Testimonials

“The 17th Upover Downunder International ENT Meeting in the Dolomites was a fantastic experience. The scientific sessions were of excellent quality. The unique mix of an experienced international faculty and a relaxed atmosphere contributed to open, constructive and friendly discussions. A special focus this year was the assessment of medical and surgical quality in different fields of ENT with various presentations looking at the utility of specialised software like ENTstatistics.

An integral part of the meeting was the option to enjoy the fantastic ski arena of the Sella Ronda. Excellent weather, snow and professional guides allowed skiing and other outdoor activities. A personal highlight was an introduction in Telemark style skiing with professional instruction by Christoph Wille.

It was an excellent meeting and I am looking forward to the 18th Upover Downunder International ENT Meeting on the 9th to 15th January 2021.”

“I am an Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon from Brisbane, Australia. I have been attending the Upover Downunder Otolaryngology Ski meeting in Vale Di Dassa for fifteen years. I go there because it is an excellent academic programme. It is put together by Emeritus Professor William (Bill) Coman, from the University of Queensland. Bill has many contacts throughout Otolaryngology academia in Europe, the UK, the United States and in the Asia Pacific region.

We have had many fellows coming to our hospitals in Brisbane for postgraduate training in various aspects of Otolaryngology. Many of these are the programme speakers at our meeting. They are generally self-selected at being highly motivated individuals who travel to Australia for a year or two for further postgraduate training in the areas of expertise so that they can obtain the world class units within Australia. Therefore the academic programme is excellent.“

“The faculty is very diverse. About half of the attendees come from Australia but more than half of the presenters are from North America and Europe. We have head of departments in Neurosurgery and ENT from Sweden, Germany, Italy and the UK. We have had prominent academic ENT surgeons from the United States including heads of large university academic departments.

The education experience is superb. People come off the snow early and in a collegiate atmosphere exchange ideas and giving papers and presentations which they often have not given before. They bounce ideas off the group and in this relaxed atmosphere you get more critique of your papers with good feedback. Because the papers are state of the art, people who attend the meeting do go to all of the sessions.

The conference is held at the La Cacciatora Hotel in Cannazai. It was previously in the hotel Medil in Campitello but unfortunately the hotel Medil could not keep up with new trends in high quality accommodation. The food at the La Cacciatora is Michelin standard quality. The hotel is clean, the wine list is excellent and the staff are incredibly efficient. The hotel is sited about 80m from two large cable cars that can take 100 people 900m vertically in the air in two separate directions on the world famous Sellaronda ski fields – the largest ski fields in the world.

There are great opportunities for skiing. There are great opportunities for a sponsor to interact with the surgeons, who are by their nature very prominent and energetic people. It is very much a meeting worth attending. I hope you as sponsors find this meeting something which is worthwhile being involved with.”

“I have been fortunate enough to attend a number of the conferences in Canazei, held each January.

This meeting has always been the highlight of my yearly academic program. The informal nature of the meeting means that guest speakers are encouraged to present papers that are practical in nature and can expect a vigorous discussion. The diversity of the faculty with guest speakers from throughout Europe and USA allows me an insight into my own practice here in Australia.”

“There is also the ability to take discussions further, over meals and during the day. This is not available at any other conference that I have supported. La Caccitora Hotel, where the conference is held, is an outstanding venue, both at the academic program and for the ability it gives us to socialize and mix with our fellow ENT Surgeons and their partners.

I am sure that any potential sponsor would gain very positive feedback along with the ability to present their message to so many international centres and hospitals.”

“As a member of the Upover – Downunder team for some 13 or is it 14 years I feel I must write to congratulate you on such an extraordinary meeting.To combine a week in such magnificent surroundings, with a excellent academic meeting of minds is exceptional. The sense of camaraderie is not present at any other meeting I have attended.

Egos are set aside, the discussions around difficult cases and our surgical failures are excellent, let’s face it, who wants to hear about how thousands of cases were handled brilliantly. What a bore ! We all get it wrong sometimes! It’s our shared knowledge of how to recognise and avoid problems that is invaluable.

The international nature of the meeting adds a much broader flavour. It’s great to see how other nationalities have similar issues with our various employers and healthcare providers.

Now on to the skiing, well this is where I learned to Ski , I’ve now taken my family back , they’ve skied all over Europe and the Val di Fassa is their favourite , best hospitality and food, best skiing and best welcome!

Long may it continue!“

“For the past 5 years I have attended the meeting despite the availability of many closer meetings in the US.The Otolaryngologists who attend this Upover-Downunder ENT meeting are intellectually honest, clinically provocative, thoroughly immersed in furthering the science of medicine.

After attending medical conferences for the past 37 years, it is easily the most interactive series that I have ever attended.”

“For years, the International ENT ski meeting in the dolomites has been a highlight in my life. The setting is gorgeous and the landscape is breathtaking, but what is most, the atmosphere within the group of attendants is just outstanding. It feels like being together with a large group of dear friends from different countries, who share their opinions and expertise with each other on a very friendly yet highly professional level. Each year I get back from these meetings with my head full of new ideas and insights into ORL-related topics.”