Indianapolis, Indiana – October 13, 2025 – The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO featured three prestigious named lectures that highlighted advances affecting patient care worldwide.
From cochlear gene therapy that could reverse genetic deafness to precision surgical techniques that improve cancer outcomes, and access to specialized ENT-related care, the depth of these lectures demonstrate why thousands of otolaryngologists from around the globe travel to this premier education event each year—to access the clinical education and discussions that directly impact the care they provide to patients.
Gene Therapy Offers New Hope for Hereditary Deafness
In the Howard P. House, MD Memorial Lecture for Advances in Otolaryngology, Lawrence R. Lustig, MD, Howard W. Smith Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology at Columbia University, presented his pioneering work on cochlear gene therapy for genetic forms of hearing loss. As one of the lead investigators for the otoferlin gene therapy trial and a foremost authority on cochlear implants in the United States, Dr. Lustig's research represents a paradigm shift in treating hereditary deafness.
Dr. Lustig's presentation walked attendees through the mechanisms of gene delivery to the cochlea, shared findings from mouse models under study for genetic deafness, and provided crucial updates on clinical trial results for otoferlin-related deafness in humans. His lecture equipped otolaryngologists with a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape for treating genetic deafness—knowledge they can bring directly back to their practices and patients.
The House Lecture honors the legacy of Dr. Howard P. House, whose passion for sharing knowledge through research and education revolutionized otolaryngology worldwide.
Precision Surgery: The Next Frontier in Cancer Care
Maie A. St. John, MD, PhD, the Andelot Professor and Director of the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, delivered the H. Bryan Neel III, MD, PhD Distinguished Research Lecture on precision surgery for head and neck cancers. Dr. St. John's clinical expertise in intraoperative tumor margin delineation allows surgeons to more precisely remove cancerous tissue while preserving healthy tissue—a critical advance that improves patient outcomes and quality of life.
Beyond the technical innovations, Dr. St. John challenged attendees to embrace new approaches to identifying gaps in patient care, emphasized collaboration as essential to shaping the future of head and neck cancer treatment, and inspired physicians to find strength and purpose in working at the edge of medical knowledge. Her lecture provided both practical tools and a philosophical framework for advancing patient care in an era of rapid medical innovation.
The Neel Lecture, established in 1993, has become a cornerstone of the Annual Meeting, disseminating breakthrough biomedical research to the otolaryngologic community. Notably, 36% of Neel Lecturers have been recipients of CORE (Combined Otolaryngology Research Efforts) grants, underscoring the lecture series' commitment to recognizing research excellence and the critical role CORE plays in advancing the specialty.
Ensuring Every Child Has Access to Specialized ENT Care
Craig S. Derkay, MD, Fine Endowed Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Eastern Virginia Medical School, addressed the critical question of pediatric otolaryngology workforce sustainability in the Cotton-Fitton Endowed Lecture in Pediatric Otolaryngology. Dr. Derkay traced the remarkable growth of the subspecialty from a dozen North American visionaries in the mid-1970s to today's workforce of more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers.
His comprehensive analysis examined not only the historical evolution but also evaluated the current workforce composition of MDs, DOs, and advanced practice providers in relation to current demands for access. Most critically, Dr. Derkay explored strategies for meeting the public's future needs for pediatric otolaryngology care—addressing both the quantity and distribution of providers needed to ensure every child who needs specialized ENT care can receive it. His lecture provided attendees with actionable insights on workforce planning and efficient care delivery models for the next generation.
The Cotton-Fitton Lecture, founded by Robin T. Cotton, MD, and Cynthia M. Fitton, educates otolaryngologists about the unique considerations in caring for children with diseases or disorders of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck.
The 2025 Annual Meeting continues through October 14 at the Indiana Convention Center, featuring hundreds of scientific presentations, hands-on courses, and networking opportunities for the 5,000+ attendees representing over 75 countries.
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About the AAO-HNS/F
The AAO-HNS/F is one of the world’s largest organizations representing specialists who treat the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. Otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons diagnose and treat medical disorders that are among the most common affecting patients of all ages in the United States and around the world. Those medical conditions include chronic ear disease, hearing and balance disorders, hearing loss, sinusitis, snoring and sleep apnea, allergies, swallowing disorders, nosebleeds, hoarseness, dizziness, and tumors of the head and neck as well as aesthetic and reconstructive surgery and intricate micro-surgical procedures of the head and neck. The Academy has approximately 13,000 members. The AAO-HNS Foundation works to advance the art, science, and ethical practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery through education, research, and quality measurement.