Myth Busting Viral Diagnoses and Internet Misinformation Across Otolaryngology

Monday, October 19, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM PT

Location: Petree Hall D

Moderator(s)

Nancy Jiang, MD

Clinical Associate Professor
Stanford University School of Medicine
Orinda, CA, United States

Panelist(s)

VD

Vaninder Kaur Dhillon, MD

Associate Professor
Johns Hopkins University
Cabin John, MD, United States
Karuna Dewan, MD, FACS

Associate Professor
LSU Health Shreveport
Shreveport, LA, United States
Inna A. Husain, MD

Medical Director of Laryngology
Powers Health
Chicago, IL, United States

Disclosure(s):

Nancy Jiang, MD:

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

Vaninder Kaur Dhillon, MD:

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

Karuna Dewan, MD, FACS:

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

This is an interactive, case-based panel on caring for the “internet-informed” otolaryngology patient at the intersection of social media, generative AI, and health anxiety. Using real-world vignettes from multiple ENT subspecialties, panelists will address conditions that are commonly misunderstood or amplified online, including retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD), globus sensation, chronic cough, inducible laryngeal obstruction, post nasal drip, ankyloglossia, and fear-driven concerns about head and neck cancer. Panelists will separate myths from genuine uncertainty, share evidence-informed diagnostic and management pathways, and model communication strategies to build trust, reduce reassurance cycles, and support shared decision-making. Attendees will leave with actionable language and resource recommendations to counter misinformation and guide patients toward reliable information.

Learning Objectives:

Demonstrate examples of social media and AI generated work ups in laryngology that may require debunking and counseling
Discuss approaches to counteracting health anxiety through effective counseling with patients on laryngeal concerns
Propose strategies to help patients find and use evidence-based online resources to better understand their symptoms, potential causes (differential diagnosis), and treatment options