Otolaryngology Residency Curriculum

All residents complete a one-year internship of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. The internship is integrated into the department’s residency program and is under its supervision.

The surgical experience includes one-month rotations in plastic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, general surgery and critical care. Other rotations during the year include thoracic, vascular and pediatric surgery. The rotations in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery are spent at Ben Taub Hospital, the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Texas Children's Hospital. Currently, two months are spent on the otolaryngology service at the MEDVAMC.

The PGY 2-5 otolaryngology - head and neck surgery training consists of broad and diverse clinical experiences. During the four years of training, residents rotate through Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Harris Health System Ben Taub Hospital, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Each hospital has comprehensive Otolaryngology - Head and Neck services with outpatient clinics, inpatient services, dedicated operating room time, emergency services, and diagnostic testing.

During the PGY-2 year, residents rotate through three Baylor affiliated Hospitals: Ben Taub Hospital, the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Texas Children's Hospital. PGY-2 residents, during the first two months, also participate in a six-week boot camp that provides the necessary scientific background and clinical fundamentals for the physician entering this phase of training. Subjects include head and neck anatomy, temporal bone anatomy, audiology and vestibular physiology, simulation, allergy, head and neck radiology, and otolaryngic-head and neck surgery emergencies.

During the PGY-3 year, residents assume greater responsibilities in patient care and surgery. The typical year includes a dedicated research block and rotations at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and MD Anderson. The Texas Children's Hospital rotation includes special exposure to pediatric patients with airway anomalies, head and neck masses, hearing loss, neonatal and pediatric intensive care needs, chronic sinusitis, and congenital disorders.

The PGY-4 year of training provides intensive operating room experience with rotations at the Ben Taub Hospital, the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, and as Chief Resident at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. This year offers comprehensive experiences with increasing levels of responsibility in facial plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery, aerodigestive endoscopy, endocrine surgery of the head and neck, endoscopic sinus surgery, and microlaryngeal surgery.

The PGY-5 year of residency is the chief residency year with rotations at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ben Taub Hospital and UT MD Anderson (with fellow level responsibilities). During this year, the Chief resident is responsible for patients under his/her auspices at these three hospitals during outpatient clinics, inpatient hospitalizations, surgical procedures, and emergency consultations. The chiefs are directly responsible to the attending staff at each hospital. The Chiefs are responsible for overseeing and teaching junior residents in clinic, the operating room, and ER care. 

Resident responsibilities and educational goals are level-dependent as the resident progresses from junior to senior resident level. The experience at Ben Taub Hospital allows a comprehensive, hands-on experience with adult (general otolaryngology) patients as well as trauma patients. Rotations at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center provide unique opportunities in head and neck cancer management, otology, laryngology and facial reconstructive surgery. The UT MD Anderson rotations provide a comprehensive exposure to head and neck cancer cases, with an opportunity to return as a senior level resident fulfilling fellow level responsibilities on a busy head and neck surgery service. Texas Children's Hospital provides experience in all facets of pediatric otolaryngology.

For more information about the program curriculum see the links below:

• Rotations
• Didactic
• Research
• Training Sites