The 2021 Scottsdale Headache SymposiumⓇ: Recap and Review
Highlights and features from this year’s conference
The 2021 Scottsdale Headache Symposium® broke new ground as our first time meeting in-person since 2019. From November 18-21, this year’s conference accumulated an impressive attendance of over 1,400 attendees, consisting of nearly 800 in-person and over 600 virtual participants from 23 countries across the globe. As our first time being back together since 2019, we could not have asked for a better turnout for the premier educational event in headache medicine.
The conference opened with several intriguing pre-meeting courses, such as an anatomy lesson in headache and orofacial pain, and an examination of controversies in headache medicine. Cynthia E. Armand, MD, and Rebecca E. Wells, MD, MPH, FAHS, also led discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion with this year’s Emerging Leaders cohort.
Peter J. Goadsby, President of AHS, offered his opening statement on November 19 with an inspirational remark on headache medicine in a post COVID-19 landscape:
Powerful opening remarks from @petergoadsby our @ahsheadache president at #AHSAZ2021. He pauses to reflect on the “appalling loss of life” from #COVID19. And asks “Are we satisfied with current levels of care? Current levels of #headache #education in our med schools?” No!
—Melissa Rayhill, MD, FAHS (@melissarayhill) November 19, 2021
This year’s symposium included 3 award ceremonies, beginning with the recipients of the “Frontiers in Headache Research” Award:
Vimala N. Bharadwaj, PhD, MS
Robert Gibler, PhD
Ivy C. Gosnell, MSBH, MA
I feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing community of headache specialists and researchers! #empoweringwomen #WomenInMedicine #AHSAZ2021 #AHSAZ21 #headaches ❤️
Thank you @ahsheadache for the honor and recognition! https://t.co/qsVVjsPqYS
— Vimala Bharadwaj (she/her) (@BharadwajVimala) November 20, 2021
Congratulations to Dr. Robert Gibler on his award winning work evaluating subjective and objective headache diary data in children! #AHSAZ2021 pic.twitter.com/I4bfFZmfqM
— Elizabeth Seng (@SengElizabeth) November 19, 2021
So proud of Ivy Gosnell whose work in our lab at on accessibility in #mhealth apps for migraine won a Frontiers award at #AHSAZ2021!! @YUNews @EinsteinMed pic.twitter.com/InB8fSpXBV
— Elizabeth Seng (@SengElizabeth) November 19, 2021
After the announcement of the “Frontiers in Headache Research” Award, the recipient of the Steven B. Graff-Radford Orofacial Pain and Lectureship award was released:
Richard Ohrbach, DDS, PhD
Following the Steven B. Graff-Radford Orofacial Pain and Lectureship, the Women’s Health Science Award recipient was announced:
Jelena Pavlovic, MD, PhD
“As an immigrant, thank you for accepting me in the field of #HeadacheMedicine” stated @dr_j_pavlovic when accepting #Women Health Science Award, such a poignant moment. Striving for this for all AHSAZ21 @ahsheadache #DEI #Inclusion @cynarmandmd pic.twitter.com/ffx7InprsS
— Rebecca Erwin Wells (@RebeccaWellsMD) November 20, 2021
Check out some photos taken during key events at this year’s symposium:
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in making the 2021 Scottsdale Headache Symposium® a rousing success. If you enjoyed your experience at this year’s conference, be sure to check out our recorded Scottsdale seminars, available through our Education on Demand platform until next year.
Remember to share your experience with #AHSAZ2021 on social and keep an eye out for updates on 2022 Scottsdale Headache Symposium®, slated for November 17-20! Save the date!