Residency Curriculum
description by year
PGY-1
During this year, residents spend 6 months with the primary otolaryngology team as a key member of the team. They learn to take consults, manage post-operative patients, and become comfortable and competent in the operating room with otolaryngology surgeries. Residents learn to take a history and perform a thorough physical exam of the head and neck, including doing flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopic exams. Effort is made to involve interns in the operating room early, oftentimes performing basic ENT procedures. The remaining 6 months of the first year are spent in various surgically-related services, developing skills relevant to a surgical specialty.
PGY-2
Second year residents spend the entirety of their time with the otolaryngology team. Residents become exposed to both adult and pediatric patients. The majority of time is spent running the different in-house services. On the Ascension Oakland-Macomb service the resident performs a broad range of general otolaryngology surgeries. While rotating on the Ascension Providence-Southfield service, the resident participates in more advanced general otolaryngology surgeries in various subspecialty fields including otology, head and neck, laryngology, and rhinology. Here the resident learns proficiency in clinic and gets the unique experience of participating in sinus cases in an in-office operative suite. Three months are dedicated to pediatric otolaryngology where the resident runs the service and participates in full-spectrum pediatric otolaryngology surgeries. The resident spends 1 month of research exploring academic pursuits and has no responsibilities other than periodically taking call.
PGY-3
The PGY-3 resident begins taking on more senior responsibilities. The resident expands his skills with general otolaryngology procedures and begins spending more time in the different subspecialties of otolaryngology including dedicated time in laryngology, otology, and head and neck surgery. The otology service is spent with the Michigan Ear Institute where the resident learns to perform cortical mastoidectomies, cochlear implantation, stapedectomies, ossicular chain reconstruction and lateral skull base surgery. On Head and Neck, the resident participates in total laryngectomies, neck dissections and other surgeries. The Head and Neck service is with a team in Indiana. Residents cultivate techniques in various in-office laryngology procedures as well as unique operating room surgeries.
PGY-4
Responsibilities grow as a 4th year resident. While the resident continues to expand on his or her surgical dexterity, the resident is also expected to educate and train the intern resident. As a senior, time focused primarily on honing surgical skills and helping the intern residents cultivate basic otolaryngology skills. Resident time is nearly completely spent in the operating room and here residents begin mastering the surgical skills and principles that they have developed over the previous 3 years.
PGY-5
The chief resident is responsible for the academic and clinical schedule, and participates in the major surgeries of the program. The chief also has the ability to focus more on areas of surgery that he or she is more interested in. Just as during 4th year, the resident continues to hone surgical skills and is dedicated to educating the intern residents. At the end of 5th year, residents will have a solidified knowledge of medical and surgical complications and treatments. At the conclusion of the chief year, residents will be well prepared for a general practice, academic position, or a fellowship of their choosing.
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rotation schedule
PGY-1
General Surgery (2 months)
Surgical ICU (1 month)
Anesthesia (1 month)
Neurosurgery (1 month)
Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (1 month)
Ascension Providence-Southfield ENT Service (2 months)
Ascension Oakland-Macomb ENT Service (4 months)
PGY-2
Ascension Oakland-Macomb ENT Service (4 months)
Ascension Providence-Southfield ENT Service (2 months)
Lakeshore General ENT Service (2 months)
Pediatric ENT Service (3 months)
Research (1 month)
PGY-3
Ascension Oakland-Macomb ENT Service (1 month)
Ascension Providence-Southfield ENT Service (2 months)
Lakeshore General ENT Service (1 month)
Pediatric ENT Service (2 months)
Michigan Ear Institute (1 month)
Laryngology (1 month)
Head & Neck Service (2 months)
Research (1 month)
Elective (1 month)
PGY-4
Ascension Oakland-Macomb ENT Service (4 month)
Pediatric ENT Service (1 months)
Michigan Ear Institute (1 month)
Laryngology (1 month)
Lakeshore Head & Neck Service (1 month)
Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (1 month)
Head & Neck Service (2 months)
Elective (1 month)
PGY-5
Ascension Oakland-Macomb ENT Service (6 month)
Michigan Ear Institute (1 month)
Lakeshore Head & Neck Service (2 months)
Rhinology (1 month)
Oculoplastics (1 month)
Elective (1 month)