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Educational Opportunities

Research

One major goal of the training program is to train future academic surgeons in the specialty of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery. Accordingly, research, both basic and clinical, is an important and stressed aspect of the training program. Each resident is expected to complete both at least one publishable basic science and one clinical project (such as a retrospective study, etc.) during the training period, although most residents will typically exceed that expectation. It is expected that each of these will result in a scientific manuscript which is presented at a meeting and published paper. The department feels that through such academic goals and pursuits, the groundwork will be established for each resident to easily attain clinical expertise, scientific adequacy, passage of the American Board of Otolaryngology certifying examination, and success in their future careers.

Academic Meetings

Residents are strongly encouraged to attend and present papers and posters at national and regional academic meetings. Podium presentation for at least one meeting is expected, although residents frequently achieve beyond that expectation. The department provides financial assistance to support resident travel to major regional and national meetings where the resident is presenting a paper or poster.

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds conferences are held each week on Wednesday afternoons. This period is an opportunity for the residents, faculty and guest speakers to deliver didactic lectures and to promote resident/faculty education. The Grand Rounds are divided into two separate but interwoven sessions. The first is a didactic session, which is organized and presented by the residents on various topics, and the second is the formal department grand rounds, which includes department faculty, interdisciplinary faculty, and invited guest speakers with national and international reputation. Morbidity and mortality conference is held once a month during the Grand Rounds time.

  • Prepare for the annual Otolaryngology Training Examination and eventual Oral and Written Board Exam.
  • Practice presenting before formal meetings and to present interesting or special cases.

Head & Neck Tumor Board

A weekly tumor board is held at UCIMC.  The UCI tumor board is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of specialists including head & neck surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, head & neck pathologists, and neuroradiologists.  The clinic is attended by social workers, and when appropriate, neurosurgery, endocrinology, and speech pathology. One resident is assigned to present each new case.  The average volume is three new cases per week and is increasing with the progressive clinical practice volume of new faculty.  The board is structured with patients coming to the outpatient clinic, where the board members can meet the patients, then the group retreats to a nearby conference room to present diagnostic studies, review pathology, and discuss treatment options.  For more information, click here.

Pediatric Otolaryngology Conference

A monthly pediatric Otolaryngology conference is held on the morning of the first Thursday of the month in the department resident library. It is attended by all the residents and the pediatric otolaryngologist on the faculty who are based at the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Conference

Each month, a three hour conference dedicated to instruction in facial plastic & reconstructive surgery is provided to the residents and community otolaryngologists. These sessions are both clinical and didactic. Patients are presented to the conference when they illustrate a particularly complex or difficult clinical problem. In addition, lectures are delivered on subjects related to facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. The goal of this conference is to supplement the facial plastic surgery education provided elsewhere in the resident experience.

Vascular Malformations Conference

A monthly vascular malformations conference is held at the Beckman Laser Institute under the direction of Dr. Brian Wong and Stuart Nelson, M.D.

Pathology Conference

Pathology conference occurs monthly at UCIMC.  The conference is held in the department of pathology at the multi-headed microscope, where interesting and unusual head and neck pathology cases are reviewed with a pathologist.  The conference is held in a room in which every resident observer has his own microscope viewer and can point to pathology and describe it for the senior pathology-observer-teacher.

Neuroradiology Conference

Pathology conference occurs monthly at UCIMC.  The conference is held in the department of pathology at the multi-headed microscope, where interesting and unusual head and neck pathology cases are reviewed with a pathologist.  The conference is held in a room in which every resident observer has his own microscope viewer and can point to pathology and describe it for the senior pathology-observer-teacher.

Temporal Bone Dissection Laboratory

The main temporal bone laboratory for the training program is state-of-the-art with multiple video equipped stations. Residents perform temporal bone dissections at the laboratories whenever they desire (the labs are always open to residents) and in 4 yearly sessions supervised by our neurotologist. A second, smaller laboratory is located at the Long Beach VA Medical Center.

Orange County Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (OCSOHNS)

Quarterly dinner meetings are held at the local Orange County Medical Society. Academically acclaimed Otolaryngologists from across the nation are invited to give presentations on their area of interest, providing a valuable and unique educational experience. The department sponsors resident annual dues to attend all OCSOHNS meetings.

Journal Club

Journal Club is a resident-led session, meeting approximately 3-4 times per academic year. Classic or otherwise timely and interesting articles are presented and discussed by the residents with faculty facilitation of discussion. The meetings are held in informal settings, often over dinner in a local venue. These meetings serve to broaden the educational experience of the residents, as well as increase camaraderie among the residents and faculty.