PGY-1
Training begins with a general surgical internship with 6 one-month blocks in Critical Care/ICU, NET, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Trauma, General Surgery, and Anesthesia. Remaining 6 months of the PGY-1 year are spent on the Otolaryngology service. During that period, the intern will perform as a junior Otolaryngology resident with an emphasis on evaluating Otolaryngologic emergencies, learning to perform tracheotomies, and assisting in the operating room.
PGY-2
The PGY-2 year rotates 4 months on General Otolaryngology/Pediatric Otolaryngology, 2 months on Head and Neck Oncology/Facial Plastics/OMFS, and 4 months in Otology/Neurotology/Rhinology. The PGY-2 has 2 months off-service when he/she rotates with the Allergy and Sleep Medicine services. The PGY-2 resident is immediately immersed in both the operating room and clinic settings, working one-on-one with the respective attending physician(s). The schedule is designed to provide continuity of care, allowing the resident to participate in pre-operative and post-operative clinic encounters, as well as the surgical procedure and immediate peri-operative care. Together with the PGY-3, the PGY-2 resident shares day call for inpatient/ER consultations.
PGY-3
The PGY-3 year begins and ends with a 2-month block in Head and Neck Oncology/Facial Plastics/OMFS leading up to the fall months rotating with the Mohs Surgery and Plastic Surgery teams. The remainder of the year is spent as 2-month blocks in General Otolaryngology/Pediatric Otolaryngology, Otology/Neurotology/Rhinology, and Head and Neck Oncology/Facial Plastics/OMFS again. Additionally, the PGY-3 resident has a 2-month block of time dedicated to the ongoing development and implementation of his/her clinical or basic science research project. This is the first block of protected research time – an additional 2-month block of research time is scheduled in the PGY-4 year.
PGY-4
The PGY-4 year begins with a 2-month block on Otology/Neurotology/Rhinology followed by 2 months on Head and Neck Oncology/Facial Plastics/OMFS and then 2 months on Research. The fourth block is General Otolaryngology/Pediatric Otolaryngology and the year ends with 2-month blocks each on Head and Neck Oncology/Facial Plastics/OMFS and General Otolaryngology/Pediatric Otolaryngology.
PGY-5
The Chief Resident leads the house staff team and starts the first block as the overseer of all services. The PGY-5 year is divided into 2-month blocks on the major subspecialty services of General Otolaryngology/Pediatric Otolaryngology, Otology/Neurotology/Rhinology x2, and Head and Neck Oncology/Facial Plastics/OMFS. The final 2-month block is "Choice" and allows the Chief Resident the flexibility to participate in those surgical cases of particular interest. In addition, the Chief Resident runs his/her own continuity clinic 1 half-day per week, preparing him/her for efficient independent practice.
The PGY-2 through PGY-5 residents also participate in surgeries during their off service and research blocks at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction to expand and enhance their operative experience.
