The South African ENT / AAO-HNS / SAAA / SASLHA conference, held at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, focuses on the theme "Back to basics" to explore essential principles for excellence in surgery. The conference aims to discuss how individuals, collaborations, and organizations adapt and strive for distinction in the medical field in a fast-paced and ever-changing world impacted by urbanization and globalization. It also aims to provide a comfortable and collegial atmosphere for interdisciplinary exchange of research, collaborations, and networking opportunities. We look forward to meeting you at the conference in Cape Town.