Professor Ann Hermansson in Dublin, 2024.
Professor Ann Hermansson from Lund, Sweden, has been a towering figure in European ORL for three decades. She is heading up the team putting together the eighth Congress of the Confederation of European Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery (CEORL / HNS, ‘The Confederation’) in Gothenburg 25 – 29 April 2026. Ray Clarke caught up with Prof Hermansson to get a preview of what we can expect in Sweden.
It was a joy to meet up with my good friend Ann Hermansson, a veteran of many ESPO Congresses and a towering support to myself and my colleagues when we hosted ESPO in Liverpool in 2023. I started off by asking her what makes Gothenburg so special, and she was not lost for enthusiastic words in telling me what an exciting conference venue it is.
Sweden’s second-largest city is on the waterfront and has a proud history as a seafaring and shipbuilding town, its bustling port was for many years at the heart of Sweden’s maritime industries. Compact, walkable and with great transport networks – including a bus stop just outside the congress venue Svenska Mässan – it is the perfect setting. She also says the facilities at the conference centre are truly fabulous, and there are hotels to suit every budget within easy walking distance.
Ann and her team have put a lot of emphasis on making the programme attractive for younger colleagues. A number of ‘pre-congress’ courses are on offer for those who can arrive early. Mentor sessions will be a highlight, where residents and fellows can absorb the wisdom of senior colleagues and get advice on issues such as work-life balance, securing the best jobs and traveling across national boundaries for training. Scholarships have been awarded to young colleagues, emphasising the commitment of the confederation to encouraging our emerging global talent.
I was heartened to hear of many sessions on emerging topics such as the ‘Green Agenda’ on sustainability and caring for the environment and an awareness that we use ever more of the Earth’s precious resources to deliver healthcare.
We all work in an increasingly global environment, and global health is well covered in the scientific programme. Of about 800 faculty members, many are from outside Europe, with speakers from the USA, Australia, Asia, China and the Middle East. Guest nations include Tanzania and Canada, and the scientific committee will have a special welcome for delegates from these nations.
Filtering out ‘highlights’ from the scientific programme isn’t easy. The whole of the specialty is covered, not surprising given that some 15 subspecialties and 43 European nations have had an input into putting it all together. There will be sessions on artificial intelligence (AI), the emerging role of biologic therapies in ORL, and advances in genetics that are now making a real difference to patient care. We can also look forward to state-of-the-art updates on all aspects of neurotology, cochlear implantation and the exciting advances in imaging that are driving our specialty forward.
The confederation congress has become the premier global academic event in our specialty, but it is not all about academia. Networking, meeting friends and colleagues from different nations, exchanging ideas about different healthcare systems, as well as just meeting up and enjoying the company of colleagues is a vital part of what CEORL-HNS does. The social programme is a crucial component of the congress.
I can’t wait to experience the main networking event in ‘Eriksberghallen’ formerly a shipyard and now a magnificent venue celebrating Sweden’s industrial and maritime heritage where we will be entertained with music, dancing and the chance to party well into the night.
We are in for a treat. Keep an eye on the website, sign up for the newsletter and register now if you haven’t already. See you all in Gothenburg!
www.ceorlhnscongress.org
