2026 Premeeting Workshop Information 

 If you wish to only attend one of the three workshops, you may register below. Otherwise please add the workshop to your full meeting registration during registering.   

Workshop Only Registration 

SENTAC Pediatric Audiology Summit: Shaping the Future of the Pediatric Audiology Workforce 

Thursday, December 3rd, 11a-6p

Course Directors: Madison Howe, Au.D., CCC-A, CH-AP, Barbra Novak, PhD, CCC-A, Wendy Steuerwald, Au.D. 

Course Description: 

Click to View Flyer

Pediatric audiology is facing a growing workforce challenge. Across clinical, academic, and training settings, concerns are increasing regarding shortages of pediatric audiologists, reduced student interest in pediatric practice, uneven access to pediatric-focused clinical experiences. As workforce demands continue to expand, many pediatric settings are experiencing increasing strain without a sufficient pipeline of future professionals prepared or motivated to enter the specialty. These trends have implications not only for the profession itself, but also for timely access to hearing healthcare services for infants and children across the country.

There has been limited opportunity to bring key stakeholders together in a structured setting to collectively identify challenges, examine current efforts, and develop collaborative strategies to address pediatric audiology shortages moving forward. The proposed SENTAC Pediatric Audiology Summit would create a dedicated forum for national dialogue and action planning focused on the future pediatric audiology workforce.

Purpose
The Pediatric Audiology Summit will convene key stakeholders from across the profession for a collaborative half-day working meeting focused on:

• Identifying emerging workforce trends and shortages in pediatric audiology
• Exploring factors contributing to declining student interest in pediatric practice
• Evaluating current recruitment, mentorship, training, and retention initiatives
• Identifying gaps in workforce development efforts
• Generating collaborative, actionable solutions to strengthen the pediatric audiology pipeline
• Establishing priorities and recommendations for future interdisciplinary and organizational efforts

This summit is intended to move beyond passive discussion and create a space where stakeholders can actively contribute to shaping the future direction of pediatric audiology.

 Pediatric Fees Simulation Hands-on Learning Workshop  

Thursday, December 3rd, 12-5p

Course Directors: Rachel Hall, PA-C, Joan Arvedson, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, Maureen Lefton-Greif, PhD., CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Course Description: 

Stations:

1. Breastfeeding FEES for a baby that MOC reports coughing and choking with every feed
2. Infant s/p coarc repair found to have LVC paresis
3. Older neuromuscular patient with reported feeding difficulties needing FEES to assess swallow to develop a safe oral feeding plan
4. Complex airway patient

Each station will be staffed by an ENT provider and SLP. The team will review the case with about 15 attendees and then an ENT provider (MD, med student, ENT APP) will be chosen to pass a scope through a mannequin to simulate a real time FEES evaluation. While the clinician passes the scope the team leads will start the video and the group can start to interpret what they see. When the video has concluded the team leads will stop the video for discussion on the anatomy, feeding plan, and how what is we are seeing is affecting our outcomes. The goal is to have a collaborative discussion with how the anatomy and physiology of the patient is affecting the function, highlighting the importance of the ENT and the SLP within the FEES evaluation. Each station will have 25 min to complete their part, then the group will move to the next clockwise station.

There are two hands-on sessions available; 12-2pm and 3-5pm. There will be a 1 hour lecture from 2-3pm. 

Learning objectives:

1. Collaboratively assess swallow
2. Collaboratively develop a safe feeding plan
3. Understand that anatomy and how it affects the swallow in specific patient situations
4. Discuss indications for FEES and when you would not do it in this patient population

120 spaces available. 

Thank you to Tim's Medical for your partnership and supporting this event! 

 Investing in Your Growth, Balance, Performance  

Thursday, December 3rd, 12-5pm

Course Directors: Gene Liu, MD & Soham Roy, MD 

Course Description: