Surgeon Scientist Symposium in Otolaryngology (S3O)

2026 Surgeon Scientist Symposium at Vanderbilt

July 30-31, 2026

Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville

2-day "boot camp style" annual symposium assembling promising otolaryngology residents, fellows, and early career faculty for a host of lectures, workshops, and panels that focus on keys to research success. This conference is designed to motivate participants and provide them with the tools needed to achieve success in translational research. 

Symposium Co-Directors: Aaron Moberly, MD and Justin H. Turner, MD, PhD

REGISTER NOW

Registration required by June 30, 2026.

TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE!

A select number of travel grants in the amount of $1,000 each are available. To apply, applicants are asked to submit a letter of support from their Department Chairman and their CV. Visit the application submission page by May 29, 2026. 

  • The Surgeon Scientist Symposium in Otolaryngology (S3O)'s goal is to provide instruction, mentorship, and career development tools to aspiring and promising residents, fellows, and early career faculty in Otolaryngology to establish a successful clinician-scientist career. 

    This symposium is designed equip attendees by providing high-quality training in research methodology and data analysis, career development tools, and opportunities for mentorship by successful clinician-scientists, especially for participants who may not have access to such support at their own institutions.

    Additionally, this conference can also be used to supplement training of prospective attendees already undergoing mentorship and training at their own institutions in an effort to strengthen the network between trainees of all levels and resources across the country; ultimately pursing the shared goal of maintaining and developing the biomedical workforce in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Communication Sciences.
     

  • Symposium Co-Directors: Aaron Moberly, MD and Justin H. Turner, MD, PhD

    Principal Co-Investigators: Justin H. Turner, MD, PhD and Aaron Moberly, MD

    Keynote Speaker: Anais Rameau, MD, MS, M.Phil: Weill Cornell Medical College | Associate Attending Otolaryngologist | Associate Professor of Otolaryngology | Associate Professor of Otolaryngology in Medicine

    Invited Faculty:

    Joshua M. Levy, MD, MPH, MS: Clinical Director, NIDCD | Co-Director, National Smell and Taste Center | Chief, Sinonasal and Olfaction Program | Adjunct Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, Emory University School of Medicine

    Richard J. Wong, MD, FACS: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | Chief, Head and Neck Service | Jatin P. Shah Chair in Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology

    David Francis, MD, MS: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health | Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

    Peter L. Santa Maria, MD, PhD: University of Pittsburgh | Professor, Division Chief of Otology & Neurotology | Vice Chair of Translational and Clinical Research | Director of Faculty Innovation | Co-Director, Pittsburgh CREATES | Co-Director, Pitt SPARK and Gorongosa SPARK

    Dylan K. Chan, MD, PhD: University of California, San Francisco | Professor in Residence and Director, Children’s Communication Center, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

  • This educational investment is funded by NIH R13 DC021381 “Early Career Development of Clinician-scientists in Otolaryngology and the Communication Sciences”, enabling travel grants for interested applicants.

    The planning committee of the Surgeon Scientist Symposium is committed to recruiting qualified trainees to participate as both faculty and attendees.

  • The 2026 schedule is in development. Please note that all necessary software for the course will be provided to participants at no cost.

    View the 2024 Symposium agenda.

  • REGISTER HERE

    Registration is required by June 30, 2026. Registration is free of cost, but will require the following information:

    • Educational background
    • Institution/program of study
    • Research interests
    • Research opportunities available at your institution
    • Demographics

    Travel grant applications are required by May 29, 2026. To submit a travel grant application, visit the application submission page.