Residency Program

The Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Residency Training Program is a five-year ACGME-approved training program. The residency is approved to maintain six residency positions, alternating one or two residents per year of training. We accept two residents each even-numbered year (i.e., when the PGY-2 year starts on an even-numbered year). The PGY-1 year is performed at our institution including rotations in otolaryngology, anesthesia, emergency room, SICU, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, and several general surgical subspecialties. The full spectrum of clinical exposure is provided, with focus on head and neck oncology, pediatric otolaryngology, otology, facial plastics and reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial trauma, laryngology, sinonasal and allergic disease, and endocrine surgery.

The goal of the program is to train Otolaryngologists comfortable in both the academic and private practice settings. Residents are trained in the basic science fundamentals and their application to clinical medicine via core didactics and clinical conferences. Multidisciplinary Tumor Board review staffed by otolaryngology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology allows for both prospective and retrospective discussion of head and neck cancer patients. Clinical conferences are provided by divisional staff, as well as, outside departmental faculty. A structured temporal bone course is provided via lecture and temporal bone dissection in our own dedicated temporal bone laboratory. Residents are freed from all non-emergency responsibilities to attend educational sessions including didactics, Journal Club, Grand Rounds, Morbidity and Mortality, Tumor Board, Trauma Review, Temporal Bone Course, Pathology Conference, and Radiology Conference. Weekly pre-operative conferences are held to review upcoming surgical cases, including surgical indications and plans.

Outside educational opportunities are provided by Division-sponsored academic courses. The course opportunities include a Rhinoplasty Fundamentals Course, a Basic Science Course, the AAOA Basic Course, as well, as other courses as they become available. Residents are encouraged to attend professional meetings annually. Experience and education are maximized if the resident presents a paper at these meetings. If an oral research presentation is to be delivered by the resident, reasonable travel expenses will be covered by the Division.

Research can provide excellent resident educational opportunities. All residents are required to participate in structured research activities, with at least one long-term project.  Residents have three-months of dedicated research time during their PGY-4.  Submission for publication of the project in a peer-reviewed journal is required. Annually, each resident must identify a project and submit an abstract to the Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology. Most residents participate in research beyond these requirements.