2026 International Fall Cochlear Implant Meeting

Panel and lecture-based meeting fostering clinically-focused cochlear implant peer-to-peer discussion.
About this Event

November 9-10, 2026

Join us at St Julien Hotel & Spa in Boulder, CO!

Register on or before October 9th, 2026 as spots are limited!

CALL FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS

For the 2026 International Fall CI Meeting, we are accepting abstract submissions to be considered for presentation at the meeting. All abstract submissions will be reviewed in a blinded format by our Program Committee. A limited number will be accepted.

Abstracts MUST be submitted by July 9th, 2026 at midnight PST to be considered for review. Any submissions past that date will not be reviewed. Further, all submissions must adhere to the instructed format, or will be disqualified. The format guidelines can be found on the submission web page.

There are a limited number of travel grant award(s) available to the highest ranking abstracts. Travel grants are awarded in two categories: trainees and Audiology professionals. Instructions for indicating intent to apply for a travel grant are included on the abstract submission website.

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT .

COURSE DIRECTORS:

• Elizabeth Perkins, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• David Haynes, MD, FACS, MMHC, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Kevin D. Brown, MD, PhD, University of North Carolina

COURSE CURRICULUM:

• Pediatric and adult cochlear implant
• Single-sided deafness and unilateral hearing loss
• Electric acoustic stimulation vs. image-guided mapping
• Health care disparities
• Vestibular schwannoma
• Expanding indications & criteria
• Modified osia technique
• Tinnitus suppression in cochlear implant
• Bone-conduction implants and skull base tumors
• Place-pitch importance
• Optimizing binaural hearing
• Imaging
• Hearing preservation
• and more!

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

We have a block of rooms reserved at St Julien Hotel & Spa . Registration is now open. Please try and make your reservations by September 30th, 2026 or until there are no more rooms available.

Room rate: $199.00/night

To reserve: Please use the following link - or call the hotel at 720-406-9696.

Please note: There is a one night’s deposit at time of booking required to confirm all reservations. The St. Julien Hotel and Spa's cancellation policy is 7 days prior to arrival date. Deposit will be forfeited if reservations are cancelled less than 7 days prior to arrival.

MORE INFORMATION

Register on or before October 8th, 2026 as spots are limited!

Registration cancellations will be refunded, less a $100 administrative fee, until October 31st, 2026. Refunds after that date are not able to be granted.

For more information, please visit our course website at: https://www.vumc.org/ent/fallci

Please contact the course organizer, LaJoy Freeman, with any questions at: [email protected]

The 5th Annual International Fall Cochlear Implant Meeting taking place November 9-10, 2026 in Boulder, CO is approved by the VUMC Office for Continuous Professional Development, Division of CME for a maximum of 13.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

Meeting Agenda

🕑: 07:00 AM - 08:15 AM
Day 1 - November 9, 2026

Info: Breakfast and Industry Presentations

🕑: 08:15 AM - 08:20 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Host: Dr. Kevin Brown; Dr. David Haynes; Dr. Elizabeth Perkins
Session 1
Host: Moderator: Chris Welch, MD, PhD
🕑: 08:25 AM - 09:10 AM
Panel: Going the Extra Mile...Is It Really Worth It?
Host: Modertor: Gabrielle Watson, AuD, CCC-A

Info: A Discussion Regarding the Benefit of Perioperative Tools (Electrocochleography, Robotic Insertions, Imaging-Guided Programming

🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:30 AM
Variables that Influence Individual Benefit for CI Users
Host: Margaret Dillon, AuD, PhD

Info: Variables that Influence Individual Benefit for CI Users with Unilateral Hearing Loss

🕑: 09:35 AM - 09:50 AM
TBD
Host: Alejandro Rivas, MD
🕑: 09:55 AM - 10:10 AM
TBD
Host: Wolf-Dieter Baumgartner, MD, PhD
🕑: 10:12 AM - 10:19 AM
Abstract Presentation
Host: Karen Petter, AuD, MA; Christina Buzzy, PhD

Info: Development of a New Auditory Training Application Driven by User Barriers

🕑: 10:20 AM - 10:35 AM
Break
Session II
Host: Moderator: Jordan McNair, AuD
🕑: 10:35 AM - 10:50 AM
The TEAM Approach - A Virtual Collaborative Model for Cochlear Implants
Host: Robert Hong, MD

Info: The TEAM Approach - A Virtual Collaborative Model for Cochlear Implants at Michigan Ear Institute

🕑: 10:55 AM - 11:40 AM
Panel: Extreme Program Makeover: Problem Solving Challenges in Program Growth
Host: Moderator: Nate Cass, MD
🕑: 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Hearing Restoration with Auditory Implants Beyond the Cochlea
Host: Thomas Lenarz, MD
🕑: 12:05 PM - 12:20 PM
Cochlear Implantation and Programming Vestibular Schwannoma Patients
Host: Sandra Porps, AuD, CCC-A
🕑: 12:25 PM - 12:40 PM
Deep Neural Network-Based Noise Reduction: Implant Candidacy and Outcomes
Host: Aniket Saoji, PhD
🕑: 12:42 PM - 12:49 PM
Abstract Presentation
Host: Andrea DeFreese, AuD

Info: Comprehensive Evaluation of Cochlear Implant Outcomes in Patients with Ipsilateral Vestibular Schwannoma: Implications for Counseling, Electrode Selection, and Programming

🕑: 12:50 PM - 01:30 PM
Lunch
Session III
Host: Moderator: Nate Cass, MD
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:15 PM
Panel: Cochlear Implantation and Retrocochlear Pathology
Host: Moderator: John Dornhoffer, MD
🕑: 02:18 PM - 02:33 PM
Comparing Binaural Task Performance between Bilateral and Single-Sided
Host: Renee Banakis Hartl, MD, AuD

Info: Comparing Binaural Task Performance between Bilateral and Single-Sided Deaf Cochlear Implant Recipients

🕑: 02:38 PM - 02:53 PM
Perceptual Effects of Speech Enhancement
Host: Gavriel Kohlberg, MD
🕑: 02:55 PM - 03:02 PM
Abstract Presentation
Host: Rebecca Rosenweig, BA

Info: Variation in Cochlear Implant Surgical Competence Across Training: A Survey of Otolaryngology Residents and Fellows

🕑: 03:07 PM - 03:52 PM
Panel: Single-Sided Deafness in Pediatrics
Host: Moderator: Lisa Park, AuD
🕑: 03:57 PM - 04:12 PM
Quality of Life Results from Adults with Asymmetric Hearing Loss
Host: Jill Firszt, AuD, PhD
🕑: 04:17 PM - 04:32 PM
Development and Implementation of Personalized Prediction Models for Adult CI
Host: Theodore McRackan, MD

Info: Development and Implementation of Personalized Prediction Models for Adult CI Users Using the CIQOL-Digital Platform

🕑: 04:37 PM - 04:44 PM
Abstract Presentation
Host: Carly Schimmel, AuD

Info: Neuroplasticity in Sensorineural and Conductive Single-Sided Deafness

Questions and Conclusion of Day 1
🕑: 07:15 AM - 08:15 AM
Day 2, November 10, 2026

Info: Breakfast and Industry Presentation

🕑: 08:20 AM
Session I
Host: Moderator: Marc Bassim, MD
🕑: 08:20 AM - 08:35 AM
Cochlear Implantation from a Global Perspective
Host: Kenneth Lee, MD, PhD
🕑: 08:40 AM - 08:55 AM
TBD
Host: Rebecca Lewis, AuD
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:15 AM
Automatic Speech Recognition for Scoring of Audiologic Tests
Host: Matt Fitzgerald, PhD
🕑: 09:20 AM - 10:05 AM
Panel: Penetrating the Market: How We are Doing and Where Do We Go from Here
Host: Moderator: Kevin Zhan, MD
🕑: 10:10 AM - 10:17 AM
Abstract Presentation
Host: Matthew Wengreen

Info: Durability of Cochlear Implant Performance in Aging Veterans with Prolonged Auditory Deafness

🕑: 10:19 AM - 10:26 AM
Abstract Presentation
Host: Jennifer Drohosky, AuD, PhD

Info: Vestibular Findings in Pediatric Patients Pre- and Post- Cochlear Implantation

🕑: 10:27 AM - 10:42 AM
Break
🕑: 10:42 AM
Session II
Host: Moderator: Matt Dedmon, MD, PhD
🕑: 10:42 AM - 11:27 AM
Panel: Medicare Criteria: Spill the Tea
Host: Moderator: Camille Dunn, PhD, CCC-A
🕑: 11:31 AM - 11:46 AM
Equivalency of Spanish and English AzBio Sentence Testing in Bilingual
Host: Sandra Prentiss, PhD, CCC-A

Info: Equivalency of Spanish and English AzBio Sentence Testing in Bilingual Cochlear Implant Recipients

🕑: 11:51 AM - 12:06 PM
Why are we using cadaveric measures (i.e., Greenwood’s Map) to program
Host: Craig Buchman, MD

Info: Why are we using cadaveric measures (i.e., Greenwood’s Map) to program cochlear implants?

🕑: 12:11 PM - 12:26 PM
Cochlear Implantation Outcomes in Patients with Cochlear Nerve Deficiency
Host: Joni Doherty, MD, PhD, FACS
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:05 PM
Lunch
🕑: 01:05 PM
Session III
Host: Moderator: Jacob Hunter, MD
🕑: 01:05 PM - 01:12 PM
Abstract: Presentation
Host: Katie Berg, MuD, PhD, CCC-A

Info: Abstract: Building a Music-Focused Cochlear Implant Clinic

🕑: 01:15 PM - 01:22 PM
Abstract Presentation
Host: Nicholas Melott, DO

Info: Abstract: Hearing Preservation Following Revision Cochlear Implantation: Role of Differences in Angular Insertion Depth

🕑: 01:27 PM - 02:12 PM
Panel: Scary Complications
Host: Moderator: Marc Bennett, MD, FACS
🕑: 02:17 PM - 02:32 PM
Update on Genetics of Hearing Loss and Gene Therapy
Host: Taha Jan, MD
🕑: 02:37 PM - 02:52 PM
TBD
Host: Shin-Ichi Usami, MD, PhD
🕑: 02:57 PM - 03:42 PM
Panel: Variables Guiding Manufacturer Selection: Surgeon and
Host: Moderator: Andrea Overton, AuD, CCC-A

Info: Panel: Variables Guiding Manufacturer Selection: Surgeon and Audiologist Perspective

🕑: 03:47 PM
Meeting Conclusion and Final Remarks