Otolaryngology – Head + Neck Surgery Residency Program

We have recently increased our complement size and selected three interns for the 2023-2024 academic year. We will be moving forward with selecting residents in a 3-2-3-2 model.

The clinical progress of each resident is monitored through individual evaluations from both instructors and senior residents following each rotation. Residents are also expected to maintain a daily surgical log through the ACGME Resident Case Log System.

Rotation Schedule

PGY-1 - 6 months off-service rotations/6 months otolaryngology rotations
PGY-2 - Junior ENT resident
PGY-3 - Mid-level ENT resident
PGY-4 - Senior ENT resident
PGY-5 - Chief ENT resident

PGY-1: 6 months General Surgery Internship/6 months Otolaryngology Internship

Each year, residents join the training program through the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery matching system (administered through NRMP). During the internship year, residents will spend a total of 6 months with the Tufts MC General Surgery, SICU, Plastics, Neurosurgery, Anesthesia and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery services. They will also spend a total of 6 months on otolaryngology rotations. The interns will some spend time at Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital as well. Call is usually in-hospital on General Surgery services and home call on their otolaryngology rotations.

During the surgical internship, the resident is expected to become proficient in inpatient service management and the coordination of outpatient care. They are also expected to acquire practical experience in level-appropriate surgical cases under attending supervision.

 

PGY-2: Junior ENT resident

The PGY-2 resident divides their time between the Otolaryngology services at Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC), Boston Children's Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children's Hospital. Allowing early exposure to the diverse practice of otolaryngology.

Residents have a 3-month rotation block at the Boston Children's Hospital in the second half of the year, alternating with a 3-month rotation block at Tufts MC. They will have a total 3-month rotation at Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children's Hospital, alternating with a total 3-month rotation at Tufts MC in the first half of the year. They are responsible for the initial evaluation and treatment of patients under the guidance of upper-level residents and attending staff. Operative experience includes pediatric endoscopy, foreign body management, myringotomy and pressure equalization tube placement, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Additionally, the PGY-2 resident gains experience in adult endoscopy, endoscopic sinus surgery, excisional biopsies, treatment of neck abscesses and submaxillary gland excisions. The resident will also be involved in level-appropriate otologic surgery such as tympanoplasty and mastoid procedures.
 

PGY-3: Mid-level ENT resident

Residents have a 3-month rotation block at Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children's Hospital and two three-month blocks at Tufts Medical Center. In addition, they will have three months of protected research time.

The three-month research elective is a period during which the resident is expected to focus on a specific research endeavor. Many clinical and basic science research opportunities exist at Tufts Medical Center for the development of a resident research project. The resident is expected to plan for this elective prior to beginning the research to optimize his/her time.

PGY-4: Senior ENT resident

This year includes 4, 3-month rotation blocks. The rotations are divided as 2 blocks at Tufts MC, 1 block at the ENT Specialists group and 1 block at Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children's Hospital (RIH/HCH). This year also includes a 1-month block for fellowship interviews.

The PGY-4 resident will participate in the full spectrum of otolaryngologic procedures. They will be expected to demonstrate a leadership role in the house-staff team by coordinating the consult service and the on-call schedule. Additionally, the senior resident plays a large role in the education of medical students and junior residents.

While at Tufts MC, the senior resident gains a rich experience operating with the attending staff during advanced otolaryngologic procedures. The resident is encouraged to assume additional responsibility both within the operating room and in the outpatient clinic. A healthy balance is always maintained between autonomy and attending supervision, which maximizes patient care and resident self-confidence. Call duties at Tufts MC are approximately 1 in 3 from home.

While on rotation at RIH/HCH, the senior serves as the acting chief resident of the service. It is an opportunity for the resident to be active in the more complex otolaryngologic problems and prepare for the upcoming chief year.

PGY-5: Chief resident

The chief resident divides the year between 2, 3-month blocks at Tufts MC and 1, 3-month block at both RIH/HCH and ENT Specialists. They are expected to be able to lead the house staff in all daily activities and to become comfortable with the highest level ENT cases. There are no first on-call responsibilities for the chief resident at Tufts MC. The on-call duties of the chief resident are to provide backup to the junior residents on-call. At RIH/HCH the chief takes about 1 in 4 call from home and every other weekend call from home while on the ENT Specialists rotation.

The chief resident plays a major role in skull base surgery, neurotologic cases, plastic and reconstructive procedures, advanced paranasal and sinus techniques and free tissue transfer. The goal is to allow the chief to make a smooth transition to the next level as a fellow or attending staff.

The attending staff is committed to assisting the chief in selecting and achieving future career goals. The program chair sets the tone for support of the residents’ career decisions so that they will be successful in whatever they choose. The ENT residents at Tufts MC know that they will remain proud of their academic heritage throughout their careers in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery.

Miriam A. O'Leary, MD, FACS
Head and Neck Surgery
Department Chair
 

Kathryn Noonan, MD
Otology-Neurotology
Residency Program Director

Andrew Scott, MD, FACS
Pediatric Otolaryngology
Associate Residency Program Director
 

Arnold Lee, MD
Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
 

Jonathan Sillman, MD
Otology-Neurotology
 

Mark Vecchiotti, MD
Pediatric Otolaryngology
 

Richard Wein, MD
Head & Neck Surgery
 

Tiffiny Hron, MD
Laryngology
 

Alexander Marston, MD
Pediatric Otolaryngology, Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
 

Jeremiah Tracy, MD
Head & Neck Surgery

• Eelam Adil, MD
• Jennifer Brooks, MD
• Jacob Brodsky, MD
• Sukgi Choi, MD
• Michael Cunningham, MD
• Anne Hseu, MD
• Margaret A. Kenna, MD
• Gi-Soo Lee, MD
• Greg Licameli, MD
• Roger Nuss, MD
• Laurie Ohlms, MD
• Dennis Poe, MD
• Reza Rahbar, MD
• Karen Watters, MD
• Kenneth Whittemore, MD

• Seema Byahatti, MD
• Walid Dagher, MD
• Jagdish Dhingra, MD
• Douglas O'Brien, MD
• Pratik Pradhan, MD
• Russell Shu, MD
• Ameer Shah, MD
• Kimberly Russell, MD

• Andrew Burchard, MD
• Thomas DellaTorre, MD
• Brian Duff, MD
• Martin Elson, DMD
• Sharon Gibson, MD
• Frederick Godley, MD
• Ritu Goel, MD
• Jan Groblewski, MD
• Robert McRae, MD
• Martin Papazian, MD
• Robert Risica, MD
• Charles Ruhl, MD
• John Tarro, MD
• Douglas Emery, MD
• David Bick, MD
• Zachary Quay-de la Vallee, MD