Otolaryngology Residency

Mission statement and program goals

Mission statement: Our mission is to graduate outstanding Otolaryngology physicians that provide compassionate, high-quality care within a modern medical system. The program will have a focus on clinical practice caring for the diverse Central Texas community of urban and rural patients in a large multi-specialty, tertiary-care setting within the multi-institutional Baylor Scott & White Health system. This aligns with the Baylor Scott & White Health system mission of "promoting the well-being of all individuals, families and communities."

Program goals: The program aims to create graduating physicians who will:

• Be prepared to confidently practice Otolaryngology independently in the setting of their choice.
• Have the necessary prerequisite training to pursue advanced skills in a fellowship training program.
• Have the training and experience to be educators and leaders in their respective settings.
• Have a deep understanding of working within multidisciplinary teams to provide the best care possible.

The residency program will also:

• Provide a well-rounded clinical education in all areas of Otolaryngology supported by didactic and simulation education.
• Promote scholarly activity locally and nationally by faculty and residents.
• Provide opportunities to engage as leaders and educators.

PGY-1

The first year of training consists of one-month rotations, including six months of otolaryngology.

Additional rotations include:

• Pediatric surgery
• Surgical ICU
• Emergency/trauma surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Anesthesiology and emergency medicine

The first year is very hands-on and provides substantial experience in managing surgical patients in the outpatient and hospital settings.

PGY-2 through PGY-5

The final four years of training are focused on developing the skills necessary to become an independently practicing general otolaryngologist. Each year is divided into subject based rotations to allow for a focused experience in the subspecialties of otolaryngology.

Rotations include:

• Otology/neurotology
• Rhinology
• Head and neck cancer
• VA otolaryngology
• Plastic surgeryPediatric otolaryngology
• General otolaryngology

Our two-month, subject-based rotations are designed to allow for continuity of care where residents will participate in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of otolaryngologic disease in the outpatient and inpatient settings. Residents rotate through Scott & White Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center – Temple and the Central Texas VA Center. Early hands-on experience in the PGY-1 year allows for our residents’ accelerated autonomy in clinical management and in the operating room with appropriate supervision.

Our faculty’s expertise spans the breadth of otolaryngology. In addition, the resident’s clinical experience will be augmented by interactions with outside faculty members from neurosurgery, plastic surgery, endocrine surgery, oral-maxillofacial surgery, pathology, neuroradiology and radiation oncology. Our residents and faculty actively participate in several multispecialty teams, including Head and Neck Tumor Board, Neurosurgical Tumor Board, Cleft Palate Team and Cochlear Implant Team.

Education is enhanced with weekly conferences that include faculty and resident led didactics, simulation labs, anatomy dissection labs, journal club, M&M, case studies and oral board preparation.