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Education

The Department of Otolaryngology —Head and Neck Surgery at Iowa has been a world leader in education for many decades. 

The Department of Otolaryngology emphasizes a mission of providing quality teaching for the next generation of caregivers. Through our medical student program and residency and fellowship opportunities, trainees are exposed to a range of clinical specialties within the field. Our renowned faculty and staff aim to provide students with the ability to confidently diagnose and treat disorders and diseases of the head and neck.

Medical Student Training

Medical Student Education

The undergraduate medical education curriculum in otolaryngology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine consists of a selective clinical clerkship, which can be completed in the second, third, or fourth year of medical school.  Our department also provides medical students with a senior elective clerkship, as well as research electives.

 

Residency Program

The residency program at the University of Iowa follows a structured, progressive curriculum that focuses on consistency and continuity in patient care. Rotations are organized based on a team system, with residents rotating through each specialty area throughout the course of a year. This structure provides residents with the opportunity to follow the same patient from the initial clinical consultation, to surgery, and through the postoperative period.

The educational program includes weekly conferences like the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Clinical Conference, Head and Neck Multidisciplinary Tumor Board, Melanoma Tumor Board, Endocrine Conference and Grand Rounds. There are also conferences every Monday morning that are directed by the faculty and senior residents on a rotating basis. Monthly meetings include the Multidisciplinary Airway Conference, Pediatric Otolaryngology Conference, Otology Rounds, and Morbidity and Mortality Conference. The Temporal Bone course is a year-long course that consists of anatomic dissection labs as well as didactic tutorials. The Resident-Program Director Meeting is also held monthly. This an important venue as it provides our residents with an opportunity to be proactive in ensuring that our program maintains its position as one of the premier training opportunities in the United States. The department is also host of several international courses that involve our resident classes.

The department offers several courses and conferences throughout the year.  These offer learning opportunities for practicing physicians, dentists, residents, fellows, audiologists, PAs and other healthcare professionals.

The Department of Otolaryngology offers accredited fellowships in several areas of subspecialty for one or two years. One position is available per fellowship annually.

Fellowships offered are:

Head and Neck Fellowship

Through clinical work and research, the Head and Neck Fellowship teaches the appropriate reconstruction and rehabilitation techniques used in the management of patients with benign and malignant lesions involving the head and neck.

Learn more about the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Fellowship.  

Otology/Neurotology Fellowship

The goal of the Otology/Neurotology Fellowship is to develop a special expertise in the diagnosis and medical/surgical management of diseases and disorders relating to a number of disciplines within otology/neurotology.

Learn more about the Department of Otolaryngology Otology/Neurotology Fellowship

Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship

Participants in the Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship work to become competent subspecialists in the management of head and neck diseases and disorders in neonates, infants, and children through practical training and research.

Learn more about the Department of Otolaryngology Pediatric Fellowship