The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) establishes the program requirements for residency education in otolaryngology. Among other things, these requirements specify that "there must be a structured educational experience in basic science." The Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has developed the Otolaryngology Lecture Series (OLS) to help meet these requirements. The lecture content has been based upon the Scope of Knowledge Report developed by the American Board of Otolaryngology. This report provides the framework for developing questions for the Otolaryngology Training Exam (OTE or in-service exam) and Certifying Exam. The goal of this lecture series is to provide basic science instruction in anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, embryology, immunology, molecular genetics, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, and other basic sciences related to the head and neck. Supplemented by further educational experiences throughout the course of the residency program, these lectures will contribute to a comprehensive resident education in otolaryngology.
The Lecture Series
The OLS consists of a series of 60-minute lectures given once per week throughout the academic year (appx. September through May). The entire lecture series repeats every two years. Each otolaryngology resident has the opportunity to hear each lecture at least twice during the residency. Currently, there are approximately 70 lectures scheduled over a two-year period (35 lectures/year) divided into eight blocks (four blocks per year). The eight blocks and the number of lectures in each are as follows:
The lectures are given by members of the UCSD Medical Center faculty both within and outside the Division, community otolaryngologists, and professionals from related disciplines (e.g., audiologists, speech pathologists, and oral surgeons).
Each block of lectures has a member of the Division faculty assigned as the block coordinator. It is the responsibility of the block coordinator to ensure that an appropriate lecturer has agreed to give each of the lectures within the block. The two research residents (usually PGY-3) assist the block coordinators in contacting and scheduling the lecturers.
Resident attendance
Resident attendance is required and recorded. The weekly lectures are held at a time that does not conflict with scheduled clinics or operative time. Residents rotating at sites away from the VA campus are excused from clinical duty, with ample time to travel to the lecture. Currently, the lectures are scheduled on Friday mornings, during which there is a minimum of 2 hours devoted to resident education each week.
Integration
As outlined above, the OLS rounds out the didactic and practical educational experiences that are part of the residency program. These experiences include interdisciplinary head and neck tumor board (weekly), grand rounds (semi-monthly), neurotology conference (monthly), chairman's conference (monthly), journal club (monthly), head and neck anatomy including cadaveric dissection (PGY-2), and temporal bone course (every other year).