First Clinical Year [PGY-1]internship
The intern training program offers a broad surgical experience for the incoming trainee. The primary objective of this year of training is for the new physician to solidify his or her medical and surgical skills so that expertise is acquired in the management of critically ill patients. Rotations may include head and neck surgery, emergency room, burn-trauma service, general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedics, urology, neurosurgery, and plastic surgery. Experiences are obtained both at the UCSD Medical Centers in Hillcrest and La Jolla, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego.
The PGY-1 manages inpatients both on the ward and in ICUs, assists in operating room procedures, and provides history and physical examinations.
Second Clinical Year [PGY-2]junior year
First-year residents are based at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest (6 months), the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in La Jolla (4 months), and Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego (2 months). During this year the resident is expected to become facile with the thorough examination of the head and neck and begin to become accomplished at instituting medical and surgical management of related disease. Continuous faculty and senior resident presence is maintained on these services to provide the first year resident an optimal blend of clinical responsibility and intensive supervision.
At the start of the first year of residency, an intensive faculty-resident orientation is arranged so that a strong practical foundation is achieved from the outset. This enables the resident to grasp important concepts in the management of different otologic and head and neck disorders.
Also during November and December of the first year, the resident is excused from clinical duties in order that he or she may participate in the head and neck anatomy course taught in the medical school. Cadavers are provided for dissection, so that the regional anatomy can be mastered.
The PGY-2 residents spend approximately half of their time in clinic and half time in the operating room. In clinic they see patients under the supervision of senior residents and faculty. In the operating room, they perform T & As, septoplasties, endoscopic sinus surgeries, MOHs resections and local flap repairs, submandibular gland resections, facial fracture repairs, panendoscopies, and assist in major operative cases.
The rotation at Children's Hospital focuses on medical and surgical management of pediatric head and neck problems, with emphasis on airway management.
Research Year [PGY-3/3,4]
Up to two residents each year rotate out of the clinical track and participate in an NIH-funded research year. In addition to the 6-year residency track which offers one year of research, the program also offers a 7-year track which includes two years of research. A resident may select from a diverse list of clinical or basic science research projects within the division as well as from our many collaborative arrangements within UCSD, at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, or the Salk Institute. A research committee assists residents in the formulation of a scientifically sound question and plan. The committee meets periodically with them to discuss their progress. This year enables residents to develop investigative skills and pursue course work offered at the university in research methodology and the appropriate basic sciences. This experience helps prepare our residents to become discerning and capable clinician-investigators.
As part of this experience, residents learn the art of writing competitive grant applications and submitting their work for funding to national, peer-reviewed organizations. Recent multiple applications have resulted in awards from the American Academy of Otolaryngology (Norwich-Eaton Award, ARTA), the American Otological Society, the American Laryngological Society, and the Deafness Research Foundation. This experience has provided valuable funds for continuing residents' research projects over several years, as well as providing them with an insight for developing a successful research program and future academic career.
Third Clinical Year [PGY-3/4/5]intermediate year
Upon successful completion of the first year of residency and the research year(s), the second clinical year of otolaryngology offers an opportunity for increased operative experiences. The resident rotates through the services at UCSD Medical Center-Hillcrest (6 months), UCSD Medical Center-La Jolla (3 months), and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego (3 months). Working closely with the faculty and chief resident both in the clinic and in the operating room, this year focuses on solidifying previous operative skills and increasing operative experiences in otology, head and neck oncology, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Fourth Clinical Year [PGY-4/5/6]senior year
The senior resident year is traditionally viewed as the resident's favorite. The resident is usually quite capable of functioning independently at this level and is provided ample opportunity to exercise his or her clinical skills. There are 3 rotations: the UCSD Medical Center-La Jolla (3 months), Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Diego (6 months), and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego (3 months). While at UCSD, the senior resident spends the majority of his/her time with Dr. Harris, focusing on otology and skull base disorders. During the Kaiser rotation, the resident maintains a busy clinic and operates with the full-time staff surgeons, the majority of whom hold clinical appointments at UCSD. During this year, the resident traditionally goes through a maturing process which enables him or her to take on the added responsibility of the chief resident's year.
Fifth Clinical Year [PGY-5/6/7]chief year
There are two chief residents, each of whom spend six months on service at the UCSD Medical Center and six months at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The chief resident has administrative responsibility for coordinating a team delivering sophisticated specialty care. With the assistance of the faculty members, the chief resident makes all day-to-day management and goal-directed decisions for the service.
Specific responsibilities include resident supervision, medical student education, outpatient clinic coverage, and the scheduling of surgery. This year is a richly rewarding one for the residents as they gain a new perspective on healthcare delivery and see within themselves a breadth of surgical expertise emerging. As the chief emissary of the division, the chief resident interacts with all other divisions and departments in the hospital and develops those interpersonal skills which will be required in his or her future practice of medicine. In the surgical theater, the chief resident is expected to be able to perform independently but with guidance from the faculty who are in attendance. By successful completion of the chief resident year, the resident is eligible to take the Board examination in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and is well trained in all aspects of our specialty: head and neck, otology, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. Graduates of the UCSD head and neck surgery residency training program have successfully obtained board certification and are well suited for careers in academic medicine as well as private practice.
Graduates of UCSD Division of Otolaryngology
In the history of our residency program, each and every graduate has passed the American Board of Otolaryngology exam on his/her first try. In addition, as a program we have scored very highly on the Annual In-Service Examination of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Approximately 50 percent of our graduates have chosen to go into careers in academic medicine. Those graduates who desire advanced fellowship training have been extraordinarily successful in securing positions in the most competitive programs throughout the country, including these:
Our graduates are highly sought, and can compete at the highest level for subsequent academic and private practice positions.
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