From Austerity to Action: How to Adapt Collaboration, Finances, and Implementation in Global Otolaryngology

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PT

Location: West Exhibit Hall A, Learning Zone 6

Moderator(s)

David J. Fei-Zhang, MD, MBA

Resident Physician
Northwestern University Program
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Panelist(s)

JS

James E. Saunders, MD

Professor of Surgery
Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth
Lebanon, NH, United States
SC

Sivakumar Chinnadurai, MD, MPH

Professor
ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery, Children's Minnesota ; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota
Minnespolis, Minnesota, United States
JW

Joshua P. Wiedermann, MD, MGSC, FACS

Chair of Pediatric Otolaryngology
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States

In the face of severe global funding contractions, how can otolaryngology NGOs sustain their critical work? This panel unites leaders from prominent global health organizations to move beyond traditional capacity building and address the urgent fiscal crisis. Attendees will explore innovative fundraising models, "force-multiplying" collaborations between academic and local partners, and lean implementation frameworks. In addition, they will discover actionable strategies for joint financing, resource sharing, and rigorous data generation designed to secure investment and maintain equity in low-resource settings during an era of global health austerity.

Learning Objectives:

Describe innovative NGO-financial strategies to maintain current initiatives amidst global funding cuts
Evaluate collaborative research frameworks to leverage organizational partnerships to sustain evidence-based advocacy
Learn practical strategies for resource sharing and joint implementation to overcome barriers in low-resource settings