Curriculum

Program

Five years approved by the American Council of Medical Education and American Board of Otolaryngology.

Positions

One resident at each level, with reappointment contingent on satisfactory progress through each year of training.

Rotations

The first year resident participates in month-long rotations in plastic surgery, neurosurgery, surgical intensive care medicine, anesthesia, emergency medicine, trauma surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, and surgical oncology. During the second half of the year, the resident spends six months on the otolaryngology service. This provides an introduction to the patients and problems we encounter regularly and to the flow in our outpatient clinic, operating room and inpatient service. The operative experience during this block is focused on straightforward pediatric surgery and assisting in major head and neck procedures.

The second-year otolaryngology resident spends several days per week in the outpatient clinic working with each of the attending physicians. At least one of those days is spent in pediatric otolaryngology clinic. The operative focus during the first half of the year is on routine pediatric procedures and common procedures such as tracheostomy. During the second half of the year, the resident participates in the more complex head and neck surgery as an assistant surgeon for a three-month block while continuing duties in the clinic. The last block of this year is spent rotating in the radiation oncology department and outpatient allergy clinic. Throughout this year the resident also covers emergencies in the Emergency Department. During the PGY-2 year, the resident should choose a faculty mentor and design a research project for the upcoming year.

The third-year resident begins with a three month research block. During this time, the resident is free of other obligations during the day, but continues to participate in conferences and take call. The second three-month block is spent rotating on related fields (oral and maxillofacial surgery, dermatology and oculoplastic surgery) allowing time to continue to work on a research project. During the second half of the year, the resident is responsible for inpatient consultations including those for facial trauma. He or she operates with the otolaryngology staff, maxillofacial surgeons and general plastic surgeons on routine facial trauma cases. The year ends with a focus on general otolaryngology, rhinology, and facial plastics as well as being in charge of the hospital consult service. He or she will also continue to see patients in the clinic.

During the first two blocks (six months) of the fourth year, the resident continues as the consult resident. His or her teaching and supervisory roles increase during this time as the second most senior resident. In the operating room, the PGY-4 resident operates on more complex nasal, sinus, laryngology, otology and pediatric cases. He or she serves as the operating resident on basic endocrine and open neck cases. During the last three months of this year, the  PGY-4 resident acts as the assistant chief resident. While the chief resident still operates on the most advanced head and neck, otologic and airway reconstruction cases, the PGY-4 resident staffs routine neck dissections,  parotidectomies, endocrine cases, neck dissections, tympanoplasties,  mastoidectomies, and revision sinus surgeries. Clinic responsibilities continue throughout the year.

During the first nine months of the fifth year, the chief resident spends most of his or her time in the operating room and in clinic focusing on the advanced cases in all subspecialties - otolaryngology, head and neck, reconstructive surgery, pediatric airway surgery, sinus surgery, and facial plastic surgery. He or she participates in the head and neck multidisciplinary clinic. The chief resident supervises care on the inpatient service. He or she is also the administrative resident and assumes a significant teaching role for junior residents and medical students both in and out of the operating room. During the last three months, the chief will continue to do the most complex cases and also cover any sinus cases, cosmetic cases or trauma cases that he or she would like before completing residency. 

Throughout all years the residents rotate in the call schedule and participate in all educational sessions.