Our schedule includes a number of regular didactics and conferences. Lectures are based around a resident-centered curriculum that incorporates proctored resident presentations with unique and engaging discussions along with case-based conferences. The high yield case reviews with faculty members and upper level residents hone critical thinking and decision making skills to help with Board prep.
Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Conference
Discussions of cancer cases from all affiliated hospitals take place in the Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Conference, which is attended by all Head and Neck Surgery faculty, medical and radiation oncology, pathology and ENT residents. The Head and Neck chief resident distributes relevant current literature on the topics at hand in advance. During the conference, residents have opportunities to present their treatment plans, including evidence-based rationales.
Specialty Case Conferences
Teaching conferences are held by subspecialty division and are based on in-depth discussions of specific patient cases. Senior residents collect the pertinent data and present the case. Discussion then ensues regarding differential diagnosis, treatment plan, surgical procedures, and potential complications.
Integrated Quality Improvement Conference
The Integrated Quality Improvement Conference, held monthly, is an opportunity to reflect upon complicated cases and determine ways to minimize future risk in future similar situations. At this conference, department metrics are reviewed, and complications are discussed. Every case is presented by the chief resident on service, followed by a literature-based review of the complication being discussed. Residents and faculty also discuss "near-misses", methods for systems improvements, and other interesting clinical cases during this conference.
Resident Didactic Conference
The residents participate in protected educational modules on Wednesday mornings. A comprehensive syllabus of otolaryngology topics is covered, with a particular emphasis on group, case-based learning, journal clubs, and pathology/histology sessions. The curriculum rotates on a two-year cycle to ensure a complete review of topics covered on in-service and board exams. Each week, a faculty mentor is invited to lecture and participate. When routine topics in otolaryngology are being covered, the residents often take a self-guided approach, asking the junior residents to present while the seniors help clarify and teach certain points. This educational arrangement has allowed the residents to identify areas where they would like to receive more instruction and develop a habit of evidence-based practice and lifelong learning.
Resident Wellness Conference
As part of the wellness initiative at Mount Sinai, Otolaryngology residents participate in a variety of conference type courses and workshops. Courses are interspersed during the year and made available to trainees through the Graduate Medical Education office and provided by certified instructors. Current offerings include a mindfulness seminar, narrative medicine, and positive psychology. The offerings are intended to be interactive and Collaborative.
More on Resident Education
We also offer a number of other education courses and programs. Opportunities are available in the New York metropolitan area in collaboration with nearby residency programs. In addition, many travel grants are available for educational courses across the United States and Canada.
Head and Neck Anatomy Course
The PGY-2 residents are given a truly special opportunity in the form of a comprehensive cadaver dissection course in head and neck surgical anatomy. The curriculum consists of lectures focused on head and neck, rhinology, laryngology and facial plastics, as well as hands-on dissection in all these areas. This course is led by otolaryngology faculty and guest faculty members from related disciplines.
Temporal Bone Lab
Residents in all four years of otolaryngology training are instructed in temporal bone anatomy and surgery through a dissection course using cadaveric human temporal bones in our state-of-the-art lab at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.
Surgical Simulation Lab
A beautifully constructed, high-tech surgical simulation lab is shared with the other surgical disciplines. This space contains simulation mannequins, including ones that can run live, real-time simulations of emergent clinical situations. It also contains endoscopic towers, robotic consoles, and microscopic equipment. Thoughout the academic year, several learning modules are run in the simulation lab to aid in hands-on training for realistic clinical scenarios.
Annual Courses and Conferences
On an annual basis, the department conducts and takes part in a number of world-renowned postgraduate courses in topics such as head and neck surgery, microvascular free flap reconstruction, salivary endoscopy, phonosurgery, endoscopic skull base surgery, rhinoplasty, and otologic surgery. Residents are provided the opportunity to attend these courses and participate in the laboratory sessions.
Journal Club
Faculty mentors are involved with regular journal club discussions in the variety of subspecialties. The format of the sessions allows for a systematic approach to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the papers, analyze the presented data, and examine ways in which the paper could change clinical practice.
Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds across the entire healthy system are held on a monthly basis and cover all subspecialties on a rotating basis over an annual cycle. National and internationally renowned speakers are invited to present on a variety of pertinent topics, concepts and research interests.
Resident Development Series
Monthly sessions cover a variety of topics ranging from honing leadership skills, financial fitness for residents to the business of medicine. The sessions are delivered by both internal Mount Sinai faculty and external speakers. The sessions have been exceptionally popular and an excellent addition to the resident curriculum.