The Association for Research in Otolaryngology is accepting abstracts for the 49th Annual MidWinter Meeting to be held in-person from February 7-11, 2026, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The content of the annual ARO meeting depends entirely on submissions from ARO members.  As such, the Program Committee encourages submissions that reflect the broad range of topics of interest to ARO members.  

To be considered for presentation, all abstracts must be completed and submitted online no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Monday, September 8, 2025. 

 

All presenters will first update their profile. To update, log in as an existing user with either your institution or personal email address; https://aro.societyconference.com/v2/, select UPDATE PROFILE. If you are new to ARO, you will need to create an account. 

Please select ‘Start a New Scientific Submission’ from Actions. The submission type is POSTER/PODIUM. *Important: In Step 2 – Participants, the presenter’s name will be the name to appear; no other names will be listed in this step. 

 

REMINDER: If you are a PI submitting the abstract and are planning for your student to present, please have your student create a Non-Member FREE account before reaching out for a presenter change. For the student to create an account, please follow this link: https://aro.societyconference.com/v2/. After the abstract has been submitted, the submission fee is paid, and the student has created their account, please complete this form to have the submission changed over to the student who will make the presentation at the MidWinter Meeting. 

 

Within the POSTER/PODIUM submission, presenters will be asked if they wish to apply for a Travel Award, Poster Presentation, Podium Presentation, and/or Poster Blitz Presentation: 

• Travel Award Application: 

• Applicants will select Yes or No to apply for a travel award. You may not apply for a Travel Award if you are a previous awardee. Application requirements: 

• Upload your current CV in PDF format only. *required 

• Rationale Statement (a brief statement (max 1 page) about why you wish to attend and what you hope to achieve at the ARO MidWinter Meeting); upload text into field. *required 

• Enter the name of your PI/Lab.*required 

• Enter your self-identification 

 

• Poster Presentation: 

• If the presenter wishes to submit a live poster presentation, nothing more, choose Poster Presentation Only. 

• There is no digital-only offering for this meeting. (e.g., pre-recorded talks or livestreams) 

• Poster presenters will be able to upload an e-poster for viewing in the mobile app and e-poster hall, in addition to their physical poster. 

 

• Podium Presentation: 

• A Podium Presentation is a live, on-stage, 12-minute oral presentation with 3-minutes of live, audience Q&A. (15- minutes of total presentation time). 

• A PowerPoint or Keynote presentation is required for this presentation type. 

• There is no digital-only offering for the meeting. (e.g., pre-recorded talks or livestreams) 

• All submissions are reviewed by the Program Committee. If the presenter is selected to present a podium presentation, no poster presentation is allowed. 

 

• Poster Blitz Presentation Competition: 

• A Poster Blitz Presentation is a fast-paced, live, on-stage, 3-minute presentation with no audience Q&A. 

• Selected presenters will prepare a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation consisting of 3-5 slides. 

• If the presenter is submitting multiple abstracts, only ONE (1) abstract submission will be considered per lab for a Poster Blitz Presentation. 

• All Poster Blitz applications are reviewed by the Poster Blitz Organizers. 

• The Poster Blitz Presentation is open only to Graduate Students and Postdoc Fellows with three years or less of postdoc experience. NO individuals in a Faculty Position are eligible. Within the submission, you will be asked to attest that you are a Graduate Student or Postdoc Fellow. 

• If selected for this presentation type, the presenter WILL ALSO present the poster in one of the assigned, live, poster sessions. 

• There is no digital-only offering for this meeting. (e.g., pre-recorded talks or livestreams) 

• You can receive a poster award in the competition only ONE (1) time. However, you can participate as often as you are eligible. During the in-person poster blitz competition session, a diverse panel of researchers and clinicians will rank the presenter’s ability to convey the impact of their work, the clarity of the presentation, and the overall impression of the project. The winners of the poster blitz session will be recognized at the beginning of the Award of Merit Lecture. 

• Two categories of experience will be selected for awards: Student and Postdoc. Three winners will be selected as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place under each category. This annual competition is generously funded by ARO and provides two monetary awards for 1st Place ($50.00) for each category, Student and Postdoc. 

PLACE	STUDENT AWARD	POSTOC AWARD
1st Place	$50.00 USD, Certificate of Achievement for inclusion in CV and recognition in the  Award of Merit Lecture	$50.00 USD, Certificate of Achievement for inclusion in CV and recognition in the  Award of Merit Lecture
2nd Place	Certificate of Achievement for inclusion in CV and  recognition in the Award of Merit Lecture	Certificate of Achievement for inclusion in CV and recognition in the Award of Merit Lecture
3rd Place	Certificate of Achievement for inclusion in CV and recognition in the Award of  Merit Lecture	Certificate of Achievement for inclusion in CV and recognition in the Award of Merit Lecture

Submission Fees: 

*The abstract submission fee is a separate fee from the MidWinter Meeting registration fee. 

• ARO Members $45 USD per submission 

• Non-members $135 USD per submission 

*No refunds will be given if a non-member joins ARO after submitting an abstract. Payment must be made at the time of submission for a submission to be considered complete. 

Please read carefully before submitting an abstract for a Poster or Podium Presentation: 

• The content of the annual ARO meeting depends entirely on submissions from ARO members. As such, the Program Committee encourages submissions that reflect the broad range of topics of interest to ARO members. 

• There is no limit on the number of contributed abstract submissions from any one person or lab, fees are charged per submission. 

• Abstract submissions are not required to be sponsored by an ARO member. 

• There is no additional cost to withdraw an abstract; however, there will be no refund of the fee after the abstract has been successfully submitted. 

• When submitting your abstract, you will be asked to identify your abstract’s primary category for review. 

• Abstracts will include an overview of the research background, methods, results, and conclusions in text form only, no graphs or images are uploaded. 

• Background: Make the specific aim of the presentation clear and relate to current literature. 

• Methods: Where relevant, clearly describe the sample including size, variables measured and interventions. 

• Results: Should be clear to a broad ARO audience, including presenting findings and looping in clinical relevance. Summarize qualitative and/or quantitative changes and note the clinical significance of the outcomes. 

• Conclusions: Emphasize new and important aspects of the findings and the conclusions drawn from them. Describe how findings are relevant to the science and practice of Otolaryngology, the need for future research or clinical investigation. Include or mention key “take-away” messages that will be presented. 

• The online abstract submission will collect only text. (Figures, graphics, and tables will be included in the physical poster). 

• The word limit is 450 words maximum per abstract. This word count does not include the title or co-author list. 

• In the title text box, enter the abstract title exactly as you wish it to appear in the ARO Program and Abstract books. All information will be displayed and published exactly as it has been submitted. Double-check all spelling and capitalization. Titles of abstracts must be in Title Case, where major words (nouns, verbs (including linking verbs), adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and all words of four letters or more) are capitalized, and most minor words (short (i.e., three letters or fewer) conjunctions, short prepositions, and all articles) are lowercase. Again, all words of four letters (e.g., With, Among, Between, From, etc) or more are capitalized. Do NOT type the title in all uppercase. *Example of Title Case: Identification by Gender Categorization Among Early-Deafened, Late-Implanted, and Typical Cochlear-Implant Users 

• The abstract submitter is responsible for ensuring that all information in the abstract is exactly as the authors wish it to appear. 

• Following successful submission of an abstract, you can edit any of the fields until the deadline. Edits are not possible after the deadline. 

 

ABSTRACT REVIEW CRITERIA 

Abstracts will be reviewed and selected for presentation based on significance, relevance, innovation, appropriate analytic approach, findings, implications for research and practice, and clarity of writing. Preference will be given to proposals that (i) strive for timely syntheses across or within existing disciplines; (ii) explore novel approaches that will expand research in new directions; (iii) include speakers who are first-time ARO speakers, women, and/or speakers from underrepresented minorities. Speakers from outside the usual ARO circle are encouraged insofar as they contribute a novel perspective. Proposals that bridge clinical and basic research are encouraged. 

For questions regarding the submission process or the MidWinter Meeting, please contact the ARO headquarters by email at headquarters@aro.org 

ARO 2026 SYMPOSIA/SPECIAL SESSION SUBMISSIONS

OPEN – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2025, EXTENDED to MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2025

The ARO Program Committee welcomes Symposia, Young Investigator Symposia, and Special Session
submissions for the 2025 MidWinter Meeting. The submission deadline is now EXTENDED to Monday, June 23, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Late submissions will not be considered.

The content of the annual ARO meeting depends entirely on submissions from ARO members. As such,
the Program Committee encourages submissions that reflect the broad range of topics of interest to ARO
members.

SYMPOSIA SUBMISSION
Symposia are organized as a series of oral presentations on a theme. Preference will be given to
submissions that (i) strive for timely syntheses across or within existing disciplines; (ii) explore novel
approaches that will expand research in new directions; (iii) include diverse speakers who are first-time
ARO speakers, women, represent different labs, include speakers spanning career levels, and/or speakers
from underrepresented groups. Speakers from outside the usual ARO circle are encouraged insofar as
they contribute a novel perspective. Submissions that bridge clinical and basic research are encouraged.
Submissions on topics covered by other recent ARO Symposia or Special Sessions (formerly known as
Workshops) are discouraged (see recent ARO Program books https://aro.org/meetings/past-midwinter-meetings/).

YOUNG INVESTIGATOR SYMPOSIA SUBMISSION
Young Investigator Symposia should be organized by a young investigator and the majority of participants
should also be young investigators. A young investigator is someone who is within 10 years since receiving
an AuD, PhD or MD. Young Investigator Symposia are otherwise subject to the same guidelines as
Symposia. Please see the Symposia Submission section above for more details.
For both Symposia and Young Investigator Symposia, there is a required format:
• All Symposia have a maximum duration of 2 hours.
• Individual presentations may be either 15 or 30 minutes, but at least one 30-minute
presentation is required. Combinations of 15/30 minute presentations are welcome.
• A minimum of 4 and a maximum of 7 presenters may be named.
• Allocation of presentation times is at the discretion of the organizers. Symposium chairs will be
asked to allocate speaking times for each presenter if the symposium is selected for
presentation.

SPECIAL SESSION SUBMISSION
The Workshop category has now been replaced with the Special Sessions category. This will allow
organizers to design and propose a variety of presentation formats such as a moderated panel, a debate,
a public forum, an interactive session, a workshop, or another session type on a topic that is of interest to
ARO members. Special Sessions are typically 1 hour in length; however, 2 hours may be approved based
on rationale showing that the extended time slot is warranted. There is no required format or limitations
on the style of the session. Please be creative. Submissions on topics covered by other recent ARO
Symposia or Special Sessions (formerly known as Workshops) are discouraged (see recent ARO Program
books, https://aro.org/meetings/past-midwinter-meetings/).

Available Financial Support for non-ARO members:
• Travel funds are available for non-ARO members presenting in accepted Symposia or Special
sessions. However, a budget justification should be included with each submission which identifies
which speaker(s) would be supported by these funds, estimated travel costs and the total amount
requested.
• A maximum of 2 non-ARO members speakers are eligible for up to $1500 USD each which totals a
maximum of $3,000 USD that can be requested for each accepted Symposium or Special session. ARO will also
provide eligible non-ARO member speakers with a promo code for waived registration fees. View
the full Speaker Funding policy here
• Non-ARO member speakers are those who have NOT had membership or registration activity in
ARO since 2021 (within 5 years of the speaking engagement). If you or your speakers are unsure
about eligibility for financial support, contact headquarters@aro.org to verify past participation.
• Non-ARO members may receive funding from only one symposium/session per meeting.
• If your Symposium or Special session is accepted, your budget for travel funds will then be
reviewed by the Program Committee leadership. Allocation of travel funds will be offered based
on the submission review score and the available funds.
• Travel funds are given as reimbursement after the meeting based on receipts submitted.
Please Note: As Symposia or Special Session Chair, you are responsible for communicating this policy to
any speakers you invite. Please see the ARO website for more information.

SUBMISSION DETAILS:
All entries must be submitted through the online system. Please access submissions via the ARO website.
Submissions can be edited until the deadline of Monday, June 23, 2025. Notifications of accepted
submissions will be emailed no later than mid-late July.
Symposia submissions must include the following:
• The Symposium title
• Select a category that is applicable to your symposium submission
• Overall symposium description (at a maximum of 300 words)
• Individual abstract title for EACH presentation, as well as the name of the presenter,
and demographic information to include the following to ensure diversity within
sessions:
a) Geographic location
b) Gender
c) Race/Ethnicity
d) Career Status
e) Lab affiliation
• List of Co-Authors for EACH presentation
• Abstract for EACH presentation (at a maximum of 400 words)
• If travel funds are requested for speakers who are non-ARO members, include a budget
justification which identifies which speaker(s) would be supported by these funds, estimated
travel costs and the total amount requested (see guidelines above)
Special Session submissions must include the following:
• The Special Session title
• A selected category that is applicable to your Special Session submission
• Overall Special Session description (at a maximum of 300 words)
• Individual abstract title for EACH presentation as well as the name of the presenter,
and demographic information to include the following to ensure diversity within
sessions:
a) Geographic location
b) Gender
c) Race/Ethnicity
d) Career Status
e) Lab affiliation
• List of ALL presenters and Co-Authors for EACH presentation(s)
• Abstract for EACH presentation(s) (at a maximum of 400 words each)
• A rationale if a 2-hour time slot is requested
• If travel funds are requested for speakers who are non-ARO members, include a budget
justification which identifies which speaker(s) would be supported by these funds, estimated
travel costs and the total amount requested (see guidelines above)
If you have any additional questions, please contact the Executive Office at headquarters@aro.org