About the Course
This year marks the 6th Otolaryngology Updates conference since transitioning to a webinar format. In our early years online, we hosted a continuous 48-hour global marathon in collaboration with colleagues at Asan Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) and the University Klinikum Eppendorf–University of Hamburg (Germany).
In 2026, we are returning to that global tradition with an expanded program—over 24 hours of continuous, around-the-clock education. Once again, we are partnering with our colleagues at the University Klinikum Eppendorf–University of Hamburg in Germany, and this year we are also joined by collaborators in South Korea and Australia.
We are especially grateful to welcome Dr. Tuan Pham, a private-practice facial plastic surgeon in Perth, Australia, and Dr. Yong Ju Jang, the former Chairman of Otolaryngology at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. Together, our goal is to provide a seamless global learning experience spanning multiple continents and time zones.
The Otolaryngology Updates 2026 program will feature 28 hours of CME-accredited content, emphasizing practical, clinically relevant instruction for physicians in practice. This year’s course will include an even greater number of panels and discussions addressing not only core otolaryngologic topics but also broader issues facing clinicians today—practice management, ergonomics, space medicine, and financial planning for residents and trainees.
The course remains designed to provide practical, applicable information across the principal fields of otolaryngology, including rhinology, otology, sleep medicine, oncology, and pediatric ENT, with diverse panels intended to foster stimulating dialogue on both clinical and professional challenges.
Participation in the webinar remains free of charge, ensuring open global access. For those seeking CME credits, a modest registration fee will apply.
When
This year’s webinar will begin on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 4:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, and will run continuously for approximately 28 hours, concluding on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Please pay close attention to time zone differences, as the program will run continuously across the calendar day, spanning daylight hours in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
Where
The webinar will be hosted on the Zoom platform, providing simple global access for participants. Mission control for the event will rotate among several sites in Orange County, California, ensuring smooth coordination and delivery of live sessions.
Who Should Attend
The program is designed primarily for otolaryngologists in general practice, with approximately 10% of the content focused on advanced topics. This continuous, live global webinar will be broadcast via Zoom and is open to physicians, nurses, residents, and students at no cost.
For participants in the United States seeking CME credits, a modest fee will apply, with up to 28 hours of CME available. The format includes 25-minute and 55-minute presentations, as well as hour-long panel discussions designed to promote meaningful dialogue on key topics in both clinical care and the modern practice of medicine.
History
The Otolaryngology Updates course was founded by Dr. Leslie Bernstein over 50 years ago and was held for several decades in Hawaii. Fifteen years ago, Dr. Bernstein entrusted the course’s management to Dr. Roger Crumley and Dr. Brian Wong at UC Irvine, who relocated it to the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs–Rancho Mirage–Palm Desert) and transformed it into a golf-centered CME event.
Over the years, the program has welcomed a distinguished international faculty, including Heinz Stammberger, Richard Chole, Jim Netterville, Peter Belafsky, Ken Grundfast, Mickey Stewart, Shan Baker, Stil Kountakis, Gene Tardy, Carol Bradford, Wayne Larrabee, Robin Cotton, Tucker Woodson, David Kennedy, Ted Cook, Dean Toriumi, Jon Aviv, Wolfgang Draf, Scott Manning, Greg Postma, Mike Paparella, Brad Welling, Al Merati, Peter Hwang, Stephan Park, Alex Chiu, John Niparko, Neil Futran, Bruce Ganz, Charles Cummings, Randall Weber, Brent Senior, Tom Wang, Sanjay Parikh, Steve Yoelin, Richard Goode, and many others.
This year, the course again goes international, bringing together world leaders in otolaryngology for a continuous, global exchange of ideas.