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
Faculty: John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
6:40 AM – 6:55 AM: Phenotyping & Categorization of CRS
Faculty: Adam Folbe, MD
6:55 AM – 7:10 AM: Other Eosinophilic Conditions of the Upper Respiratory System
Faculty: John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
7:10 AM – 7:25 AM: Medical Management of CRS – From Irrigations to Platelet-Rich Plasma
Faculty: Dana Crosby, MD
7:25 AM – 7:45 AM: In-Office Procedures for CRS and Nasal Function (Panel)
Faculty: Adam Folbe, MD
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM: Jump Starting Your Rhinologic Practice
Faculty: Bryan Leatherman, MD, FAAOA, Moderator, Dana Crosby, MD, Adam Folbe, MD, Jack Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM: Demo Labs
8:20 AM – 8:35 AM: Surgical Anatomy for Revision Sinus Surgery
Faculty: Adam Folbe, MD
8:35 AM – 8:50 AM: The Rhinologist’s Approach to the Orbit
Faculty: Dana Crosby, MD
8:50 AM – 9:10 AM: Extended Surgical Approaches to the Sinuses (Panel)
Moderator: Dana Crosby, MD
Faculty: Adam Folbe, MD, Bryan Leatherman, MD, FAAOA
9:10 AM – 9:20 AM: Management of Complications in Sinus Surgery
Faculty: Adam Folbe, MD
9:20 AM – 9:30 AM: Staging Systems for Inverted Papilloma
Faculty: John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
9:30 AM – 9:40 AM: Surgical Treatment for Inverted Papilloma
Faculty: Dana Crosby, MD
9:40 AM – 10:05 AM: NON-CME Management of Biologics: Dosing & Weaning (Panel)
Moderator: John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA;
Faculty: Bryan Leatherman, MD, FAAOA; Adam Folbe, MD; Dana Crosby, MD
10:05 AM – 10:35 AM: Demo Labs
10:35 AM – 10:50 AM: Physiology of Taste & Smell
Faculty: Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
10:50 AM – 11:05 AM: Assessment of Smell Disorders
Faculty: Dana Crosby, MD
11:05 AM – 11:20 AM: Treatment of Smell Disorders
Faculty: Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA
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
Faculty: John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM: On the Horizon for Olfactory Dysfunction
Faculty: Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
4:15 PM – 4:25 PM: Quality Care — What Defines It
Faculty: Robert Puchalski, MD, FAAOA
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
Faculty: Barbara Ebersol, CC
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
Faculty: Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA
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
Faculty: Jennifer Villwock, MD, FAAOA, Moderator, Meha Fox, MD, FAAOA, Bryan Leatherman, MD, FAAOA
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
Behavioral management
Reflux, Cough & Allergy
6:50 AM – 7:00 AM: Globus: What Is It? How to Work It Up? Is Everyone Crazy?
Faculty: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
How to treat; Reflux management; Postnasal drip management, and allergy management
7:00 AM – 7:10 AM: Laryngeal Allergy
Faculty: John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
How to identify and manage laryngeal allergy
7:10 AM – 7:25 AM: Chronic Cough and Allergy — Laryngeal Impact Panel
Moderator: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
Faculty: Barbara Ebersole, CC, Nausheen Jamal, MD, John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAOA
Panel will consider cough, from diagnosis to management, including algorithm, chest algorithm
7:25 AM – 7:35 AM: GLP1s and Cough
Faculty: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
Join us to consider GLP1s as trigger for cough; What is all the rage? Is there a difference in one drug vs another for increase risk of cough or do they all do it?
7:35 AM – 7:45 AM: EOE, Advances in Management
Faculty: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
Consider newer treatments: diagnosis in adults and kids; Management including steroids, proton pump inhibitors H2 blockers swallowed steroids, new biologic indications. Where do biopsies fit in and where in the esophagus
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM: How Might We Small Group Cases
Faculty: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA
4 cases; Reflux female patient with globus, osteoporosis: clears her throat all the time
-Failure to thrive adult with food impactions
-Cough: Neurogenic cough in a bipolar patient already on mental meds
-Allergy patient with a cough, reflux is not an issue or a complaint. Do you believe
the patient when they say they don’t have reflux?
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Demo Labs
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Hands-On Practicum
Faculty: Robert Stachler, MD, FAAOA, Nausheen Jamal, MD, Barbara Ebersol, CCC-SL
10 min rotations through Laryngeal palpation for MTD; SLN injection for cough and hyolaryngeal syndrome, Mendelsohn maneuvers, shaker exercises, head turn and strategies to improve swallowing
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Weaving in GLP1s
9:30 AM – 10:10 AM: Women and Chronic Cough
10:10 AM – 10:40 AM: Demo Labs
10:40 AM – 11:00 AM: Financial Implications: Off-Label from the Patient & Practice Perspective
Faculty: Robert Puchalski, MD, FAAOA
Join this session for discussion around up-and-coming off-label issues from both the patient and practice perspective. We will focus on antibiotics, POP, Things from the Laryngology space, and how to get help for patient hardships
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
To help support our member community and engagement, we are offering a “bring a colleague” program for Fellows who want to bring a colleague to the Explorers Course 2027. Your colleague can be a peer ENT, friend from med school, your APP, or your physician spouse. For more information please contact KChenal@aaoallergy.org. This offer is valid for in-person attendees only.
- 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.





