Artificial Intelligence for the Otolaryngologist: Everything You Need to Know... and Worry About

Monday, October 13, 2025

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM EDT

Location: Wabash Ballroom 3

CME/MOC Credit: 1

Disclosure(s):

Habib G. Zalzal, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a crucial topic for us to explore as a field, as it has the potential to revolutionize efficiency, improve workflow, reduce burnout, improve diagnostic accuracy, and enhancing patient care. This expert lecture, led by two board-certified Otolaryngologists, will explore the opportunities currently provided by AI within our medicine and specifically surgery with an emphasis in Otolaryngology.

For the 2025 Annual Meeting, we will build upon information from our previous expert lecture at the 2024 Annual Meeting, with updated research and analysis of AI tools for efficiency, workflow, and patient care in Otolaryngology. Specifically, our lecture will explain the use cases of AI from both a micro- and a macro-level. At the micro level, AI applications are centered around the physician and patient experience, for which we will discuss self-guided education, new research-oriented tools, personalized-treatment planning for patients, and decision-making by analyzing medical intraoperative and radiographic images. At the macro-level, AI influences the broader operational aspects of the field, where we will discuss its utility in streamlining administrative processes (scheduling acuity, appointment needs, reducing wait times), insurance claims (automating claims processing, ensuring accurate coding, and detecting errors) in addition to how AI is affected physicians from a wellness standpoint.

This will be an engaging lecture, and we will utilize AI tools during our presentation such that the participants will understand how easy it is to begin working with AI at their own workplace. Whether the attendee is familiar with AI or is looking to improve their knowledge to kickstart their AI journey, we anticipate that this expert lecture will serve as an important baseline into one’s foray into the field. We must ensure our colleagues are educated and aware of AI, at the least, and at the best our Academy must ensure our members are able to utilize AI functionality in patient care as they deem safe and appropriate.

Learning Objectives:

Demonstrate Basic Understanding of Artificial intelligence (AI): Learners will be introduced to specific terms such as large language models (LLM) and machine-learning to provide a baseline understanding of how computers have been trained to understand Otolaryngology
Evaluate the Practical Implementation of AI in Otolaryngology: Learners will be introduced to accessible AI tools they can integrate into their own practice, regardless of their experience level with AI with a goal to improve workflow, reduce burnout, and enhance patient care
Recognize the importance of AI from a micro- and macro-level within Otolaryngology: Learners will understand how AI enhances both physician-patient interactions (e.g., personalized treatment, diagnostics) and streamlines operational tasks (e.g., scheduling, insurance claims)

Lead Presenter(s)

Habib G. Zalzal, MD

Assistant Professor
Children's National Medical Center
Washington, DC, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Presenter(s)

RS

Rahul Shah, MD

American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Mentor(s)

RS

Rahul Shah, MD

American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.