Road to Residency

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is one of the oldest specialties and, today, comprises the practice of both surgical and medical treatment of ailments of the ears, nose, throat, and all other areas of the head and neck.   

Subspecialties and Fellowships Offered:

            Head and Neck Surgery: malignant and benign lesions of the head and neck, including the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, thyroid gland, and neck.  Fellowships are typically 1-2 years.

            Otology and Neurotology: pathology of the ear affecting hearing and balance.  This includes trauma, infection, tumors, congenital anomilies, and other disorders.  Fellowships are 2 years.

            Pediatrics: all pathology, both congenital and acquired, affecting children.  Fellowships are 1-2 years.

Rhinology and Sinus: disorders of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses, including medical and surgical treatment for sinusitis, airway obstruction, tumors, and allergy.  Fellowships are typically 1 year.

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: cosmetic, functional, and reconstructive surgical treatment of abnormalities of the face, head, and neck.   Fellowships are typically 1 year.

Laryngology: disorders of the larynx, including voice, breathing, and swallowing disorders.  Fellowships are typically 1 year.

Skull base surgery-endoscopic and open treatment of tumors located adjacent to the skull base and requiring special approaches and reconstructive techniques.  Fellowship is 1 year

Sleep: surgical and medical management of sleep disorders.  Fellowships are 1-2 years.

Maxillofacial surgery: trauma and reconstructive surgical management of the facial skeleton.  Fellowships are typically 1 year.

Research Fellowships: vary

*The U offers competitive fellowships in pediatrics, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and otology and neurotology.

Residency Program Length:

            5 year-most residency programs

            6 year-a few programs have an additional year of research for all residents

7 year-several programs allocate 1-2 positions out of the 3-5 total residency positions per incoming class to perform research for 2 years.  These positions are applied to separately.

*ENT automatically places applicants into a built-in intern year (i.e. no preliminary year)

**Many programs also offer 3-6 month research blocks into the 5-year track.  Our department offers a protected 3-month research rotation during the third year and a second during the fourth year.  These rotations can be combined to ensure a 6 month research period.

Important Factors in Your Application (in no particular order; see article below):

            Step 1

            Clinical grades (esp. in surgery and otolaryngology) and Pre-clinical grades

            Class rank

            AOA

            Research

            Extracurriculars

            Letters of Recommendation

            Away rotation performance

Predictors of residency performance: A follow-up study.  Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Volume 116, Issue 6, Pages 647-651 K. CALHOUN, J. HOKANSON, B. BAILEY

Research Opportunities at the U:

            Our department is particularly strong in research in many areas.  Contact any member of the clinical faculty, research faculty, residents, or fellows to seek a research project of interest.

Best Initial Resource:

            Contact a member of the faculty early in the decision-making process to discuss our specialty.  This can help you to decide if otolaryngology-head and neck surgery is for you, as well as aid you in ensuring that you are a successful applicant, resident, and eventual practitioner.

Books for Otolaryngology:

Main Texts: 

Head and Neck Surgery—Otolaryngology (Head & Neck Surgery (2-Vol Set) (Bailey/Calhoun)) by Byron J Bailey, Jonas T Johnson, Shawn D Newlands, and Karen H Calhoun

Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery (4-Volume Set) by Charles W. Cummings, Bruce H. Haughey, J. Regan Thomas, and Lee A. Harker

Rotation Texts:  

Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery--A Clinical & Reference Guide, Second Edition by R. Pasha

Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology (Current Diagnosis & Treatment) by Anil Lalwani

ENT Secrets by Bruce Jafek and William Murrow

Major ENT Journals:

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ymhn

Archives or Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: http://archotol.ama-assn.org/

Laryngoscope: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121460873/home?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology: http://www.annals.com/

Finding Information about Otolaryngology:

http://www.otomatch.com/ (This site and the one below are ENT forums: beware of misinformation, although they can be helpful in terms of interviewing and the match)

http://www.studentdoctor.net/ (click on Forums at the top and scroll down)

http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/ (Career Finding)

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997.html (Career Finding)

http://www.careermd.com/ (Career Finding)

http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/ (Career Finding)

http://www.facs.org/residencysearch/contents.html (Career Finding)

http://www.nrmp.org/ (Residency matching site)

Other Otolaryngology Sites:

http://www.entnet.org/ (American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)

http://www.triological.org/ (Triological Society)