Experts from around the world will converge in New Orleans on May 3 to give lectures at the 2024 Annual Session, sharing cutting-edge ideas, ground-breaking research and world-class knowledge. The AAO Committee on Conferences (Ccon) thoroughly vets speakers to ensure that meeting content is independent and objective (free from subjective influences).
Most AAO meeting speakers apply via the Open Call for Speakers process, while some are invited to speak individually based on known and proven expertise. Either way, all speakers and presentation proposals undergo rigorous review to be selected for the program.
Companies sponsor non-educational elements of AAO meetings, but do not sponsor individual speakers or any portion of AAO conference programming offered for CE credit. Companies can pay to present supplier workshops, which the AAO does not designate for CE credit.
Some speakers have financial affiliations with companies that produce products and/or services that are addressed in their presentation content. During the application process all prospective speakers are required to list any such relationships and where they do exist, they are disclosed to attendees in the meeting speaker bio and/or session description.
In addition to careful weighing of any commercial interests, each prospective speaker and presentation is reviewed for factors such as member need and relevance; differentiated, high-quality CE; speaker talent, knowledge and expertise; and clearly identifiable expected learner outcomes.
The Policy Concerning Promotion of Commercial Products and Services from the Podium at AAO-sponsored Activities, which went into effect last year, has helped reinforce the AAO’s primary goal of offering independent and objective meeting content.
Learn More: 2024 Annual Session Lectures
