As we wind down these last few days of 2016, I’ve been spending a lot of my time planning and preparing for the year ahead. At the top of my list has been thinking about our audiology conference agenda in 2017. Not only are we excited to share news about SHOEBOX Audiometry with our current and prospective customers, but we are always keen to hear what is happening and learn from the best and the brightest in the audiology industry.

There is no shortage of audiology conferences that we could attend, and this is by no means a comprehensive list, but this is what I have narrowed it down to so far, and why. We’ll be exhibiting at some, presenting papers at others, and a few we hope to attend just for the learning experience. I’ll probably adjust things a little as we move closer towards mid-year, but for now, this is what I’m thinking.

ARO 2017 Mid-Winter Meeting
ARO – or the Association for Research in Otolaryngology – takes place February 11-15 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, MD. ARO was founded in 1973 with an aim to encourage and promote both basic and clinical research in the field of Otolaryngology and to stimulate scientific interest among its members. Their mid-winter meeting, now in its 40th year, expects to attract over 1,800 international scientists and physicians dedicated to research efforts involving the ear, nose, head, and neck and related functions including hearing, balance, speech, taste, and smell among others. This should be a great event for us to explore the topic of ototoxicity and hearing monitoring in clinical research.

NHCA 2017
NHCA is the annual conference of the National Hearing Conservation Association. Formed in 1976, NHCA founders were mainly audiologists and otolaryngologists concerned with the serious problem of occupational noise-induced hearing loss. The association was created to provide a forum where like-minded individuals could gather, share information, and gain insights regarding occupational hearing conservation. Now in its 17th year, the conference is considered a “must attend” event for members – many of whom consider the conference the most valuable feature of membership. NHCA 2017 will be held February 23-25 in San Antonio, TX. This event provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest research and tools for hearing conservation, and a chance to network with peers and colleagues in the industry. We look forward to sharing our advances in tablet audiometry with the attendees.

AudiologyNow!
Hosted by the American Academy of Audiologists, AudiologyNow! is considered the world’s largest gathering of Audiologists. Held over 4 days, from April 5-8 in Indianapolis, IN, AudiologyNow! combines educational sessions with a chance to explore the latest in hearing technology while networking with colleagues from around the world. We are excited to be presenting a research paper at the conference this year: “Building Hearing Testing Capacity with Online Training and Mobile Tablet Audiometry.”  If you are attending AudiologyNow!, we hope you will add this session to your Conference Planner or stop by our booth to say hello.

COSM 2017
The Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting happens April 26-30 in San Diego, CA. It is considered one of the premier educational and technology forums for the 9 subspecialty societies in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Attended by nearly 3,000 residents in training, medical students, and allied health professionals, COSM provides access to several subspecialties all under one roof. It is a great conference for members to mix and mingle with their peers across the various subspecialties.

CSO 2017
The AGM of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology, CSO will be held in Saskatoon, SK this year between June 10-13. The event is now in its 71st year and is very well attended by Canadian Otolaryngologists who are dedicated to improving patient care through the support of education, the promotion of research, and the dissemination of information. The sessions are always of the highest quality and we look forward to the opportunity of meeting with many of our Canadian friends and customers at this annual event.

BSA 2017
We’ve not attended the British Society of Audiology before but I’m intrigued. Their theme this year is Audiology and the Greater Good. BSA is considered the leading UK scientific forum that brings together clinicians and researchers with an interest in hearing, tinnitus, and balance. The event is June 29 and 30th this year at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate. They promise to offer delegates “the latest in audiology research, education, and expertise with inspiring speakers and informative sessions.”

CI 2017
We have some very exciting news coming soon in the area of Cochlear implants so this conference is very high on my list. Hosted by the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, the Stanford University of Medicine and the University of California San Francisco, CI is the 15thSymposium on Cochlear Implants in Children. It is happening July 26-29 in San Francisco and will be attended by over 1200 physicians, audiologists, speech pathologists, educators, hearing scientists, and members of industry. The conference will explore current topics having the greatest impact on improving pediatric cochlear implant outcomes and will be organized around six themes with keynote speakers addressing each theme. Podium presentations with provide further exploration of research and clinical insights. If you specialize in cochlear implants or just have a keen interest in the topic, you should check this one out.

AAO 2017
This will mark the 5th year that we have attended the American Academy of Otolaryngology. We always look forward to this event and have made many great friends from all over the world at AAO-HNSF. It will be held September 10-13 in Chicago, IL and offers the 4,000+ members of the academy over 400 continuing education sessions. There are usually more than 300 exhibitors representing everything from device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, EMR systems, and so much more. It really offers a great opportunity to stay abreast of the leading technologies for ENT professionals.

CAA 2017
I’m pretty excited that the Canadian Academy of Audiology will take place in Ottawa, ON this October 11-14. 2017 marks the 150th“birthday” of Canada as a nation, and as the capital of this great country, Ottawa will be hosting a year-long celebration. So, if attending CAA for the purpose of enhancing your role as an audiologist or hearing healthcare provider through advocacy, education, and research aren’t enough – come for the party!

AuDACity 2017
The theme of this event – hosted by the American Academy of Doctors of Audiology – is Building the Audiology Practice of the Future. Enough said. September 25-27 in Uncasville, Connecticut. We’ll be there, and we have a few thoughts we’d love to share on this exact topic.

As I read back over this list, I’m realizing that it seems a lofty goal to be able to do them all – but for now, I’ll dream big! Tell me, what events would you add to this list? I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

Happy New Year and I hope to meet you soon on a conference floor.