Empowering Clinicians in Head and Neck Cancer Care: You Have an ACE in Your Pocket!

Over the past year, the Atos Clinical Education (ACE) team has remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting healthcare professionals—especially speech-language pathologists, respiratory therapists, physicians, and advanced practice providers—who care for individuals with head and neck cancer or tracheostomy. Through a comprehensive portfolio of educational initiatives, the ACE team has ensured that no clinician is left behind in their pursuit of delivering expert, compassionate care. This year, the team doubled down on its mission to elevate the standard of education and care for both providers and the patients they serve.

A standout achievement for the ACE team was the delivery of more than 4,175 hours of continuing education, including 414.95 ASHA CEUs and 2.6 AARC CEUs. These offerings were thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving needs of clinicians working with laryngectomy and tracheostomy patients, helping them stay at the forefront of best practices and emerging research. Evidence-based practice continues to shape how we care for this population. Reflecting on the past, there was a time when many clinicians had never heard of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) or understood its vital role in improving quality of life for patients. Consider how far we’ve come since then. The ACE team’s dedication to accessible learning was evident in the variety of formats offered—from live and on-demand webinars and podcasts to eight TEP courses, an Advanced Surgical Airway course, a five-module On-Demand Laryngectomy Bootcamp, and a wealth of monthly “Clinician Connection” articles to keep you informed and inspired.

This year, collaboration emerged as a defining theme of the ACE team’s success. By partnering with clinical leaders across the country, the team aligned its efforts to enhance patient outcomes and clinician satisfaction. Collaborations with esteemed institutions such as Weill Cornell New York Presbyterian Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, and UAB Medical Center—among many others—enabled the ACE team to bring high-quality training directly to clinicians. These partnerships underscore the team’s commitment to making education accessible, flexible, and impactful, reinforcing the idea that clinical expertise, when paired with a shared educational vision, can elevate care across the continuum.

But what happens when you need immediate support while caring for a patient with a tracheostomy or laryngectomy? That’s where the ACE team becomes your lifeline. This year alone, the tracheostomy and laryngectomy teams responded to over 500 Spot-on-Support (SOS) events—real-time calls, virtual meetings, texts, and emails—providing critical support to clinicians navigating complex patient scenarios. More than half of these interactions focused on three key challenges: tracheoesophageal (TE) voice prosthesis complications, peripheral leakage, and voicing difficulties. Each case was met with personalized, one-on-one support from seasoned clinical experts. With over 225 years of combined clinical experience, the ACE team brings a depth of knowledge and collaborative insight that ensures clinicians receive the best possible guidance when it matters most.

Beyond reactive support, the ACE team also proactively addressed knowledge gaps through literature reviews and expert-led discussions. Topics such as skin health, primary versus secondary tracheoesophageal puncture, voice prosthesis troubleshooting, access to care, and clinician bias were explored in depth. These sessions provided evidence-based insights that empowered clinicians to make informed decisions and fostered a culture of continuous learning. In fact, over 2,740 clinicians participated in these programs. Many more had the opportunity to hear from six ACE team members at the 2025 ASHA Convention, where one of their presentations was honored with a Centennial Presentation designation—a proud moment for the entire team.

As the year draws to a close, the Atos Clinical Education team continues to shine as a beacon of support and expertise for clinicians treating head and neck cancer and tracheostomy. Their accomplishments reflect not only professional excellence but also a deep empathy for the challenges faced by healthcare providers and their patients. Every member of the ACE team has walked in your shoes—they’ve been clinicians too. With each webinar, article, course, and SOS interaction, they reaffirm their mission: to ensure every clinician feels equipped, empowered, and never alone in delivering exceptional patient care. When it comes to laryngectomy and tracheostomy care and education, remember—you’ve always got an ACE in the hole with Atos.