AAOA Explorers Course 2026
Course Schedule

Explorers Course 2026:
Surgical & Medical Management of Airway Disease in Otolaryngology
Hybrid Course with 90 Days of Access
December 22 to March 23
January 22-24, 2026 – Live/Live Stream at The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, Sonoma, CA
As a hybrid course, we are excited to offer both live in-person and virtual participation. Access Here
Pre-work - On-Demand
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
Thursday, January 22
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Demo Labs
6:30 PM – 6:35 PM: Welcome to California Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA, Course Director
6:35 PM – 6:50 PM: Overview of Environmental Extremes & Their Impact on Allergic and Inflammatory Airway Disease Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA
6:50 PM – 7:05 PM: Impact of Precipitation, Hurricanes, and Flooding on Allergies and Airway William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA
7:05 PM – 7:20 PM: Heat, Drought, Fire and Inflammatory Airway disease Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA
7:20 PM – 7:35 PM: What’s the deal with PM? Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA
7:35 PM – 7:50 PM: Air Quality and Pollen Monitors — Accuracy & Clinical Implications William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA
7:50 PM – 8:05 PM: Special Populations of Exposures — Farmers, Veterans, and More! John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
8:05 PM – 8:35 PM: Reception or Non-AAOA Satellite Event
Friday, January 23
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
6:55 AM – 7:10 AM: Otolaryngology Manifestations of immunodeficiency Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
7:10 AM – 7:25 AM: Essential Components of Immunodeficiency Work-Up Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
7:25 AM – 7:35 AM: Are All Immunoglobulin Deficiencies Created Equal? Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
7:35 AM – 7:50 AM: Autoimmune Disorders Manifesting in the Upper Airway Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
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
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
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
9:55 AM – 10:15 AM: Approaches to Treating Migraine and Non-Sinus “Sinus” Headaches John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM: Frontal Sinus Disease — In-Office Pearls Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Frontal Sinus Disease — OR Pearls Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
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
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM: The Sinus Microbiome — Overview of Importance Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
4:30 PM – 4:45 PM: Common Causes of Microbiome Derangement Haidy Marzouk, MD, MBA, FAAOA
4:45 PM – 5:15 PM: Role of Topical Antibiotics in Acute, Chronic, and Recalcitrant Sinusitis Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
5:15 PM – 5:30 PM: The Sinus Virome Stella Lee, MD, FAAOA
5:30 PM – 5:55 PM: Microbiome Assessment — Cultures & Beyond Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA
5:55 PM – 6:10 PM: Recalcitrant Sinusitis — Surgical Techniques & Pearls Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
6:10 PM – 6:40 PM: Demo Labs
6:40 PM – 6:55 PM: The Microbiome & Allergies Haidy Marzouk, MD, MBA, FAAOA
6:55 PM – 7:05 PM: Immunotherapy’s Impact on Airway Microbiome Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
7:05 PM – 7:35 PM: Panel — Challenging Recalcitrant Cases Moderator: Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
Panelist: Peter Filip, MD, FAAOA; Kenneth Rodriguez, MD
7:35 PM – 8:35 PM: Non-AAOA Satellite Event
Saturday, January 24
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
6:45 AM – 7:00 AM: Ocular Complaints — When to Refer? Keith Sale, MD, FAAOA
7:00 AM – 7:15 AM: Endocrine Influences on Allergy — Menopause Michelle Liu, MD, MPH, FAAOA
7:15 AM – 7:30 AM: Endocrine Influences on Allergy — Puberty Michelle Liu, MD, MPH, FAAOA
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
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM: Beyond Avoidance — Nontraditional Therapies for Food Allergy William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM: Safety & Surgical Considerations of Natural Remedies Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
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
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
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
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; Keith Sale, MD, FAAOA; William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA
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 – 11:40 AM: Case Wrap-Ups
11:40 AM – 12:05 PM: Wine’s Effects on Health: Allergy or Intolerance John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
Registration
- Fellow Member $1,100
 - Associate Member $1,225
 - International Member $1,225
 - NP/PA Member $1,225
 - Allied Health Member $1,225
 - Resident Member $600
 - Non-Member Physician $3,000
 - Non-Member Allied Health, NP/PA $3,000
 - Non-member Resident $850
 - Industry Representative $3,000
 
Reminder, if you attended the 2025 Explorers Course or 2025 Basic Course, you’re eligible for a 15% discount on registration for the 2026 Explorers Course. Contact AAOA staff to learn more.
- Explorers Course Overview
 - Explorers Course Access
 - Explorers Course Hotel
 - Faculty and Invited Speakers
 - Explorers Course FAQs
 - Resident Travel Scholarships
 - Corporate Support/Exhibit Opportunities
 
Registration fees are non-transferable. Refunds (less a 20% administration fee) may be considered for cancellations received in writing by the AAOA prior to December 22, 2025.
Cancellations received after December 22th, 2025 are non-refundable.
If you have a disability or require assistance during the course, contact the AAOA at 202-955-5010 or meetings@aaoallergy.org.
If you would like to receive a member rate for the 2025 Explorers Course, please submit your membership application, supporting documents, and payment no later than March 13, 2025. Contact Kate Chenal at (202) 955-5010 ext. 300 or kchenal@aaoallergy.org if you have any questions.





