About the Program

Centered at the VCU Medical Center (VCUMC) in downtown Richmond, this five-year training program accepts three residents each year through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The hospital is home to the busiest Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center in Virginia, more than 40 operating rooms and more than 100,000 emergency visits per year.

Each resident spends 12 months training at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), located less than 10 miles south of the city. HHMMC has more than 400 acute care beds, and is a tertiary care referral center for oncology, open-heart surgery, spinal cord injury and heart, lung, and liver transplantation for the Mid-Atlantic region. Our faculty and residents run a fully equipped outpatient clinic and state-of-the-art operating rooms for both inpatient and outpatient surgery.

Curriculum and Rotations

The department consists of two services: VCUMC and HHMMC. Two residents (one junior and one senior) are always scheduled to cover HHMC, while the remaining trainees cover the VCUMC service. During the last eight months of each academic year, one resident is assigned to protected research time.

PGY-1

• Rotations
• Ear, nose and throat: 6 months
• Trauma, plastic surgery, STICU, anesthesia, OMFS, radiation oncology: 6 months

Otolaryngology/head and neck surgery residents  spend their first year at VCU gaining exposure to concepts and techniques of medical and surgical disciplines complimentary to otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, training in the pre- and post-operative care of the surgical patient ranging from elective to critically ill and developing fundamental surgical techniques, skills and judgment.

PGY-2

• Rotations
• VCU Medical Center: 10 months
• Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center: 1 month
• Research: 1 month

PGY-2 residents are primarily responsible for the daily care of service inpatients and emergency room consults, including the initial evaluation of head and neck trauma patients and closure of facial lacerations when the service covers facial trauma call (every third week).

Basic operative procedures covered during PGY-2 include:

• Myringotomy and tube placement
• Tonsillectomy
• Adenoidectomy
• Excision of simple head and neck masses
• Repair of complex traumatic lacerations
• Tracheotomy
• Endoscopy
• Turbinate reduction
• Septoplasty
• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

PGY-3

• Rotations
• VA Medical Center: 6 months
• Research: 3 months
• VCU Medical Center: 3 months

During PGY-3, residents cover the outpatient clinic when not operating. More advanced procedures during this year include:

• Endoscopic sinus surgery
• Excision of neck masses
• Incision and drainage of deep neck abscesses
• Local and regional flap reconstruction of head and neck defects
• Facial fracture repair
• Laser surgery of the upper aerodigestive tract
• Myringoplasty

PGY-4

• Rotations
• VA Medical Center: 4 months
• VCU Medical Center: 6 months
• Community/VCU Medical Center: 2 months

During the second half of the year, PGY-4 residents will perform more intricate procedures, including:

• Tympanoplasty and tympanomastoidectomy
• Parotidectomy
• Laryngectomy
• Neck dissection
• Regional and myocutaneous flap repair of complex head and neck defects
• Repair of complex facial fractures
• Rhinoplasty
• Blepharoplasty
• Rhytidectomy
• Evaluation and repair of the pediatric airway
• Choanal atresia repair
• Advanced endoscopic sinus surgery

PGY-5

• Rotations
• VCU Medical Center otology/pediatrics service chief: 6 months
• VCU Medical Center head and neck service chief: 6 months

As chiefs, PGY-5 residents assume full responsibility for the service at these institutions. They run daily rounds and, in consultation with the attending physicians, is responsible for all decisions in patient management, surgical or medical. Residents will complete their fifth year capable of performing all procedures within the realm of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery.

Students are welcome to participate in a visiting active internship (AI). For those applicants interested in a visiting AI, please reach out to Pam Calhoun to facilitate the application process.

The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery offers a 12-month research fellowship to recent MD graduates. The goal for this fellowship program is to help the Fellow develop knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of research including the basics of research design and data analysis (biostatistics). Additionally, through this experience, the Fellow will learn more about an academic career in Otolaryngology.

Conferences and Courses

The department hosts weekly and annual conferences to provide additional training for residents with a broad background in the basic and clinical sciences relevant to otolaryngology/head and neck surgery.

Residency Leave Policy

Department of Otolaryngology Eductional Goals and Objectives

Otolaryngology Department Resident Wellness

Otolaryngology Policy Supervision 2021

Policies and Procedures for the Assesment of Performance of Residents

Resident Duty Hour Policy

Resident Moonlighting policy

Travel Policy

Current Residents