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The program includes one year of general surgical training (PGY-1) and four years of specialty training in otolaryngology (PGY-2 through PGY-5).
Clinical Training
PGY-1
Your first year of training will focus on the fundamental principles of surgery, with an emphasis on the head and neck. You will gain experience in the preoperative and postoperative management of general surgery patients. Your schedule will include rotations in:
- Critical care medicine
- Emergency medicine/trauma (St. Joseph’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ)
- General surgery
- Otolaryngology/Head and neck surgery
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Vascular surgery
- Thoracic surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Anesthesia
PGY-2
During the second year, you will assist staff members in the operating room. You will be assigned to a staff member so you can learn the systems and procedures used to evaluate patients in a clinical and operating room setting.
You will receive comprehensive training in otolaryngologic diagnostic procedures, perform most minor surgical procedures, and assist with or primarily perform major operations depending on your level of skill. You will be given the opportunity to develop and refine your clinical skills in medical history evaluation and head and neck examinations.
You will spend three months on a focused pediatric head and neck surgery rotation. You will also learn audiology, allergy and immunology as well as receive hands on instructions in bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy during this year.
Pediatric Otolaryngology training will occur in the PGY-2 year of training. This experience will be at the Banner Health Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
PGY-3 and PGY-4
During these two years, you will be designated as a senior resident. You will take six rotations of three months each and will be assigned to one or two staff members during each rotation.
As you progress through the rotations, you will be increasingly responsible for the preoperative evaluation, preparation and postoperative follow-up of patients. Once you have demonstrated reasonable familiarity with various surgical techniques, you will progress to performing more complex portions of the operations. By the end of each three-month rotation, you will be performing most operations with the staff member acting as an assistant or supervisor.
Upon finishing these rotations, you will have broad experience in the areas of:
- Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery
- General otolaryngology, including rhinology and sinus surgery
- Head and neck surgery
- Otology
- Maxillofacial trauma
During the PGY-3 year, each resident is required to spend four months participating in a research project of some significance aimed at publication and presentation at regional, national or international meetings.
PGY-5
During your final year, you will be designated as a chief resident associate with assigned patients. You will have full responsibility for the evaluation, diagnosis and therapeutic management of your patients. Members of the staff will be readily available for consultations on all patients.
Didactic Training
Clinical conferences, seminars, small discussion groups, journal clubs and one-on-one instruction are an integral part of the Otolaryngology Residency Program.
You will have weekly one-hour didactic educational sessions year round. This core curriculum covers a variety of adult and pediatric topics from five major areas:
- General otolaryngology
- Laryngology/Head and neck
- Otology/Audiology
- Pediatric otolaryngology
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Rhinology
These didactic presentations are made primarily by staff consultants and colleagues in pathology, endocrinology, allergy, pulmonology, gastroenterology and pertinent basic science fields.
You will participate in a weekly clinical conference dealing with diagnostic problems, morbidity and mortality cases, and pathology. As a PGY-1 resident, you are welcome to attend this conference as your schedule permits. Attendance is required during PGY-2 through PGY-5.
You also will have the opportunity to take introductory and laboratory courses in:
- Cardiac life support
- Head and neck anatomy
- Maxillofacial trauma
- Microsurgery of the ear and temporal bone dissection
- Principles of audiometry, electronystagmography and rhinomanometry
- Rhinologic surgery
- Head and neck reconstructive surgery
You will be encouraged to complete a microvascular surgery course and participate in microvascular reconstructive cases.
Conferences
Weekly Conferences
- Head and neck tumor board (including Pathology)
- Basic science conference
- Core curriculum/clinical management
Monthly Conferences
- Morbidity and Mortality
- Journal club
Courses
- Temporal Bone Anatomy and Surgery (annual)
- Head and neck anatomy (bi-annual)
- Head and neck reconstruction (bi-annual)
Research Training
As an Otolaryngology resident, will be required to engage in four months of basic science research during the PGY-3 year.
Call Frequency
While on the Otolaryngology rotation, call is from home and averages one in five nights. All other call schedules will follow that rotation’s call schedule.
Moonlighting Policy
Moonlighting is not permitted during this residency.
Evaluation
To ensure that you acquire adequate knowledge and develop your technical skills, your performance will be monitored carefully during the Otolaryngology Residency. You will be evaluated formally by your supervising faculty member after each clinical rotation and your competency in the six essential core competencies will be assessed.
In addition, you will regularly evaluate the faculty to ensure that your educational needs are being met. We incorporate 360 degree reviews to receive evaluations from staff and medical personnel in the clinic and operating rooms. Residents are required to take the American Board of Otolaryngology Training Examination during the PGY-2 through PGY-5 year of residency, and scores are monitored to identify deficiencies and proficiencies.
Committee Assignments
A PGY-4 resident will be recruited to sit on the departmental education and research committees. Additionally, residents may be nominated for positions on the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery committees, if they have specific interest.
Scholarly Activities
Residents will be encouraged to publish their work in prominent otolaryngology journals. They will also be encouraged to present their clinical and basic science work at regional, national and international meetings.
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