAAOA

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Open House – Reception

* Subject to change, times in MST

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Open House

8:00 AM – 8:15 AM: Open Sinuses & Persistent Symptoms
Faculty: Kenneth Rodriguez, MD

8:15 AM – 8:35 AM: Chicken or Egg? The Upper vs. Lower Airway
Faculty: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA

8:35 AM – 8:50 AM: Networking Break with Exhibitors: Open House

8:50 AM – 9:45 AM: Allergy Master Class: Challenging Immunotherapy Cases
Challenging ITx Cases to include SLIT and Foods/Introduce Practice Management Playbook

9:45 AM – 9:50 AM: Program Wrap Up
Faculty: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA