The board of the Israeli Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Dr Shay Schneider, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center and the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Nearly 300 otolaryngologists, residents and consultants from major hospitals and from the community attended the 2023 annual meeting of the Israeli Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The speakers represented a remarkably broad spectrum of expertise from all otolaryngology subspecialties. The theme of the meeting was advances in imaging in otolaryngology, for which world-known radiology experts were invited.
The meeting included instructional courses, a radiology masterclass, keynote lectures, panel sessions, free paper sessions, the best residents’ research session and posters. Over 30 national and international pharma and medical device companies sponsored and participated in the exhibition. Free performances by local artists encouraged social interaction and mingling.
Professor Daniel Kaplan, President of the Israeli Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (pictured with Jan Casselman and Eran Alon), greeted the participants and expressed his satisfaction at the attendance. He explained that the conference would focus on the important topic of the interface between radiology and otolaryngology. Dr Orna Berry, Technical Director office of the CTO, Google Cloud, delivered a fascinating talk on her intimate relationship with cancer.
Professor Jan W Casselman (Belgium) focused his talks on 3D cranial imaging of the extracranial cranial nerves – anatomy and pathology – as well as on cone beam CT of the temporal bone. Professor Emmanuel Mylanus (Netherlands) discussed the sustainability of cochlear implant care and conductive or mixed hearing loss and the choices for implantable devices.
Professor Patrick Sheahan (Ireland) reviewed current concepts and changes in the management of the head and neck unknown primary cancer. Professor Michael Ruckenstein (USA) discussed the management of unilateral deafness in the adult and pediatric population.
In order to encourage outstanding research, the best resident work session was set in the core of the conference, with no parallel session. It included five outstanding research projects by residents in basic and clinical research.
The talks were given in memory of the late Professor Jacob Sadeh, whose name was given to a prize for outstanding research. In order to qualify for this session, the residents had to submit a complete article of their work to the organising committee.
The winner was Hen Hazot Cohen (Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva) for ‘The role of bacterial autoinducer molecules in the pathogenesis of recurrent tonsillitis: a novel discovery with impact on biofilm research.’ The study discovered a novel molecule that plays a role in bacterial communication and demonstrates its impact on the pathogenesis and formation of biofilm in recurrent tonsillitis.
The four runners-up were:
- Raviv Alon, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot: ‘Trans-tracheostomal retrograde corticosteroid inhalation vs traditional oral inhalation for the treatment of subglottic stenosis – a computerised model and our clinical experience.’
- Sapir Pinhas, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot: ‘“Zoom in”: Factors affecting vocal habits during online meetings: A prospective trial on 40 subjects.’
- Matti Miztachi, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya: ‘The long COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. Objective and subjective assessment and the ability to predict it.’
- Yoni Evgeni Gutkovich, Haemek Medical Center, Afula: ‘Video head impulse test and seasickness susceptibility.’
Another important session was a plenary panel on the issue of competency-based residency with a lively discussion with the audience. The aim of the session was to discuss adjustments and improvement of residency training and evaluation.
The conference was both educational and social and was well appreciated, as seen by the summary of a survey of the participants. We all hope to meet again in our next meeting in March 2024.
