Breakout Sessions

Throughout the three days of the AAES Annual Meeting, we will be offering small group interactive breakout sessions (offered in parallel to the scientific program). Each session has a small fee to attend and will be led by experts in the field. Breakout session will be capped at 50 participants.

Registration for Breakout Sessions is NOW OPEN. 

Breakout #1 - Operate or Observe: Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS)
Saturday 4/18, 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Moderator: Priya Dedhia, MD
Panelists: Alaa, Sada, MD, Catherine McManus MD, MS, FACS, and Caitlin Hackett, MD
Description: Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) represents a diagnostic and therapeutic gray zone. This session reviews current evidence on its metabolic risks and engages participants in debate over the role of surgery versus observation.

Breakout #2 - Building a Strong Multidisciplinary Clinical Program 
Saturday 4/18, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Moderator: Rebecca Sippel, MD
Panelists: David Schneider, MD, Louise Davies, MD, Molly Barrie, NP, and Lydia Sam, RN
Description: As Endocrine Surgeons, so much of the care that we provide for our patients occurs outside of the operating room (pre-operative and post-operative phases of care). In this session we will discuss how we have partnered with our nurses, APPs, and colleagues to develop a streamlined multidisciplinary program to care for our patients. 

Breakout #3 - Building Bridges: Strategies for Thriving in a New Institutional Environment 
Saturday 4/18, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Moderator: Jessica Fazendin, MD
Panelists: Irene Lou, MD, Lisa Reid, MD, Heather Wachtel, MD, and Sam Enumah, MD
Description: Learn practical strategies to build trust, visibility, and partnerships when starting in a new institution. This interactive session helps endocrine surgeons strengthen connections that drive early and long-term success.

Breakout #4 - Highlights of the New ATA Guidelines 
Sunday 4/19, 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Moderator: Hadiza Kazaure, MD
Panelists: Elizabeth Grubbs, MD, Christopher McHenry, MD, and Julie Ann Sosa MD
Description: This panel will discuss the new/updated ATA guidelines for the management of thyroid nodules and thyroid disease. The guidelines are extensive and this session will provide attendees with new "highlights."

Breakout #5 - AI in Endocrine Surgery: Vision, Validation, and Collaboration 
Sunday 4/19, 2:15 - 3:15 PM
Moderator: Sara Abou Azar, MD
Panelists: Kepal Patel, MD, Vivek Sant, MD, Xavier Keutgen, MD, Amin Madani, MD, Brenessa Lindeman, MD and Bo Wang, MD
Description: The session will review current AI applications and future opportunities in Endocrine Surgery, combining expert lectures, a panel discussion, and a look at clinical and ethical implications.

Breakout #6 - Pearls, Logistics, and Best Practices for Adrenalectomy Perioperative Care 
Monday 4/20, 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Moderator: C. Corbin Frye, MD
Panelists: Travis McKenzie, MD, Erin Berber, MD, Cortney Lee, MD, Jordan Broekhuis, MD, and Natalie Genere, MD
Description: To reduce variability in perioperative adrenal care, this roundtable will address best practices on topics such as inpatient vs outpatient surgery, testing for adrenal insufficiency, and medication/steroid management in primary aldosteronism, hypercortisolism, and pheochromocytoma.