The global otolaryngology community takes center stage. Monday is International Day at the AAO-HNSF 2026 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO. The program runs from a morning forum on humanitarian outreach, through an honorary lecture on jaw reconstruction, to an evening reception with music, karaoke, and dancing. Whether you traveled across an ocean to be in Los Angeles or simply share a passion for global health, here’s what to put on your schedule.
Start Your Day: Humanitarian Efforts Forum
Monday | 8:00–10:00 am (PT) | Theatre (Level Two)
Kick off International Day with a conversation that matters. Physicians engaged in humanitarian outreach will share what they see on the ground, from the current global landscape to the real-world challenges of building care that lasts. The program includes two panel discussions: “Medical Education Partnerships and Global Trainees,” which explores surgical training around the world and how global partnerships can support it, and “Building Sustainable Medical Education Collaborations,” in which Myers Global Education Fund awardees share their experiences and what it takes to build lasting partnerships across borders. Come ready to listen, share your own experience, and leave with practical ideas about the resourceful work happening worldwide in underserved communities.
Eugene N. Myers, MD International Lecture on Head and Neck Cancer
Monday | 11:00 am–12:00 pm (PT) | Petree Hall C
Professor Jonathan Clark, MBBS, BSc(Med), MBiostat, FRACS, AM, is this year’s award recipient and will deliver the Honorary Guest Lecture titled “What We Don’t Know about Jaw Reconstruction, but Probably Should: Function, Quality of Life, and Biomechanics.”
Professor Clark joins us from Sydney, Australia, where he leads head and neck cancer research at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and holds the Inaugural Walker Family Foundation Chair in Head and Neck Cancer Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Sydney. He also founded Head and Neck Cancer Australia, home to the world’s most comprehensive online education resource for patients living with head and neck cancer, and has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. [Read his full bio.]
The lectureship was endowed by Leslie Nicholas, MD, in honor of his nephew, Eugene N. Myers, MD, who is dedicated to the management of head and neck cancer and has a longstanding interest in international medicine.
International Advisory Board General Assembly
Monday | 2:30–4:00 pm (PT) | Concourse Hall 152
Physicians worldwide face many of the same challenges, and this is where we tackle them together. Join colleagues from across the globe to discuss how the ENT community can collaborate across borders and help celebrate this year’s international award recipients. The program includes a global leadership panel, “Clinical Research in ENT: Infrastructure, Ethics, and Sustainability Across Global Health Systems,” which will examine how funding, infrastructure, and regulation shape research capacity, along with ethical challenges and how to build sustainable research careers. All international attendees are encouraged to attend, including delegates representing International Corresponding Societies, as are U.S. registrants interested in global health.
International Reception
Monday | 5:30–7:00 pm (PT) | Galaxy Court
Join us for a vibrant evening celebrating our global community! This complimentary event welcomes all international attendees for a night of music, karaoke, dancing, delicious food, and refreshing drinks. It’s the perfect chance to reconnect with old friends and meet new colleagues from around the world in a relaxed, festive atmosphere. Whether you’re networking with peers or simply unwinding after a full day of sessions, the International Reception promises great company and guaranteed fun.
Explore the International Symposium
International Day isn’t the only place to find global perspectives at this year’s meeting. The International Symposium program includes nearly 40 education sessions that feature cutting-edge content and global perspectives on popular topics in otolaryngology, presented by international physicians. There’s still time to catch the ones remaining on the schedule!
To find them, click “Education Sessions” in the schedule, filter using “Browse by Session Type,” and select “International Symposium.”