Professional Training Programs

Teaching Conferences and Courses

All residents in the program attend the following joint conferences or courses. In addition, they participate in the individual academic programs at each campus (eg. Grand Rounds, Morbidity and Mortality, etc.). They also participate in specialized clinical conferences at each site.

1. Four endowed lectures, which are held annually as part of the program. The Max Som Memorial Lectureship at Montefiore Medical Center; The Morris Bender lecture (otology) and the Jack Abramson lecture (general otolaryngology) are held at LIJMC. At Beth Israel Medical Center the Moses Nussbaum Distinguished Lectureship was inaugurated dedicated to topics in Head and Neck Surgery. Each lecture is followed by a reception, which serves in bringing the residents and the visiting lecturer together on a social basis as well.
2. The AECOM Department of ORL-HNS Basic Science Course: This weekly course is a modular review of translational and clinical topics within ORL/HNS and presents on a two year cycle. The modules include the following: Otology, Head and Neck, Pediatrics, Facial Plastic Surgery, General (Rhinology, Laryngology, Systemic Diseases, etc.) Lecturers are chosen from the faculties of the various otolaryngology and basic science departments in the New York metropolitan area. Attendance of all ORL/HNS residents is mandatory, official attendance records are maintained. The course covers the basis for clinical aspects of diagnosis and medical and/or surgical therapy for diseases and disorders related to otolaryngology. It also provides strong background in the basic sciences related to otolaryngology. This includes knowledge of audiology, speech pathology, audiologic and speech rehabilitation, chemical senses, allergy, immunology, endocrinology, neurology, temporal bone anatomy, pathology, oncology, and radiology. Lectures on related surgical areas (ophthalmology, anesthesia, oral medicine etc.) ethics, grant preparation and statistics are also given.
3. Temporal Bone and Sinus anatomy dissection courses: The OTO years 1-3 residents take the progressive temporal bone course offered at MMC under the direction of Dr.Elizabeth Dinces with the participation of AECOM faculty and provides intensive experience in dissection. The residents can reinforce this exposure by utilizing the newly reconstructed laboratories at LIJMC and MMC electively. We have acquired the endoscopic sinus surgery simulator for training, which will be used by all residents. A federally funded study to assess the efficacy of this device as a teaching tool has begun; with Dr. Fried being the principal investigator.
4. Allergy: The second year resident attends the one-week course given by the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. Supplemented by lectures given in the Basic Science course and Grand Rounds, and experience in the clinics, the residents are well trained in otolaryngic allergy.
5. Otolaryngology Society meetings: All residents have the opportunity to attend the local society meetings. These meet throughout the year in Manhattan and on Long Island. In addition, the senior residents have the opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the Eastern Section of the Triologic Society and the Chief residents attend the national meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
6. Program-wide Journal Club: This occurs on a monthly basis with the site alternating between campuses. All residents are required to attend except for those on call. Classic as well as recent journal articles are reviewed critically for its content, methodology as well as its ability to transmit information to the reader.
7. Weekly Departmental Grand Rounds: All residents from each site are required to attend these sessions on a weekly basis. These lectures are given at MMC early in the morning so that they will not interfere with the normal clinical schedule at each site. This allows the program director to have regular interaction with all the residents.
8. Mortality and Morbidity conferences: These are held at each site to enable evaluation of performance and outcomes.
9. Business of Medicine Course: This is an innovational program developed in conjunction with the Harvard Business School to teach senior residents the basics of the business of medicine. Senior faculty members having a background in otolaryngology, hospital finance, and administration as well as faculty members from the Harvard Business School are teaching the course. It is our hope that this program will be used as a template for residents in other fields of medicine. The course will be given every other year to allow all senior residents exposure to this important material.
10. Textbook review: As part of our curriculum, there is a review session directed by the Chief Residents on a weekly basis. During these sessions at MMC, a textbook chapter from a comprehensive Otolaryngology text is reviewed and discussed by the residents. These sessions occur prior to Grand rounds and this ensures that all residents except those on call can attend. Faculty members are available to answer any questions and to add any clinical pearls.
11. Monthly interdisciplinary sleep/ORL conference. A junior ORL resident presents a case or topic for discussion amongst various sleep faculty (ORL, neurology, pulmonology, pediatric pediatrics, behavioral sleep medicine). 
12. Annual Junior Resident Soft Tissue Course. Four hours of didactic and hands on experience on basics of suturing and handling soft tissues.