Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting 2011

The history of the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM) dates back to 1970 when the Triological Society suggested the formation of a liaison committee composed of the Secretaries of each of the ORL Societies (AAFPRS, ABEA, ALA, AOS, ASHNS, TRIO) that met together each Spring. The Secretaries agreed to have the American Council of Otolaryngology handle the logistics of this increasingly complex meeting and its Executive Director, Dr. Harry McCurdy, chair the Secretaries' Liaison Committee (SLC). Each Society was individually responsible for handling its own scientific and social programs and its own registration.

As other ORL Societies grew, they were admitted to the COSM group when they met the criteria established by the SLC, and the group grew to 10 Societies with the addition of AAOA, ARS, ASPO, and ANS. The American Council of Otolaryngology merged with the Academy in 1982 and Dr. McCurdy continued to chair the SLC as Academy EVP.