The 2022 NZSOHNS Conference and AGM was bittersweet. Hosted in Christchurch, the home town of our most recent President Duncan (Scott) Stevenson, the society was shaken by his death just one week before the conference following a brief period of illness. We were truly honoured by his family to be invited to celebrate his life and the conference became a dedication to him.
The conference certainly met Scott's high standards, with an excellent and innovative combination of high academic standard on display. There was particular emphasis on important and urgent global matters that are affecting our society. Not the least of which included: cultural competency, medical and surgical education, and how to best serve the Aotearoa New Zealand people across the motu especially in rural or disadvantaged settings.
The newly opened Te Pae conference centre in Christchurch provided the backdrop for a seamless conference where surgeons, nurses, and allied health care workers were invigorated in the practice and art of ENT surgery in areas that they might not usually have considered in their day to day lives.
Certainly, the incomparable Stacey Ishman with her expert and enthusiastic insights into sleep medicine and surgery were not only enjoyable but also made us all reflect on our approach to the sleep disordered patient. The esteemed Catherine Birman always awes with her immense knowledge and experience in cochlear implantation and otology, even head and neck surgeons were heard talking about cochlear implantation after hearing her speak. We were honoured to have Miriam Welgampola speak to the whole conference and to the NZSBDV workshop about her experience with managing vertiginous patients and gave us all a solid template to work up our patients with current investigations. Professor Mark Taylor rounded out the keynote speakers with insights into teaching and learning, particularly in the world of head and neck surgery that were insightful for trainees and surgeons alike.
The James Hardy Neil Lecture, presented by Raymond Sacks, was changed in the days preceding the conference in honour of the loss of his good friend Scott to an eye-opening look into an incredible career. Scott's dedication to improving teaching and training was a thought-provoking example to everyone in the audience.
Dr Alice Stringer, Surgeon Wellington Regional Hospital, New Zealand.
