Childcare at the Annual Meeting: A Win for Both Kids and Parents

Megan L. Durr, MD, Chair, and Cynthia S. Wang, MD, Information Officer, on behalf of the Women in Otolaryngology Section

The AAO-HNSF 2026 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO is bringing back the option for childcare during the meeting in Los Angeles, California, October 17 – 20. Physician parents will once again have safe, engaging, and conveniently located childcare for their children, so you can participate fully in the meeting.

LA Is a Family Destination

With the 2026 meeting set in Los Angeles, many families are already planning to extend their trips to take in the city’s world-famous theme parks, museums, arcades, and other iconic attractions. On-site childcare offers a natural complement to that kind of family travel, with a familiar, professionally managed environment where children are engaged and cared for during meeting hours, freeing parents to make the most of their time at the conference.

A Program Built for Kids (and Their Parents)

Through the meeting's childcare program, children as young as six months can be enrolled in full-day or half-day sessions. Infants and toddlers have dedicated play and rest areas with age-appropriate toys, while preschool and school-aged children participate in structured activities designed to spark creativity, encourage collaboration, and build new friendships. Kids get to interact with other children in a lively, supportive environment, which many parents say their children love.

At the 2025 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, the childcare program director brought extra energy to the experience with activities, arts and crafts, and a ton of gross motor activities for children to get their energy out.

The enthusiasm was contagious. Tiffany A. Glazer, MD, an otolaryngologist and associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, enrolled her daughter while she gave her presentation. “My daughter loved it. She didn't want to leave! They made crafts, read books, and played in obstacle courses.” The experience made such an impression that her daughter asked to go back the following day and stay even longer.

More Than Childcare: Built for the Whole Community

For many attendees, on-site childcare isn't just a convenience, it's what makes full participation possible. The Annual Meeting offers 500+ education sessions and countless opportunities to network with peers, mentors, and leaders across otolaryngology. Being able to engage in those conversations without distraction is professionally invaluable, particularly for early-career physicians who are still building their networks and establishing their reputations.

The data underscores why this matters. A survey of 953 physician parents at a large academic medical institution found that 51% of men and 56% of women had skipped presenting at a national conference due to parenting responsibilities.¹ Childcare at conferences is increasingly recognized as a structural solution to this barrier. Additionally, a growing number of medical societies, including the American College of Physicians, American Thoracic Society, and American Society of Clinical Oncology, now offer it at their annual meetings.

LA Awaits

As the Annual Meeting continues to grow, programs like on-site childcare help ensure that every member of the otolaryngology community, regardless of where you are in life or career, can participate fully in the conversations shaping the future of the specialty.

We hope to see you in Los Angeles this October! Whether you're making a distinguished presentation, attending the cutting-edge education sessions, looking forward to the unmatched networking opportunities, or reconnecting with colleagues from across the specialty, the Annual Meeting is not to be missed. And if you haven't already, make sure to add the Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Section General Assembly to your schedule. It's a great opportunity to engage with the WIO community, meet section leadership, and help shape the future of our section.

Annual Meeting registration opens in June and sign-up for childcare is now available. Look for more in the Bulletin, OTO News, Annual Meeting website, and social media.

Reference:

1. Morgan HK, Singer K, Fitzgerald JT, et al. Perceptions of Parenting Challenges and Career Progression Among Physician Faculty at an Academic Hospital. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(12):e2029076. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.29076