"When a few of us got together in 2010 and first discussed the idea of a Cutting Edge Laryngology conference, we were unsure how broad the appeal might be and also whether there was in fact enough innovation to make a single conference fresh, let alone an annual series. Thus, we were overwhelmed by the success, popularity and excitement for the field generated by Laryngology 2011, held at the Royal College of Surgeons in June. The quality and quantity of work presented was such that it was immediately clear that a forum such as this 'had legs'.
Furthermore, as the most rapidly growing sub-specialty of Otolaryngology, with major interactions in fields including speech and language, gastroenterology, thoracic surgery and respiratory medicine, Laryngology is Cutting Edge with a freshness not experienced by many of our colleagues attending meetings in other sub-specialties for many years. Advances in imaging, lasers and underpinning basic science, for example, have led to continually new and shifting paradigms which have transformed the way professionals, scientists and the public think about disorders of the airway, speech and swallowing.
We will be joined by many of the same world-leading Faculty produced such stunning presentations in 2011, and discussed their work and views so accessibly. There are several wonderful additions to this stellar cast, from fields including pediatric airways and speech and language therapy.
Laryngology 2012 will take place in a City which epitomises this spirit of freshness and excitement, as Malaysia's rapidly expanding cultural and scientific horizons make it ideally placed to host our next conference. Geographically, this takes us poles away from our original 'heartland' in London, but immediately places us in the region which is contributing most to the feeling of world progress in science and medicine, South East Asia. Thus, we hope to draw upon an even greater pool of interested scientists and clinicians eager to share their discoveries and philosophies in a vibrant forum.
We cannot wait to open the conference in the stunning city of Kuala Lumpur, and hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join with us in this year's biggest celebration of the future of Laryngology.
Best wishes
Martin Birchall
Martin A. Birchall, MD, FRCS, FMedSci,
Professor of Laryngology,
University College London,
The Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital,
Gray's Inn Road,
London WC1X 8DA
UK