COSM Mission Statement

The mission of the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM ) is to bring together the membership of the COSM societies, Otolaryngology residents in training, medical students and allied health professionals for the purpose of disseminating and exchanging the latest cutting edge clinical and basic scientific research. COSM is the premier educational and technology forum for providing the sub specialties in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery with an opportunity to improve and expand their knowledge and skills thereby enhancing the quality of patient care.

History of COSM

The history of the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM) dates back to 1970 when the Triological Society suggested the formation of a liaison committee composed of the Secretaries of each of the ORL Societies (AAFPRS, ABEA, ALA, AOS, ASHNS, TRIO) that met together each Spring. The Secretaries agreed to have the American Council of Otolaryngology handle the logistics of this increasingly complex meeting and its Executive Director, Dr. Harry McCurdy, chair the Secretaries' Liaison Committee (SLC). Each Society was individually responsible for handling its own scientific and social programs and its own registration.

As other ORL Societies grew, they were admitted to the COSM group when they met the criteria established by the SLC, and the group grew to 10 Societies with the addition of AAOA, ARS, ASPO, and ANS. The American Council of Otolaryngology merged with the Academy in 1982 and Dr. McCurdy continued to chair the SLC as Academy EVP.

Dr. Jerome Goldstein became the Academy EVP in 1984 and replaced Dr. McCurdy as SLC Chair. Under his direction the Academy Meetings Department in 1986 introduced a common registration form and badge to obviate the necessity for each society to provide these, and the Department continued to arrange for the needs for audiovisual equipment, logistical setups and decorating needs, auxiliary meetings and exhibitor recruitment and displays. The SLC continues to meet at least twice a year.

In September 1999, they voted to have Dr. Goldstein, former Academy EVP, continue as SLC Chair and COSM coordinator. In response to surveyed suggestions, the secretaries agreed to shorten the COSM meeting to five days by encouraging Society shared and simultaneous presentations. AAOA announced they would withdraw from the COSM group in 2002, which left nine participating societies.

In May 2004, the COSM Secretaries Liaison Committee voted and agreed to transfer the logistics management and exhibitor recruitment of COSM to the American College of Surgeons.

In September 2009, the COSM Secretaries Liaison Committee voted and agreed to have Dr. Stanley Shapshay succeed Dr. Goldstein as the SLC Chair beginning with the April 2011 Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

2012 COSM

April 18–22, 2012
Manchester Grand Hyatt
San Diego, CA 92101

	Wednesday 4/18/2012	Thursday 4/19/2012	Friday 4/20/2012	Saturday 4/21/2012	Sunday 4/22/2012
AM	ALA AAFPRS	ARS ABEA	TRIO	ANS ASPO TRIO	AOS ASPO
PM	ABEA	ALA AAFPRS ARS	ARS ASPO TRIO	AOS ASPO	ANS
EVE	ALA - B ARS - R	Poster - R	Poster - R ANS - R	AOS - B ASPO - R

Exhibits will be scheduled Thursday – Saturday.
Seven societies are participating in 2012, plus AAFPRS.

Abbreviations

B: Banquet
R: Reception

Society Acronym	Society Name
AAFPRS*	American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
ABEA	American Broncho-Esophagological Association
AHNS	American Head and Neck Society
ALA	American Laryngological Association
ANS	American Neurotology Society
AOS	American Otological Society
ARS	American Rhinologic Society
ASPO	American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology
TRIO	The Triological Society

* AAFPRS will participate in COSM 2012 and 2013.

 Future COSM Dates

April 10–14, 2013
JW Marriott Grande Lakes, Orlando, FL

May 14–18, 2014
Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, NV

April 22–26, 2015
Sheraton Boston, Boston, MA

  

Contact Information

 

Revised January 17, 2011