Department of Otolaryngology

The Department of Otolaryngology has a strong commitment to medical student education and to exposing students to the field as early as possible during medical school. The following opportunities are available:

Introduction to Clinical Medicine:

During the second year the department presents a lecture and two-hour practical session on the history and physical examination in otolaryngology.

Career ExposureElective:

Students observe basic operative procedures and techniques of history and physical examination in otolaryngology. Students observe residents and attending physicians in the clinic setting and operating room. Students have the opportunity to attend departmental Grand Rounds at Long Island College Hospital, morbidity and mortality sessions, multidisciplinary tumor board conferences, and other conferences.

Elective in Third Year:

Third year students may take a 2 or 4 week elective in either general otolaryngology or pediatric otolaryngology. The experience includes participation in daily teaching rounds and work rounds with attendings and residents involved in inpatient care, participating in the operating room procedures, working in the ambulatory clinics, participating in all teaching conferences in including weekly grand rounds at Long Island College Hospital, weekly head-and-neck tumor journal club at Kings County Hospital Center and other conferences. Each student makes a 10-minute case discussion and literature review at the final grand rounds during the rotation. Guidance is provided in the preparation of this presentation.

Elective in the Fourth Year:

Fourth year students may also take a 2 or 4 week elective in general otolaryngology. The experiences are similar to those listed for the third year elective.

Elective Goals

While the above electives each have different schedules and levels of responsibility, the goals and objectives remain very similar. The successful student will hopefully begin to investigate and study the following by completion of his or her elective:

1. The specifics and nuances of the ENT History and Physical Examination.

2. Differential diagnosis formulation in patients with problems of the head and neck region.

3. Criteria for appropriate referral to an Otolaryngologist.

Basic understanding of the most commonly encountered problems of the head and neck region, including otitis media and otitis externa, sinusitis, adenotonsillar disease, head and neck cancer, upper airway obstruction, and hearing loss.

Otolaryngology Club:

The department is working with interested students on the creation of an Otolaryngology Club for students who would like to come in contact with the field as early as possible. Opportunities will be provided for students to shadow and attending for a brief period as well as to observe in clinics whenever possible. Further details will be posted.

Research Opportunities:

Students who would like to explore research opportunities, either during the summer or during the academic year, are encouraged to contact the departmental office for further information.

Reading:

The department has prepared a textbook, Essentials of Otolaryngology (edited by Frank E. Lucente, MD and Gady Har-El, MD) which is now in its fifth edition. This text is oriented toward medical students and primary care practitioners. In addition to the English edition, it has been published in Italian, Spanish and Turkish.

Career Advisors:

All senior faculty members have offered to serve as faculty advisors. Studentswho would like to explore the field and obtain more information are invited to contact Nicole Fraser, Educational Coordinator (718.270.1638) who can set up appointments with Nira Goldstein, MD (coordinator of medical student programs) and Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH (departmental chairman).