The Annual Congress of the International Association of TransVoice Surgeons — bringing together the world's leading voice surgeons, phoniatrists, and speech-language pathologists advancing the science and art of transgender voice care.
The International Association of TransVoice Surgeons (IATVS) was founded to advance the science and practice of surgical and therapeutic interventions for transgender voice care. Our congresses are characterized by intimate, collaborative learning environments with single-track programming that facilitates deep networking and knowledge exchange among international faculty and participants.
In 2027, IATVS comes to Portland, Oregon — the first time our congress has convened in North America. Hosted by James P. Thomas, MD, Congress President, this meeting represents a unique opportunity to expand IATVS visibility and membership among North American otolaryngologists and speech-language pathologists.
Previous congresses have convened in Berlin, Mumbai, Seoul, and Marbella, attracting an intimate international faculty. The Portland congress will welcome approximately 60–100 participants from across the globe.
Congress Highlights
From a founding organizational meeting in Berlin to four continents in five years — IATVS now comes to North America.
Portland sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, surrounded by the Cascades, the Columbia River Gorge, and the Oregon Coast. Late October brings cool clear skies, vivid autumn color, and an extraordinary culinary and cultural scene — a memorable backdrop for an international congress.
The full program will be announced as speakers confirm. The structure below reflects the planned format — a single-track two-day scientific program, with social events each evening and an optional post-congress excursion.
| Time | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Evening | Board of Directors Dinner Intimate pre-congress dinner for IATVS Board members |
6 board members • Private dining room |
| Evening | Faculty Arrival & Informal Welcome Informal gathering for arriving international faculty |
Venue TBD |
| Time | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 07:30 – 08:30 | Registration & Morning Coffee Arrival | |
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Welcome & Opening Remarks Opening Congress President's welcome; IATVS President's address; overview of the program |
James P. Thomas, MD & IATVS Leadership |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Session I — Surgical Techniques Invited Lectures Glottoplasty, cricothyroid approximation, and emerging approaches — international perspectives |
Faculty TBA |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break & Exhibits Break | |
| 11:00 – 12:30 | Session II — Voice Assessment & Outcomes Invited Lectures Acoustic measurement, perceptual evaluation, and patient-reported outcomes |
Faculty TBA |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch (provided) Lunch | |
| 13:30 – 15:00 | Session III — Speech-Language Pathology Perspectives Invited Lectures Voice therapy pre- and post-surgery; resonance, articulation, and non-pitch aspects of gender-affirming voice |
Faculty TBA |
| 15:00 – 15:30 | Coffee Break & Exhibits Break | |
| 15:30 – 17:00 | Session IV — Free Papers / Case Reports Free Papers Short oral presentations selected from submitted abstracts |
Submitted Abstracts |
| 17:00 – 18:00 | IATVS General Assembly Members Only Annual meeting of IATVS membership; business, elections, and announcements | |
| 19:00 | Welcome Gala Dinner Formal seated dinner for all congress participants • Live music by Ben Landsverk & the Low Bar Chorale • Welcome remarks by Congress President |
80–100 guests • Multi-course dinner |
| Time | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 – 08:30 | Morning Coffee Arrival | |
| 08:30 – 10:00 | Session V — Complications & Revisions Invited Lectures Managing surgical complications, revision surgery, and challenging cases — a candid international discussion |
Faculty TBA |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Coffee Break & Exhibits Break | |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | Session VI — Research & Innovation Invited Lectures New research, technology applications, AI in voice analysis, and future directions |
Faculty TBA |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch (provided) Lunch | |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Session VII — Free Papers / Poster Discussions Free Papers Continued short oral presentations and poster presentations |
Submitted Abstracts |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Coffee Break Break | |
| 15:00 – 16:30 | Session VIII — Panel: The Future of TransVoice Surgery Panel Discussion Where is the field going? Training, credentialing, research priorities, and global equity |
Faculty TBA |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Closing Remarks & Awards Closing Best paper awards, announcement of next congress, farewell remarks |
IATVS Leadership |
| 19:00 | Faculty & Speaker Appreciation Dinner Semi-private dinner honoring invited faculty and speakers |
20–30 guests • Private dining |
| Time | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Coach Departure from Portland Excursion Coach bus departs for Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood — approximately 1.5 hours from downtown Portland |
Up to 24 participants |
| Afternoon | Timberline Lodge Arrival & Exploration Excursion Guided tour of the historic 1937 WPA-era lodge • Mountain views • Optional snowfield walks • Free time on the mountain |
timberlinelodge.com |
| Evening | Overnight at Timberline Lodge • Silcox Hut Excursion Optional overnight at the Silcox Hut (historic stone hut at 7,000 ft, ~$295/person) • Dinner at Timberline Lodge |
Limited capacity — 24 participants max |
| Next Morning | Breakfast & Return to Portland Excursion Breakfast at Timberline • Coach return to Portland |
Drop-off at Portland Airport (PDX) or downtown |
International faculty will be announced as invitations are confirmed. We invite abstract submissions and expressions of interest in faculty participation from qualified members of the IATVS community.
Registration will open in 2026. The following fee structure is planned. IATVS Board members receive complimentary registration; invited keynote speakers receive complimentary registration and accommodations.
The IATVS 2027 Congress will be held in downtown Portland, Oregon — with accommodations and conference facilities in the same property or within easy walking distance. The preferred venue is The Nines, a boutique luxury hotel in the heart of the city.
An optional overnight excursion to the legendary Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood — a WPA masterpiece at 6,000 ft, just 60 miles from Portland. International visitors will have the chance to experience the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest before returning home.
Things to Do in Portland
The IATVS 2027 Congress is being developed for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and will include accreditation for physicians, SLPs, and allied health professionals. Details will be confirmed as accreditation is finalized.
IATVS 2027 welcomes partnerships with companies whose products and services support the transgender voice care community. A full sponsorship prospectus will be available in early 2026.
Request a Sponsorship Prospectus
Contact us to receive the complete prospectus with audience demographics, full benefits, and contract details. Prospectus available early 2026.
The first IATVS Congress in North America — October 29–30, 2027. Express your interest today.
Express Registration Interest