Pre-work – On-Demand Content Available on the Whova App from December 22

To Access The Pre-Work You Must Be Registered For the Course

• Immunology of Allergy – Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
• Allergen Characteristics and Standardization – Scott Fortune, MD, FAAOA
• Allergen Classes – John Krouse, MD, PhD MBA, FAAOA
• Cross-Reactivity Selection – Christopher Brook, MD, FAAOA
• The Great Allergy Panel Bake Off: What/How Many Antigens Do You Test For – Mona Patadia, MD, FAAOA; Scott Fortune, MD, FAAOA; Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA; Rebecca Kamil, MD, FAAOA; Farrah Siddiqui, MD, FAAOA
• Skin Testing I: Testing Board, Controls, Indications and Contraindications – Rebecca Kamil, MD, FAAOA
• Skin Testing 2: Skin Prick Testing and Modified Quantitative Testing – Scott Fortune, MD, FAAOA
• Specific IgE Testing – Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
• Avoidance and Environmental Control – Farrah Siddiqui, MD, FAAOA
• Pharmacotherapy for Allergic Rhinitis Part II: Treatment and Guidelines – Michael Platt, MD, MSc, FAAOA
• Immunology and Principles of Immunotherapy – Farrah Siddiqui, MD, FAAOA
• SCIT Vial Prep and Protocol – Kevin Wilson, MD, FAAOA
• SLIT Vial Prep: Escalation, Maintenance, Withdrawal – Mona Patadia, MD, FAAOA
• Use of Biologics in Respiratory Disease – Dana Crosby, MD, MPH, FAAOA

Please find agenda* for the live portion of the meeting in the Thursday-Saturday tabs!

* Subject to change, times in PST

* Subject to change, times in PST

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Demo Labs
5:00 PM – 5:05 PM: Welcome to California Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA, Course Director
5:05 PM – 5:20 PM: Overview of Environmental Extremes & Their Impact on Allergic and Inflammatory Airway Disease Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA
This session will introduce key types of environmental extremes—such as heat waves, wildfires, air pollution events, and severe storms—and outline their emerging relevance to respiratory health. We will highlight current evidence linking these exposures to allergic sensitization, airway inflammation, and exacerbations of asthma and related diseases.
5:20 PM – 5:35 PM: Impact of Precipitation, Hurricanes, and Flooding on Allergies and Airway William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA
This session will introduce key types of precipitation-related environmental extremes—such as floods and severe storms—and outline their emerging relevance to respiratory health. We will highlight current evidence linking these exposures to allergic sensitization, airway inflammation, exacerbations of asthma and related diseases, and clinical tips for managing patients with indoor mold problems.
5:35 PM – 5:50 PM: Heat, Drought, Fire and Inflammatory Airway disease Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA
This session provides an overview of how rising temperatures, prolonged drought, and wildfire smoke impact allergic and inflammatory airway disease. Topics include how heat stress, dryness-driven shifts in aeroallergens, and combustion byproducts increase symptom burden, trigger exacerbations, and may impact clinical management.
5:50 PM – 6:05 PM: What’s the deal with PM? Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA
This session breaks down what clinicians need to know about particulate matter—where it comes from, how it is measured, and why its size and chemistry matter.
6:05 PM – 6:20 PM: Air Quality and Pollen Monitors — Accuracy & Clinical Implications William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA
This session examines the strengths and weaknesses of current air quality and pollen monitoring technologies and their ability tocapture real-world, and clinically meaningful, exposures.
6:20 PM – 6:35 PM: Special Populations of Exposures — Farmers, Veterans, and More! John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
This session will provide an overview of how unique environmental exposures in special populations—such as farmers, veterans, and other high-risk groups—influence allergic and inflammatory airway disease. We will review exposure profiles otolaryngologists should be aware of and their impact of allergy, sinus, and other respiratory outcomes.
6:35 PM – 7:35 PM: Non-AAOA Satellite Event

6:00 AM – 6:30 AM: Demo Labs
6:30 AM – 6:40 AM: Welcome & Course Overview Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
6:40 AM – 6:55 AM: An Immunodeficiency Primer — Basics of the Mechanisms Contributing to Sinus and Airway Disease Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
This high-yield session will provide a concise and clinically relevant, overview of the innate and acquired immunodeficiencies we are likely to see in our patients with sinus and airway disease.
6:55 AM – 7:10 AM: Otolaryngology Manifestations of immunodeficiency Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
This session will highlight key otolaryngologic manifestations of primary and secondary immunodeficiency such as recurrent sinusitis, chronic otitis, upper airway infections, and presentations that should increase our suspicion for an underlying immune dysfunction.
7:10 AM – 7:25 AM: Essential Components of Immunodeficiency Work-Up Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
You’ve done great surgery, but your patient keeps getting sinus infections. You want to test for immunodeficiency. Where do you begin?
7:25 AM – 7:35 AM: Are All Immunoglobulin Deficiencies Created Equal? Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
As testing methods become more sophisticated, our ability to detect deficiencies increases. Are all lab abnormalities clinically relevant? Find out in this talk!
7:35 AM – 7:50 AM: Autoimmune Disorders Manifesting in the Upper Airway Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
This session provides an overview of autoimmune diseases that present with upper airway symptoms, from chronic rhinosinusitis patterns to laryngeal and subglottic involvement. Attendees will learn to recognize hallmark signs, differentiate autoimmune from infectious or structural causes, and understand implications for diagnosis and treatment.
7:50 AM – 8:05 AM: Essential Components of Autoimmune Work-Up Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA
8:05 AM – 8:20 AM:  Recalcitrant Sinus Cases — Immunodeficiency or Autoimmune Disorder? Kenneth Rodriguez, MD; Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA; Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA
Join us for an exciting panel of challenging cases that illustrate key points in the workup and management of patients with sinusitis superimposed on immunodeficiency and/or autoimmune disorders.
8:20 AM – 8:35 AM: Phone a Friend — What Our Immunology and Rheumatology Colleagues Wish We Did before Referring Haidy Marzouk, MD, MBA, FAAOA
Medicine is a team sport, especially when it comes to complex patients. Join us in this session to learn what are the “do not miss” components of history, physical, and laboratory testing that will allow outpatients to get the most out of their appointments with our colleagues?
8:35 AM – 8:50 AM: Panel — Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Cases Moderator: Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
Panelist: Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA; Kenneth Rodriguez, MD; Michelle Liu, MD, MPH, FAAOA
8:50 AM – 9:20 AM: Demo Labs
9:20 AM – 9:40 AM: “Sinus” Headaches — Best Practices in Evaluating, Diagnosing, Treating Keith Sale, MD, FAAOA
9:40 AM – 9:55 AM: Sinus Manifestations of Migraine Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
Not all “sinus headaches” are rhinologic in origin. Learn the differentiating factors of migraines masquerading as sinus disease.
9:55 AM – 10:15 AM: Approaches to Treating Migraine and Non-Sinus “Sinus” Headaches John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
What should the otolaryngologist be prepared to discuss, and potentially offer, when it comes to non-sinus “sinus” headaches? This session will review first-line treatments for these challenging headache cases.
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM: Frontal Sinus Disease — In-Office Pearls Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA
This session will provide an overview of strategies to optimize success when addressing frontal sinus disease in the office.
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Frontal Sinus Disease — OR Pearls Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
This session reviews keys to success when instrumenting the frontal sinus, including ensuring adequacy of surgery, considerations when deciding extent of surgery, and technical tips.
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM: Non-AAOA Satellite Event
10:45 AM – 3:30 PM: MIDDAY BREAK
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Aperitivo | Demo Labs
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM: Healthy Sinuses — Biomes Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA
There are many biomes present in the upper airway. This includes bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This session will review need to know basics about this emerging topic and clinical implications.
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM: The Sinus Microbiome — Overview of Importance Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
This session provides an up-to-date overview of what is known about the sinus microbiome and how the bacterial populations in our sinuses contribute to their health or, conversely, disease.
4:30 PM – 4:45 PM: Common Causes of Microbiome Derangement Haidy Marzouk, MD, MBA, FAAOA
What causes good bacterial populations to go bad? What can be done to prevent or remediate microbiome issues? Learn the answers to these questions – and more – in this session.
4:45 PM – 5:15 PM: Role of Topical Antibiotics in Acute, Chronic, and Recalcitrant Sinusitis Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
Increasingly available from compounding pharmacies, what does the data show regarding the role of topical antibiotics in sinusitis? This session reviews the literature surrounding topicals in the treatment of sinusitis and key clinical considerations.
5:15 PM – 5:30 PM: The Sinus Virome Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA
Initially focused on bacteria, the microbiome is now understood to contain fungi and viruses as well. This session will review what is known about the presence of viruses as part of the sinus microbiome.
5:30 PM – 5:55 PM: Microbiome Assessment — Cultures & Beyond Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA
What do we need to know about the fancy microbiome assessments available? Beyond presence of absence of species, what can these tests tell us and when/why should we consider ordering them? Join us for a high-yield talk on culture and non-culture-based options of the sinus microbiome.
5:55 PM – 6:10 PM: Recalcitrant Sinusitis — Surgical Techniques & Pearls Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
This session will overview key operative considerations and technical advice for recalcitrant sinusitis cases.
6:10 PM – 6:40 PM: Demo Labs
6:40 PM – 6:55 PM: The Microbiome & Allergies Haidy Marzouk, MD, MBA, FAAOA
This session will explain the relationship between the gut microbiome and sinonasal manifestations of allergic disease.
6:55 PM – 7:05 PM: Immunotherapy’s Impact on Airway Microbiome Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
Immunotherapy has an impact not just on our immunology, but also our microbiome. This session will highlight key aspects of this interaction and why it matters clinically.
7:05 PM – 7:35 PM: Panel — Challenging Recalcitrant Cases Moderator: Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
Panelist: Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA; Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
Join us for a robust case discussion of our worst recalcitrant sinusitis cases, what we did, and what we wish we would have done.
7:35 PM – 8:35 PM: Non-AAOA Satellite Event

6:00 AM – 6:30 AM: Demo Labs
6:30 AM – 6:45 AM: Ocular Complaints — When Is It Allergy? Haidy Marzouk, MD, MBA, FAAOA
Not all eye irritation is allergy. This session will review what eye symptoms we can reasonably presume to be related to allergies.
6:45 AM – 7:00 AM: Ocular Complaints — When to Refer? Keith Sale, MD, FAAOA
Not all eye irritation is allergy. This session will review clues as to when eye symptoms warrant ophthalmologic, or other specialty evaluation.
7:00 AM – 7:15 AM: Endocrine Influences on Allergy — Menopause Michelle Liu, MD, MPH, FAAOA
Times of hormonal transition impact the immune system and allergic disease. Join us for an eye-opening session on how menopause impacts allergies.
7:15 AM – 7:30 AM: Endocrine Influences on Allergy — Puberty Michelle Liu, MD, MPH, FAAOA
Hormonally mediated changes in TH2 mediated disease occur during puberty. Join us to learn what hormonal and immunologic changes are occurring and how they impact allergic disease.
7:30 AM – 7:45 AM: Nutraceuticals, Probiotics, and Other Supplements for Inhalant Allergies & Asthma? What Does the Evidence Say? Haidy Marzouk, MD, MBA, FAAOA
Understanding what treatment options our patients are exploring – especially the ones they may be hesitant to discuss with us – is critical to optimizing their outcomes. This session will provide an up-to-date review of the literature around complimentary and alternative medicine options for the treatment of allergies and asthma.
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM: Beyond Avoidance — Nontraditional Therapies for Food Allergy William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA
Food avoidance has historically been the mainstay of food allergy. Due to the effort involved, and continued risk of accidental exposure, there is both an interest and need for more options. This session will focus on food allergies and the emerging evidence for interventions beyond simply avoiding the offending allergens.
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM: Safety & Surgical Considerations of Natural Remedies Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
Supplements ≠ Safe. What supplements or natural remedies should we be asking our patients about prior to surgery? How might these supplements interact with medications commonly prescribed for allergy and sinusitis? If these questions are relevant to your practice, this is the session for you!
8:15 AM – 8:55 AM: Demo Labs
8:55 AM – 9:15 AM: Worst Questions…and Best Answers: Pediatric Allergy Haidy Marzouk, MD, MBA, FAAOA
Michelle Liu, MD, MPH, FAAOA
Whether on the sidelines at the kids soccer game or discussing what Dr. Google had to say in the office, we will go over the most common questions asked by parents regarding pediatric patients…
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM: Worst Questions…and Best Answers: Allergy immunotherapy Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA; William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA
Ever get stumped by a patient question about immunotherapy? Is there an aspect of immunotherapy that you wish you had a better explanation for to help patients understand? Join us to review, and contribute to the conversation, challenging questions and the best ways we’ve come up with to address them.
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM: Worst Questions…and Best Answers: Recalcitrant Sinusitis Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA
Kenneth Rodriguez, MD; Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA; Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
“Why can’t you make my sinuses healthy?” How do you handle these patients and answer their questions? Join us for an interactive conversation around navigating these challenging scenarios.
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM: Worst Questions…and Best Answers: Your “Sinus” Issues Are Not Coming from Your Sinuses John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA; William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA; Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
“…but the ‘sinus headache’ medication helps so the problem must be my sinuses.” What do you do when the patient doesn’t have any objective evidence of sinus disease, but is sure that’s where their issue is? This panel will discuss their approaches and most effective talking points. We hope you will join us and contribute your wisdom as well!
10:15 AM – 10:45 AM: Demo Labs
10:45 AM – 11:10 AM: Case Wrap-Ups
11:10 AM – 11:25 AM: Case Wrap-Ups
11:25 AM – 12:05 PM: Why Does Wine Make Me Feel “Off”?: Toxicity, Allergy, or Intolerance? John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
12:05 AM – 12:20 PM: Course/Case Wrap-Ups