In Memory of Professor Seung Ha Oh and Highlights From the 14th Asia Pacific Symposium on Cochlear Implant and Related Sciences (APSCI), Seoul, Korea

Jun Ho Lee

doi:10.7874/jao.2024.00283

Professor Seung Ha Oh, an influential otologist, scientist, and teacher, passed away on November 26, 2023, at the age of 63, shortly after his excellent leadership at the 14th Asia Pacific Symposium on Cochlear Implant and Related Sciences (APSCI) held in Seoul, Korea. He also served as the leader of the Korean Otological Society. He published around 250 peer-reviewed articles and was renowned for his work in cochlear implantation and otologic surgery.

He was known for his friendly nature and charismatic personality, which enabled him to host the 14th APSCI successfully. His sudden loss has left a significant impact on the field of otology, and he will be deeply missed by his colleagues and students. We extend our deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time.

The 14th Asia Pacific Symposium on Cochlear Implant and Related Sciences took place in Seoul, Korea, from November 8th through 10th, 2023 (Fig. 1). Professor Seung Ha Oh was the president of the 14th APSCI. Professor Jun Ho Lee was the general secretary, and Professor Ja-Won Koo was the chair of the Scientific Committee.

It was a wonderful opportunity to explore the latest Cochlear Implants and Related Sciences trends and network with colleagues and friends worldwide. There were 1,131 participants from 48 countries spanning five continents: 451 physicians and professionals, 87 speech and language pathologists and audiologists, 94 fellows, residents, graduate students, surgeons, and practitioners, and 272 exhibitors.

As for the core of this symposium, the scientific programs, various presentations, and posters were presented. Four hundred ninety-four speakers from 37 countries prepared and educated us, amounting to 107 sessions and 694 presentations (Tables 1 and 2). A total of 9 awardees were selected including six APSCI Prize Awards (Fig. 2) and three Travel Grants Awards. After the closing ceremony, the symposium flag was handed over to the next president. We hope to see everybody again in Malaysia in 2025.

Following the APSCI symposium, the Public Health Planning for Hearing Impairment (PHPHI) 2023 was held in Seoul, Korea from November 14th to 17th (Fig. 3). PHPHI is a training course at the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Dr. Andrew Smith from the UK participated and led the PHPHI symposium. The PHPHI course is designed to establish a worldwide community of health professionals who are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle the issue of hearing loss. The objective is to enhance the capacity building for public health knowledge and expertise in ear and hearing health among health professionals and planners.

In celebration of the successful hosting of APSCI, we are pleased to announce the inclusion of a selection of outstanding review and original papers presented at the symposium in the April issue of the Journal of Audiology and Otology (JAO). This special edition will feature seminal works on “Current Issues With Pediatric Cochlear Implantation” and “Application of Genetic Information to Clinical Cochlear Implantation Practice”, which represent cutting-edge discussions in the field. It also includes “Updates on Genetic Hearing Loss: From Diagnosis to Targeted Therapies” and insightful research on “Clinical Applications of Intracochlear Electrocochleography in Cochlear Implant Users With Residual Acoustic Hearing”. Moreover, the issue addresses the critical topic of “The Role of Preoperative Measurement of Social Maturation Score in Children With Additional Needs Who Underwent Cochlear Implantation”, providing valuable insights for practitioners. These papers highlight how active and forward-thinking otological research and practices are at APSCI. They show our continuous effort to share new and important knowledge in this field.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the colleagues whose contributions were valuable for the successful hosting of the 14th APSCI and the publication of JAO special issue.