World's largest gathering of ENT doctors to convene in San Diego, Oct. 4-7, 2009

The 2009 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), the largest meeting of ear, nose, and throat doctors in the world, will convene October 4 - 7, 2009, in San Diego, CA. The meeting will also feature the presentation of the 2009 Excellence in Otolaryngology Journalism Award.

Featuring more than 250 scientific research sessions, 300 posters, and several hundred instruction course hours for attendees, the annual meeting is a unique opportunity for journalists from around the world to cover breaking science and medical news. Reporters will have access to the latest research and clinical advances in the field of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery.

Otolaryngologists are specialty physicians and surgeons dedicated to diagnosing and treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. As many as 9,000 such specialists from North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia attend to learn the latest research findings in patient care.

The scientific program and poster sessions will address medical disorders that are among the most common afflictions to all ages and both sexes. These include hearing loss, sleep disorders, allergies, ear infections, voice disorders, sinusitis, head and neck cancer, and pediatric ENT health issues. Additional sessions will focus on the role of HPV in otolaryngology, the state of the science in treating food allergies, and new guidelines for the treatment of hoarseness.

Information for the Media:

The AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO Newsroom will be located in the San Diego Convention Center, Mezzanine Level, Room 14A. Hours of operation: Saturday, October 3, 12 pm to 5 pm; Sunday-Tuesday, October 4 - 6, 7:30 am to 5 pm; and Wednesday, October 7, 7:30 am to 2 pm. The newsroom serves as a work space for credentialed members of the news media. The newsroom is managed and staffed by the AAO-HNS Communications Unit. Please see the AAO-HNS website for media credentialing requirements for the event.

To register and view advance press releases, log onto the AAO-HNS website at http://www.entnet.org/annual_meeting/media.cfm.

Reporters are also encouraged to send in their submissions for the 2009 Excellence in Otolaryngology Journalism Award, which is presented during the annual meeting. First presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Chicago, the award recognizes excellence in journalistic writing in the balanced reporting of issues important to otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons and their patients, and encourages quality healthcare for the ear, nose, throat, head and neck.

Source: American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery