American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy Focused on Advocacy, Patient Care

The AAOA’s “Basic Course in Allergy and Immunology” will be held July 11-13 at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Lake Tahoe, Calif. This course presents basic concepts and techniques applicable to the clinical care of allergic patients. The program goals for this course are:

• Enhanced understanding of an appropriate allergy history, physical findings interpretation and assessment of the likelihood of allergy;
• Enhanced understanding of the basic pathophysiology of inhalant allergy;
• Enhanced understanding of allergy diagnosis using various testing techniques;
• Enhanced understanding of avoidance and pharmacologic management of allergic symptoms; and
• Enhanced understanding of how to initiate, escalate and adjust allergy immunotherapy with appropriate safety precautions and allergy emergency management.

The “Advanced Course in Allergy and Immunology” will be held in December 2013. This course presents advanced diagnostic and treatment modalities to improve the clinical care of the allergy patient, including the more complicated patient. The course program goals are:

• Enhanced understanding of the role of allergy diagnosis and management in an otolaryngology practice;
• Enhanced understanding of the principles of objective dosing, vial safety and related therapeutic options;
• Enhanced understanding of the current evidence in terms of sublingual immunotherapy; food allergy; ocular, oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal manifestations; otitis; and rhinosinusitis; and
• Enhanced understanding of the impact of the unified airway and its role in identifying and managing inflammatory disease.

The “Annual Scientific Meeting” immediately precedes the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Annual Meeting and will be held September 27-29 at the Hotel Fairmont Vancouver in British Columbia. Featuring state-of-the-art basic and clinical research, the meeting will encompass original research, panel discussions, instruction courses and workshops to offer attendees a wide selection of CME opportunities.

AAOA Foundation Research Grants

The AAOA Foundation (AAOAF) is committed to supporting research—both basic and translational—aimed at improving patient care. We strive to identify collaborative opportunities with otolaryngology training programs to help residents understand the role of allergy diagnosis and management within otolaryngology and to develop an interest in improving current diagnostic and therapeutic options to improve patient care. This partnership is seen clearly in our focused resident research opportunities, resident travel grants and our annual “Core Basic Course” for residents, which focuses on resident education and is sponsored solely through the AAOA.

The AAOAF’s mission is to promote scientifically rigorous research that improves the quality of life for the allergic patient through a philosophy of improving patient care through AAOAF-sponsored research. The foundation’s research goals are to: