Rotations

The Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Residency Program at the University of Louisville has rotations at multiple hospitals including University of Louisville Hospital, Norton Downtown Hospital, Norton Children's Hospital, and Jewish Hospital. These hospitals comprise the downtown Health Sciences Campus. Take a virtual tour of the HSC. Additional rotations occur at the Louisville VA Medical Center, approximately 5 miles from the downtown campus. The rotations are hospital-based and residents participate in ambulatory clinic weekly throughout all rotations.

PGY-1

PGY-1 residents spend 6 months on the Otolaryngology service and 6 months on useful off-service rotations including General Surgery, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The first three consecutive months are spent on the General Surgery service and the last three consecutive months are spent on the Otolaryngology service. 

General Surgery Rotation

The main goal of this rotation is to provide a broad exposure to the skills and knowledge base necessary for the appropriate evaluation, assessment, and management of the surgical patient. Secondary goals include learning to work as an effective part of the healthcare team and developing the communication and professionalism skills necessary to become a successful physician. It is a three-month rotation with one month on each General Surgery at Jewish Hospital, Pediatric Surgery at Norton Children’s Hospital, and Trauma Surgery at University of Louisville Hospital.  

Emergency Medicine Rotation

The main goal of this rotation is to provide exposure to the emergency room setting. There is emphasis on developing suturing and procedural skills. It is a one-month rotation at University of Louisville Hospital.

Critical Care Rotation

The main goal of this rotation is to provide exposure to the skills and knowledge base for managing critical care patients in the surgical ICU. Secondary goals include development of communication and procedural skills. The critical care team is led by the anesthesia-critical care attending faculty. It is a one-month rotation at University of Louisville Hospital. 

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Rotation

The main goal of this rotation is to provide exposure to the field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Secondary goals include recognizing head and neck pathology requiring OMFS management and understanding the comanagement of certain patients. Time is spent in both the operating room and clinics. It is a one-month rotation at University of Louisville Hospital.

PGY-2 to PGY-5

The PGY-2 to PGY-5 years are spent rotating between the University service covering University of Louisville Hospital, the Private service covering Norton Downtown Hospital, Jewish Hospital, and Norton Children’s Hospital, and the VA service covering the Louisville VA Medical Center. Three months are spent on research. One month is an elective month. 

ULH

The University of Louisville Hospital is a large tertiary referral center and teaching hospital with a diverse patient population from a large catchment area. Residents perform a large volume of both elective and emergent level-appropriate surgical procedures with increasing autonomy. It is a Level I Trauma Center, one of two in the state of Kentucky. Residents share Facial Trauma Call with the OMFS and Plastic Surgery services. The University of Louisville Hospital is also home to the nationally accredited Brown Cancer Center and residents participate in weekly Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Clinic for head and neck cancer patients. 

Norton Children's

Norton Children’s Hospital is the only free-standing tertiary care children’s hospital in the state of Kentucky and provides a broad exposure to complex pediatric otolaryngology disorders requiring both operative and non-operative management. It is a pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center, one of two in the state of Kentucky.  Residents share Q3 Facial Trauma Call with the OMFS and Plastic Surgery services. 

Norton Downtown/Jewish Hospital

Norton Downtown Hospital and Jewish Hospital are large, integrated teaching hospitals for a diverse adult patient population. These hospitals are a major component of the adult operative experience, primarily for elective procedures. Norton Downtown Hospital is also home to the Norton Cancer Institute and here residents participate in weekly Multidisciplinary Tumor Board and clinic for head and neck cancer patients.

VA

The Louisville Veterans Affairs Medical Centeris a part of the VISN 9 group of national Veterans Hospitals. This is a busy facility with the principal mission of serving the needs of United States veterans. Because of the aging of this population, residents learn the intricacies of operative and non-operative management of the geriatric population with considerable medical comorbidities. This rotation serves as an effective source of autonomous complex decision making in Otolaryngology. 

Elective

The elective rotation allows for both ambulatory and operative experiences in various settings and related specialties depending on career goals. This rotation occurs for one month during the PGY-4 year.

Research

The research rotation consists of 3 nonconsecutive months, one in each of the PGY-2, PGY-3 and PGY-4 years. The research experience for Otolaryngology residents is not isolated to this rotation but occurs in a structured curriculum beginning in the PGY-1 year. During their rotation, the resident is excused from all clinical duties except night call. For more information, see our Didactics and Research pages.

Sample Rotation Schedule

PRIV = Private Hospitals (Norton Hospital, Norton Children's Hospital, Jewish Hospital); CC = Critical Care

Call Schedule

Residents take home call covering the downtown Health Sciences Campus and the VA Medical Center. The ENT primary call schedule, split between PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents, is q6. Weekend call is also split evenly with at least two full weekends off every month. PGY-1 residents take buddy call while on the Otolaryngology service. The ENT backup call schedule, split between PGY-4 and PGY-5 residents, is q5. 

Vacation

Residents get 4 vacations per year, each one consisting of 9 consecutive days off. All residents get several days off during the week of Christmas and New Years. PGY-2 and PGY-4 residents cover the rest of the holiday call shifts.