The following is a sample overview schedule for the WRH ENT/HNS residency program:
First Year
The first year will comply with the PGY-1 training year as outlined in the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in otolaryngology. The schedule is as follows
- 6 months ENT
- 2 months ICU
- 1 month Plastic Surgery
- 1 month Emergency Medicine
- 1 month Nights
- 1 month Anesthesia
During the first year, the resident will receive a majority of their surgical education outside the operating room, along with periodic operating room participation. The main emphasis is on pre-operative diagnosis and post-operative care to be correlated with intra-operative anatomy and surgical findings. The relationship of otolaryngology and the services of general medicine, nuclear medicine, pathology, pulmonology, radiology, anesthesiology, and post-anesthesia care will be highlighted. During the year, there will be limited surgical responsibilities.
Second Year
The second year schedule is as follows:
- 8 months ENT
- 3 months pediatric ENT
- 1 month basic science course
The second year begins with a one month intensive ENT basic science / temporal bone course, designed to reinforce the structural anatomy necessary for operative interventions. During the residents' second year, considerable time will be spent in the operating room to learn surgical assisting, surgical principles, surgical techniques, and independently performing minor surgeries. Eight months will be spent with ENT physician faculty in both the office setting and operative suite. Three months of pediatric ENT is done during year 2 at Akron Children's Hospital for proficiency in pediatric ENT surgeries, pediatric audiology, and other pediatric specific ENT disorders. There is one month dedicated towards the initiation and development of a research project.
Third Year
The third year schedule is as follows:
- 6 months ENT
- 3 months otology
- 2 months head and neck / oncology
- 1 month research
There are six months of general ENT office and surgical experience done during this year. Incremental responsibility is placed on each resident to develop his / her skills in these months. Three months are spent at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center / Allegheny General Hospital for otology. Two months are spent at University Hospital - Case Medical Center in Cleveland for head and neck surgery / oncology. These 5 months of out rotations are done with world-class physicians in the field of ENT/HNS, and while they require some travel are crucial for an excellent training experience. Residents are provided travel funding and housing allowances to accommodate these experiences. One month of research is provided during this year to implement project design and accumulation of data. A one month elective can be done during this year in the fields of: neurosurgery, neuroradiology, ophthalmology, oral-maxillofacial surgery, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, or radiation oncology.
Fourth Year
The fourth year schedule is as follows:
- 4 months ENT
- 2 months pediatric ENT
- 3 months otology
- 2 months head and neck / oncology
- 1 month research
The fourth year is spent performing major surgery under supervision. The resident will be assigned cases for total surgical care based on level of competency. A period of six months is spent in ENT/HNS surgery. Two months are again spent at University Hospital - Case Medical Center in Cleveland for advanced Head and Neck surgical experiences. Three more months are completed at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center / Allegheny General Hospital for otology. One month of research experience is completed during this year for project completion and submission for publication.
During year 4, each resident will continue to expand his/her knowledge base in the same areas encountered during the first three years of residency. He/she will also assume the additional responsibilities of surgical training for junior residents and medical students. This is also a year in which pursuit of fellowship programs is undertaken.
Fifth Year
The fourth year schedule is as follows:
- 12 months ENT
During this year, each resident is taught advanced ENT/HNS surgical skills and assumes a majority of the care of patients, with appropriate attending physician supervision. The senior resident spends 12 months training at Western Reserve Hospital with preference given to his/her participation in selected operative interventions. Surgical experiences are based on the needs of the resident, in areas where he/she feels that exposure will help prepare him/her for private practice or fellowship. A close working relationship is developed between attending physicians and senior resident, with dependence on each for competent patient care and a quality educational experience.
Didactics
Throughout each year, there are numerous didactic activities which are required. Each Friday, there are 4 hours of attending physician led lecture and resident board review. Supplementary lectures will be provided by faculty on a quarterly basis and will be on major topics in ENT/HNS.
All ENT/HNS residents must participate in the annual In-Service exam. In preparation there are weekly board review sessions, led by multiple ENT/HNS faculty. In addition, each resident must complete the AAO-HNS FLEX Education Course during years 2-4.
All WRH residents must attend both a monthly cancer conference session and mortality review conference. These review any surgical oncologic cases as well as any pre-operative diagnostic challenges for current cases. There is attendance by the primary care physician, as well as all disciplines involved in the patient care plan including radiology, oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, and surgery.