Explorers Course 2027
Course Schedule

Explorers Course 2027:
Surgical & Medical Management of Airway Disease in Otolaryngology
December 7, 2026 – Pre-Work Launch
January 7 – 9, 2027 – Live/Live Stream at The Hythe Vail, CO
January 10 – March 7, 2027 – Post Live Content Access
As a hybrid meeting, we are excited to offer both live F2F/In Person and Virtual participation.
Pre-work - On-Demand
- Operating on Yourself: Surgeon Health and Ergonomics
- Using AAP’s Effectively
- Really?!: Worst Denials Panel
- Reducing Denials: Mitigating Strategies for Worst Denials
- Expansion: Setting Up for Success
- Rapid-Fire Cases: When Your Patient Already Has the AI Answers
- Immunology of Allergy
- Allergen Characteristics and Standardization
- Allergen Classes
- Cross-Reactivity Selection
- The Great Allergy Panel Bake Off: What/How Many Antigens Do You Test For
- Skin Testing I: Testing Board, Controls, Indications and Contraindications
- Skin Testing 2: Skin Prick Testing and Modified Quantitative Testing
- Specific IgE Testing
- Avoidance and Environmental Control
- Pharmacotherapy for Allergic Rhinitis Part II: Treatment and Guidelines
- Immunology and Principles of Immunotherapy
- SCIT Vial Prep and Protocol
- SLIT Vial Prep: Escalation, Maintenance, Withdrawal
- Use of Biologics in Respiratory Disease
- Case Study AAOA Affinity Program Boosts Bottom Line
Please find agenda* for the live portion of the meeting in the Thursday-Saturday tabs!
* Subject to change, times in MDT
Thursday, January 7
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM: Welcome Reception with Exhibitors: Open House
5:00 PM – 5:05 PM: Welcome to Vail
Faculty: Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA & Jack Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
5:05 PM – 5:15 PM: Common Causes of Hoarseness
Faculty: Naushenn Jamal, MD
Join us to explore the latest in recognizing commonly overlooked causes of dysphona in routine practice; applying a structured, efficient approach to hoarseness evaluation, identifying red flags that warrant escalation or referral, and implementing practical management strategies immediately.
5:05 PM – 5:15 PM: Rapid-Fire Didactic
Faculty: Naushenn Jamal, MD
Join us to establish framework around the 5 Buckets of Hoarseness, Commonly Missed Diagnoses, and 3-Step Office Algorithm, Commonly missed diagnoses, and a 3-step office algorithm.
5:15 PM – 5:35 PM: Interactive Game Show: “What Did You Miss?”
Faculty: Naushenn Jamal, MD
Join this case-based polling session to explore “Looks Normal…But Isn’t,” It’s Not Reflux,” “subtle Neuro…Or Maybe Not?” “Medication Matters,” “Red Falgs You Ignored”.
5:35 PM – 5:50 PM: Deep Dive: High-Yield “Missed” Diagnoses
Faculty: Barbara Ebersol, CCC-SLP
Focusing on 4-5 entities with practical takeaways: to include Muscle Tension Dysphonia, Subtle Vocal Fold Paresis, Vocal Fold Scar/Sulcus, Medication-Related Dysphonia, Early Malignancy.
5:50 PM – 6:00 PM: “In Your Clinic Tomorrow” Segment
Faculty: Naushenn Jamal, MD
5 questions to ask, 5 things to look for on scope, 5 common pitfalls.
6:00 PM – 6:10 PM: Rapid Case Blitz
Faculty: Naushenn Jamal, MD
3-4 short cases, quick polling — Diagnosis? Treat vs Refer vs Image? Session Goal: Reinforcing pattern recognition.
6:10 PM – 6:15 PM: Take-Home Points
Faculty: Naushenn Jamal, MD
Most ‘missed” diagnoses are missed due to pattern recognition failure, not lack knowledge; “normal scope” does not equal a normal voice; early use of speech therapy is often underutilized; subtle asymmetry matters; when in doubt, follow closely or escalate.
6:15 PM – 6:30 PM: Jump Starting Your Laryngologic Practice Panel
Faculty: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA, Moderator, Barbara Ebersole, CCC-SLP, Nausheen Jamal, MD, Robert Puchalski, MD, FAAOA
Friday, January 8
6:15 AM – 6:30 AM: Coffee with Exhibitors: Open House
6:35 AM – 6:40 AM: Introduction to Rhinology Section
6:40 AM – 6:55 AM: Phenotyping & Categorization of CRS
6:55 AM – 7:10 AM: Other Eosinophilic Conditions of the Upper Respiratory System
7:10 AM – 7:25 AM: Medical Management of CRS – From Irrigations to Platelet-Rich Plasma
7:25 AM – 7:45 AM: In-Office Procedures for CRS and Nasal Function (Panel)
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM: Jump Starting Your Rhinologic Practice
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM: Demo Labs
8:20 AM – 8:35 AM: Surgical Anatomy for Revision Sinus Surgery
8:35 AM – 8:50 AM: The Rhinologist’s Approach to the Orbit
8:50 AM – 9:10 AM: Extended Surgical Approaches to the Sinuses (Panel)
9:10 AM – 9:20 AM: Management of Complications in Sinus Surgery
9:20 AM – 9:30 AM: Staging Systems for Inverted Papilloma
9:30 AM – 9:40 AM: Surgical Treatment for Inverted Papilloma
9:40 AM – 10:05 AM: NON-CME Management of Biologics: Dosing & Weaning (Panel)
10:05 AM – 10:35 AM: Demo Labs
10:35 AM – 10:50 AM: Physiology of Taste & Smell
10:50 AM – 11:05 AM: Assessment of Smell Disorders
11:05 AM – 11:20 AM: Treatment of Smell Disorders
11:20 AM – 3:00 PM: MIDDAY BREAK
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Après-Ski: Demo Labs
3:30 PM – 3:35 PM: Welcome Back
3:35 PM – 4:00 PM: Smell and Taste Practicum – Wine Tasting 101
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM: On the Horizon for Olfactory Dysfunction
4:15 PM – 4:25 PM: Quality Care — What Defines It
Tools of the Trade: Stepping Up Your Evaluation of Voice & Swallow Symptoms
4:25 PM – 4:35 PM: Rapid Fire Didactic — Flexible v. Rigid Scope; Steady Light v. Stroboscopy; Fees v. MBS
4:35 PM – 4:50 PM: Examination: Key Elements for Comprehensive Assessment
4:50 PM – 5:00 PM: Fast Breakout: Laryngeal palpitation; Rescue breathing for laryngospasm
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Demo Labs
5:30 PM – 5:40 PM: Partnering with SLP
5:40 PM – 5:45 PM: Down & Dirty Quiz: Describing Voice Therapy to Your Patient in <1 Minute (survey/quiz – matching dx with best explanation)
5:45 PM – 5:55 PM: Time to Play: Voice TX or No Voice TX? (short case then poll)
5:55 PM – 6:00 PM: Pulling It All Together
6:00 PM – 6:15 PM: Sensitivity Sudoku: Infectious Disease
6:15 PM – 6:30 PM: Topical Antibiotics — Accessible, But Are They Evidence-Based?
6:30 PM – 6:50 PM: Optimizing Your Allergy Practice for Success
Saturday, January 9
6:15 AM – 6:30: Coffee with Exhibitors: Open House
6:30 AM – 6:50 AM: How to Approach Conditions and Typical Symptoms in Real-World Practice
Reflux, Cough & Allergy
6:50 AM – 7:00 AM: Globus: What Is It? How to Work It Up? Is Everyone Crazy?
7:00 AM – 7:10 AM: Laryngeal Allergy
7:10 AM – 7:25 AM: Chronic Cough and Allergy — Laryngeal Impact Panel
7:25 AM – 7:35 AM: GLP1s and Cough
7:35 AM – 7:45 AM: EOE, Advances in Management
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM: How Might We Small Group Cases
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Demo Labs
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Hands-On Practicum
Weaving in GLP1s
Women and Chronic Cough
Demo Labs
Financial Implications: Off-Label from the Patient & Practice Perspective
Join Us In Vail
- 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
- Explorers Course Overview
- Explorers Course Agenda
- Faculty and Invited Speaker
- 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 7, 2026.
Cancellations received after December 7, 2026 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.





