Find out which Scientific Posters earned top honors at this year’s Annual Meeting, then explore the research yourself in a fully digital format.
A new format for exceptional research: For the first time, every presentation is fully digital. More than 500 posters showcase the latest advancements in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery, and a select group rose to the top. The Annual Meeting Program Committee is honored to recognize the following authors for their exemplary work and their dedication to advancing the field and improving patient care.
2026 Scientific Poster Presentation Winners
Best in Show
Presenting Author: Michael O. Olagbiyan – University of California - San Francisco
- Co-Author: Agnes Qianqian Zhu, MD – University of California - San Francisco
- Co-Author: Kara D. Brodie, MD – University of California - San Francisco
- Senior Author: Kimberly Luu, MD – University of California - San Francisco
Michael O. Olagbiyan with the award-winning digital poster.
Best in Basic/Clinical Science
Presenting Author: Chenjie Hou, MD – Intermediate Professional, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital
- Senior Author: Chenjie Hou, MD – Intermediate Professional, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital
- Senior Author: Ting Chen, MD – Head of Department of ENT, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital
Ting Chen, MD (left), and Chenjie Hou, MD (right), with their award-winning digital poster.
2026 Scientific Poster Presentation Honorable Mentions
Honorable Mention in Business of Medicine/Practice Management
Presenting Author: Jennifer Ren, MD – Resident Physician, University of Washington
- Senior Author: John Paul Giliberto, MD – Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington
Honorable Mention in Care Equity, Quality, and Safety
Presenting Author: Noha A. Algahimi, BS – Medical Student, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Presenting Author: Karissa A. Nichols, BS – Medical Student, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Medicine
- Co-Author: Jana L. Wardian, PhD – Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Co-Author: Kaeli K. Samson, MA, MPH – Statistician, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics
- Co-Author: Kayley Anderson, BA, BS, MPH – Medical Student, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Medicine
- Co-Author: Eli M. Rhoads, MD – Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine/Nebraska Children's Hospital
- Senior Author: Jayme R. Dowdall, MD, FACS – Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine
Honorable Mention in Comprehensive Otolaryngology
Presenting Author: Divya A. Patel – Medical Student, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Presenting Author: Shreya S. Rangarajan, MD, MSc – Yale School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Shreya S. Rangarajan, MD, MSc – Yale School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Ashok A. Jagasia, MD, PhD – Physician, Rush University
- Senior Author: Ashok A. Jagasia, MD, PhD – Physician, Rush University
Honorable Mention in Endocrine Surgery
Presenting Author: Lucy J. Xu, MD – Resident, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School
- Co-Author: Amr H. Ahmed, MD, MMSc – Research Scientist, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School
- Co-Author: Marika D. Russell, MD, FACS – Assistant Professor, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School
- Co-Author: Gregory W. Randolph, MD – Claire and John Bertucci Endowed Chair in Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Harvard Medical School
- Senior Author: Jennifer J. Shin, MD, SM – Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mass General Brigham
Honorable Mention in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Presenting Author: Julie G. Elfishawy – Medical Student, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Jordan S. Kankam, BS – Medical Student, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Kurren S. Gill, MD – Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- Co-Author: Douglas M. Sidle, MD – Assistant Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Medicine
- Senior Author: James C. Wang, MD, PhD – Assistant Professor, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Honorable Mention in Global Perspective in Otolaryngology
Presenting Author: Trinithas J. Boyi, MD, MA – Resident Physician, Southern Illinois University
- Co-Author: Kamala Pullakhandam, BA – Ms.
- Co-Author: Mary Jue Xu, MD – Assistant Professor, University of California - San Francisco
- Co-Author: Gabrielle L. Cahill, MD, MPH – Dr., University of California, Los Angeles Department of Head and Neck Surgery
- Co-Author: Nina Patel, MS, MPhil – Ms., University of California - San Francisco, Department of Otolaryngology
- Senior Author: Gratien Tuyishimire, MD – Dr., University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda Otology & Neurotology Fellow, Max Subspeciality Hospital
Honorable Mention in Head and Neck Surgery
Presenting Author: Alexandra N. Konvalina, MS3 – Ms.
- Co-Author: Christopher Stewart, DO, – Mr., Kansas City University
- Co-Author: Karson M. Ballard, MS3 – Mr., Kansas City University
- Co-Author: Randall C. Hansen, DO – Dr, Freeman Health System Department of Otolaryngology
- Co-Author: Alex L. Otto, DO – Dr., Freeman Health System Department of Otolaryngology
- Senior Author: Kent McIntire, DO – Dr, Freeman Health System Department of Otolaryngology
Honorable Mention in Laryngology/Broncho-Esophagology
Presenting Author: Mishek Thapa, BS – Medical Student, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
Presenting Author: Victor M. Arechiga, BS – Medical Student, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
- Co-Author: Victor M. Arechiga, BS – Medical Student, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
- Co-Author: Albert Y. Li, BA – Medical Student, Keck School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Nathan Vu, BS – Medical Student, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
- Co-Author: Joel A. Sercarz, MD – Professor of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
- Senior Author: Peter S. Han, MD – Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA
Honorable Mention in Otology/Neurotology
Presenting Author: Hiroyuki Yamada, MD, PhD – Associate Professor, Ehime University, School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Takuya Kimura, MD, PhD – Staff Physician, Kamio Memorial Hospital
- Co-Author: Masato Teraoka, MD, PhD – Senior Assistant Professor, Ehime University, School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Ryota Takagi, MD – Staff Physician, Ehime University, School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Takemichi Tanaka, MD – Staff Physician, Ehime University, School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Eriko Nishihara, MD, PhD – Assistant Professor, Ehime University, School of Medicine
- Senior Author: Naohito Hato, MD, PhD – Professor, Ehime University, School of Medicine
Honorable Mention in Pediatric Otolaryngology
Presenting Author: Mariam E. Nazjoo, BS, MS – Clinical Research Associate, Michigan Medicine, Neurology Department, University of Michigan
- Co-Author: Alyssa S. Chen, MD – PGY-3 Resident, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School
- Co-Author: Zahra Nourmohammadi, PhD – Research Specialist, Otolaryngology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan
- Co-Author: Jennifer L. Helman, NP – Advanced Practice Nurse, University of Michigan Health
- Co-Author: Jeffrey Plott, PhD – Assistant Research Scientist, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan
- Co-Author: Louise M. O’Brien, PhD, MS – Research Professor, Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School
- Senior Author: David A. Zopf, MD, MS – Chief, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology; Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Honorable Mention in Professional and Personal Development
Presenting Author: Sofia J. Leusch, BS – Medical Student, University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine
- Co-Author: John Rustad, BA – Medical Student, University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine
- Co-Author: Erin Ostby, MD – Otolaryngologist, University of Vermont Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology
- Senior Author: Sofia J. Leusch, BS – Medical Student, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
- Senior Author: Erin Ostby, MD – Otolaryngologist, University of Vermont Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology
Honorable Mention in Rhinology/Allergy
Presenting Author: Deepthi S. Akella, DO, MS – Resident Physician, University of Missouri-Columbia
- Co-Author: Maaz S. Haji, BS – Medical Student, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
- Co-Author: Abraham A. Kassem, BS – Medical Student, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- Co-Author: Alexandra F. Corbin, BS – Medical Student, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
- Co-Author: Abigail L. Contello – Medical Student, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
- Senior Author: Michele M. Carr, DDS, MD, MEd, PhD – Professor, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, Dept of Otolaryngology
- Senior Author: Christine B. Franzese, MD – Professor, University of Missouri-Columbia
Honorable Mention in Sleep Medicine
Presenting Author: Nomongo Dorjsuren – Ms., Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Co-Author: Brooke Adams – Ms., Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Co-Author: Finnegan T. Clark, BA – Medical Student, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
- Co-Author: Kalpnaben R. Patel, MD, CCRP – Pediatric Otolaryngology Research Coordinator, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Senior Author: Lyndy J. Wilcox, MD, MMHC – Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Explore the Posters Your Way
Visit the interactive kiosks throughout the Los Angeles Convention Center and OTO EXPO, or browse anytime in the OTOMTG app. Search by topic, author, or keyword, and listen to recorded audio presentations from authors for a deeper look at their research.