Dr. Syed Ahmed Shahzaeem Hussain: Third Year Postgraduate Trainee, ENT department, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
Captivating landscapes, breathtaking scenery and delightful weather: just a few of the long list of reasons that Bhurban is a popular destination. It’s the place to escape the scorching heat waves that engulf Pakistan in the hot summer months. But leisure wasn’t the priority for the flocks of fervent ENT specialists who converged onto Bhurban for an academic gem: Otocon.
A beacon of otological excellence, Otocon encompassed a multitude of engaging plenary and keynote lectures, instructional courses, panel and roundtable discussions, all of which harmonized into an engaging and thought-provoking learning experience.
Highlights included Professor Prepagaren’s keynote ‘How I do it: Endoscopic surgery for lesions of Labyrinth and CPA’. His masterful dissections provided vital insights into how to approach these challenging lesions and underlined the importance of inculcating endoscopic surgery as an indispensable tool in the otologist’s repertoire. The panel discussion ‘Controversies in the evaluation & management of otosclerosis’ was particularly intriguing and afforded an opportunity for trailblazers in the field to come together to share their wealth of knowledge. Professor Levent Sennaroglu’s instructional course on ossiculoplasty elucidated difficult concepts in an easy-to-understand manner and went a long way in allowing novice otologists such as myself to comprehend necessary core principles. 
Audiology is indispensable to an otologist and every otology aficionado needs a sound grip on audiological concepts to gain true mastery over their discipline. As such, it was genuinely encouraging to see a substantial portion of the conference dedicated to audiology and speech sessions, with a separate hall being booked solely for audiology sessions throughout the entirety of the proceedings. Such was the commitment of the organizing committee to promote audiology and this surely deserves the highest level of praise.
The scientific program of Day 2 was closed out by the greatly anticipated final of Werrick Pharmaceuticals Speakathon, this novel concept allowed ENT residents from all over Pakistan to take the stage and showcase their oratory abilities. After a fiercely competitive and thrilling final, Dr. Khadija Leghari clinched the victory and the esteemed Speakathon trophy with Dr. Syed Ahmed Shahzaeem Hussain being the runner-up. Dr. Uswa Haleem and Dr. Faiza Bashir won the resident’s oral presentations, whilst Dr. Syed Ahmed Shahzaeem Hussain won the poster presentation.
The immersive academic sessions were supplemented perfectly by lively social segments, multiple lunches, dinners and musical nights. The mystifying Sufi notes danced playfully in the enchanting Bhuban night sky, serving as a welcome respite from the constant buzzing of microdrills and incessant swooshing of ear suctions!
Overall, Otocon evoked a deep appreciation of the insurmountable complexity of otological conditions and the infinite finesse and unmatched delicacy that is required to deal with them. Few, if any, medical specialty has the distinction of being comprised of such a myriad of subspecialties; each brilliantly luminous in their own regard and combining to immaculately bejewel the magnificent cloak of otorhinolaryngology. This unprecedented diversity is what allows us to boast of the undeniable superiority of our specialty with the utmost conviction. No wonder ENT is the envy of the medical fraternity!
