Resident Education

The goals of the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Residency program at the University of Louisville are supported by a comprehensive educational program. Although extensive, these group activities are not intended to be a substitute for a disciplined, individual reading program. Rather, they are intended to guide and supplement such a program.

Resident Research

The research rotation consists of 3 non-consecutive months, one in each of the PGY-2, PGY-3, and PGY-4 years. During their rotation, the resident is excused from all clinical duties except night call. The research experience for Otolaryngology residents is not isolated to this rotation but occurs in a structured curriculum beginning in the PGY-1 year. Residents develop research projects in collaboration with faculty. Expectations are clearly outlined in annually presented “research contracts” which provide the resident with specific deadlines for completion of research tasks.

Residents present at local, regional, and national meetings and conferences. Program support is provided for presentation of projects. For more information, see the video above or check out our Research page.

Each year, “Research!Louisville,” a weeklong research symposium containing courses, a keynote speaker and research presentations sponsored by the University of Louisville and our teaching Hospitals. The keynote speaker has often been Nobel Prize recipients or scientists of international distinction. Residents present scientific poster presentations as part of this symposium.

For additional information or if you have questions about our research program, reach out to .


Didactics

Residents are provided three hours of protected didactic time on Monday mornings, during which residents are required to attend scheduled sessions including:

  • Attending and Resident Grand Rounds Lectures
  • Guest Speaker Grand Rounds Lectures
  • Attending and Resident Clinical Case Presentations
  • Quality Improvement M&M Conference
  • Book Club (based on assigned textbook readings)
  • Otolaryngology Study Group (lower level residents)

 

Educational Conferences

  • Facial Trauma Conference: a monthly case-based facial trauma conference with the OMFS and Plastic Surgery departments to discuss surgical methods and outcomes in facial trauma patients.
  • Head and Neck Multidisciplinary Conference: a weekly conference at the University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center and the Norton Cancer Institute to discuss multidisciplinary care of head and neck cancer patients. Residents present new patients and participate in discussion of evaluation and management.
  • Monthly Journal Club: a monthly conference to discuss both classic and current journal papers. The articles are briefly summarized, critically analyzed, and related to clinical practice by the presenting residents and then further general discussion is encouraged by other residents and faculty. 

 

Educational Courses

In-House Courses are organized by residents and subspecialty faculty and include a Friday afternoon lecture by attending faculty and guest faculty and a Saturday morning cadaver dissection. The annual courses are as follows:

  • Temporal Bone Course
  • Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Course
  • Trauma Plating Course
  • Allergy & Sinus Course
  • Head & Neck Course

Extramural Courses allow each PGY level resident to have additional level-appropriate educational opportunities. All costs associated with course attendance are paid for by the department. Traditionally the following courses are attended:

  • ORL Emergencies Bootcamp (PGY-1)
  • AOCMF Management of Facial Trauma Course (PGY-2)
  • University of Michigan Temporal Bone Course (PGY-3)
  • Indiana University Head and Neck Course (PGY-4)
  • AAOA Basic Course in Allergy & Immunology (PGY-5)