The American Headache Society® (AHS)—a leading professional organization committed to advancing the science, education, and clinical practice of headache and facial pain medicine—has announced plans to host the 2025 Scottsdale Headache Symposium® from December 4–7, 2025, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The annual symposium is one of the Society’s signature educational events, designed to support clinicians across disciplines who manage patients living with migraine and other headache disorders. Physicians, scientists, advanced practice providers, trainees, and allied healthcare professionals will convene for four days of in-depth learning, scientific exchange, and hands-on clinical development. Registration for the meeting is now open.
According to Carrie Dougherty, MD, FAHS, Deborah Friedman, MD, MPH, FAHS, and Scott Powers, PhD, FAHS, who serve as co-chairs of the 2025 Scottsdale Program Committee, the symposium continues to be a cornerstone of AHS’s educational mission. “Each year, this symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for clinicians to sharpen their diagnostic skills, gain confidence in treatment planning, and discover the latest research that can meaningfully impact patient outcomes,” they shared in a joint statement. Their comments underscore the meeting’s role not only as an educational event but also as a catalyst for innovation and improved patient care within headache medicine.
An Expanded and Enriched Educational Experience in 2025
The 2025 Scottsdale Headache Symposium® features a robust and meticulously developed program reflecting the rapidly evolving landscape of headache science. As new therapeutics, biomarkers, and clinical strategies continue to emerge, the symposium aims to equip healthcare professionals with practical, evidence-based insights they can immediately apply in their practices.
This year’s agenda includes plenary lectures, case-based workshops, small-group discussions, hands-on demonstrations, and specialized clinical tracks designed to meet the needs of both early-career clinicians and seasoned headache experts. The program blends foundational teaching with advanced clinical concepts, ensuring that participants at any level of expertise can gain meaningful takeaways.
Two highlighted sessions will serve as major pillars of the 2025 meeting:
Key Session Spotlight #1: Obesity in Headache
One of the central themes this year is the complex interplay between obesity, metabolic health, and headache disorders, particularly migraine. The session, titled “Obesity in Headache,” delves into emerging scientific findings that shed new light on how weight-related factors influence headache frequency, severity, and treatment response.
Speakers will explore:
- Mechanistic links between adipose tissue, inflammation, hormonal regulation, and migraine pathophysiology
- Epidemiologic trends showing higher migraine prevalence in people with obesity
- The role of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk in headache patterns
- Weight-management and lifestyle interventions that have demonstrated efficacy in reducing migraine burden
- Updates on pharmacologic treatments, including anti-obesity medications with potential migraine-related benefits
- Clinical considerations for managing patients with both obesity and chronic migraine, including communication strategies and individualized treatment planning
As obesity continues to be a rising global health challenge, understanding its neurological implications has become increasingly important. This session aims to provide clinicians with practical tools for addressing comorbid obesity in ways that support comprehensive patient care.
Key Session Spotlight #2: Intracranial Pressure Disorders
Another core focus of the symposium is the session titled “Intracranial Pressure Disorders,” which provides a deep exploration of conditions such as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). These conditions often present with headache as a primary symptom, but their diagnosis can be difficult due to overlapping clinical features with other headache disorders.
This session will cover:
- Pathophysiology and risk factors associated with abnormal intracranial pressure
- Diagnostic challenges, including when to suspect intracranial pressure disorders based on subtle clinical signs
- Neuroimaging techniques and their role in identifying changes related to raised or decreased pressure
- Red-flag symptoms that warrant urgent intervention
- Updates in medical and surgical management, including shunting procedures, venous sinus stenting, and emerging minimally invasive options
- Case-based learning, helping clinicians differentiate intracranial pressure disorders from more common headache syndromes
Attendees can expect to gain a clearer understanding of how to recognize, diagnose, and manage these complex conditions promptly and effectively.
Beyond the Spotlight: A Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Program
In addition to the highlighted sessions, the symposium includes a wide array of presentations and workshops that cover the full spectrum of headache medicine. Key program components include:
✔ Advances in Therapeutics
A discussion of new and emerging treatments, ranging from next-generation CGRP-targeted therapies to neuromodulation tools, preventive strategies, and acute treatment innovations.
✔ Clinical Practice Updates
Sessions offering practical guidance on patient communication, documentation, management of refractory cases, and navigating comorbidities.
✔ Diagnostic Skills Development
Interactive segments designed to strengthen clinicians’ ability to distinguish among primary and secondary headache disorders, utilize diagnostic imaging, and interpret complex patient presentations.
✔ Practice Management and Systems-Level Guidance
For clinicians involved in building or improving headache programs, these sessions offer insights into workflow optimization, reimbursement, care delivery models, and enhancing patient access.
✔ Hands-On Workshops
Opportunities for attendees to practice procedures and clinical techniques under the guidance of expert faculty, offering a high-value experiential learning component.
AHS has also made the full program agenda available online for attendees who wish to preview the sessions and customize their learning experience prior to arrival.
Accreditation and Continuing Medical Education
The American Headache Society® is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), allowing the organization to offer high-quality continuing medical education for physicians and healthcare professionals. The 2025 Scottsdale Headache Symposium® provides attendees the opportunity to earn up to 45.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, which include both the live sessions and the recorded materials that become available post-conference.
This generous CME offering reflects the Society’s commitment to supporting ongoing professional development and advancing standards of care within the field.
