Thank you for your interest in our Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery residency training program at Stony Brook University. Our five-year program currently supports one resident per post-graduate year. As a small division, we are able to utilize a mentorship style of training for our residents. Over the course of the residency program, trainees will learn the surgical and medical treatment of Otolaryngologic diseases in a longitudinal and graduated fashion, with the goal of successfully passing the Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery boards and entering into practice or subspecialty fellowship training.
The following is a description of schedules and responsibilities per post-graduate year:
PGY-1
The intern year includes six months of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery as well as required rotations in other surgical specialties. This includes general surgery, trauma surgery, plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, neurological surgery, anesthesiology and critical care. The intern begins his/her year with three months of Otolaryngology as an introduction to the core team and specialty. The final three months are once again spent on this service so that a smooth transition to the PGY2 year can be made. During this year, the intern will learn to manage post-operative patients and to identify complications and the need for escalation of patient care. The intern will also hone his/her basic operative and procedural skills such as handling/closing of soft tissue, placement of arterial lines and endotracheal intubation. During Otolaryngology rotations, the intern will be expected to participate in rounds during weekends but will not be responsible for taking primary overnight call. During the end of the intern year, they will begin taking “buddy call” with more senior residents in preparation for beginning to take overnight call as a PGY2 resident.
PGY-2
During this year, the resident will focus exclusively on primary management of Otolaryngology patients. They will participate in the primary overnight call pool and will also focus on fielding inpatient consultations and performing procedures such as bedside laryngoscopy and incision and drainage of peritonsillar abscesses. In the operating room, the PGY2 resident will develop surgical skills including tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, placement of myringotomy tubes, closure of complex wounds and tracheotomy. During this year, there is also a dedicated month when the resident will spend time with speech language pathologists, head & neck radiologists and audiologists. Rotations completed during the second year include head & neck surgery, pediatric otolaryngology, rhinology and otology.
PGY-3
The third post-graduate year represents a gradual transition from junior to senior resident. During this year, the resident will be allotted four continuous months for dedicated research time. He or she will choose a faculty mentor to help guide and assure academic productivity during this protected time. The PGY-3 resident is also responsible for initiating a Patient Safety and Quality Improvement project, which is expected to continue through the PGY-5 year. Clinical rotations completed during this year include laryngology, pediatric otolaryngology, rhinology and otology. The resident continues to develop more advanced operative skills during this year including basic endoscopic sinus surgery, micro-direct laryngoscopy with intervention, tympanoplasty, simple mastoidectomy, pediatric laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy and management of congenital neck cysts.
PGY-4
The fourth post-graduate year represents the transition to the senior resident role. The PGY-4 and PGY-5 residents alternate every two months as the chiefs of the head & neck surgery service. During this year, the resident will continue to develop teaching and mentoring skills, managing the more junior residents and medical students. The required PSQI project will also continue through this year. Aside from six months of head & neck surgery, the fourth-year resident will also complete rotations in otology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and dedicated two months of intensive facial trauma exposure. Operative skills including thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, submandibular gland excision, supra-omohyoid neck dissection, hypoglossal nerve stimulator implantation, ossicular chain reconstruction, cochlear implantation, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, rhytidectomy and open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular and maxillary fractures will be developed during this year.
PGY-5
The chief year represents the culmination of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery training. As previously mentioned, the chief resident will alternate with the PGY-4 resident on the head & neck service every two months. In addition, the chief resident will rotate on rhinology, laryngology and otology. During this year, the longitudinal PSQI project will be completed with the expectation of either publication, presentation or implementation of new policy or protocol within our health system. By the end of this year, the resident should demonstrate proficiency in extended sinus surgery techniques, more advanced middle ear surgeries, modified radical and radical neck dissections, laryngectomy, parotidectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy and in-office laryngology procedures. He or she should also be able to serve as supervising surgeon with junior residents performing more rudimentary otolaryngologic procedures.
