Residency Program

• Structure & objectives
• Faculty
• Hospitals & clinics
• Resident schedule
• Resident education
• Research
• Meetings & travel
• Appplications & interviews

Structure & Objectives

The residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio combines a vigorous and growing faculty, broad clinical experience and an intensive academic program. Upon successful completion of the program, the physician will have a contemporary knowledge of the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of disorders of the ear and temporal bone, speech and hearing, diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses, head and neck cancer, maxillofacial trauma, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, general otolaryngology, laryngeal microsurgery and framework phonosurgery, bronchoesophagology, pediatric otolaryngology, otolaryngic allergy, and endoscopic sinus surgery.

The active education program includes several hours of required instructional courses and seminars each week. The program totals five years (including internship) and is divided into roughly one year of general surgery and four years of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The resident is expected to master the fundamental knowledge and surgical techniques, render superior care and consideration to patients, and participate in the teaching programs of the Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, UTHSCSA.

 
Faculty

Randal A. Otto, M.D., F.A.C.S., Professor and Chairman, Thomas Walthall Folbre, M.D. Endowed Chair in Otolaryngology

Frank R. Miller, M.D., F.A.C.S., Associate Professor, Chief of Otolaryngology
Director Head and Neck Surgery UTHSCSA
Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System - Audie Murphy Division

C. Blake Simpson, M.D., Associate Professor, Deputy Chairman

G. Richard Holt, M.D., M.S.E., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Professor, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Residency Program Director

John W. Youngblood, M.D., Clinical Professor

Mohan Natarajan, Ph.D., Director of Research

Ande Bao, Ph.D., Head-Neck Cancer Research

Nevin Rupp, M.D., Clinical Professor

Ruth Skellett, Ph.D., Director of Audiology

Clinical Faculty: There are more than 45 clinical faculty members in the community who participate in teaching activities of The Health Science Center and the Clinical Faculty Rotation.

Clinical Faculty / Private Practice
    Gilbert Ruiz, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor
    Patrick Brown, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor
    Diane Henderson, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor
    Michael Bertino, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor
    Daniel Fleming, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor

Ear Medical Group
    Charles A. Syms, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor
    Susan Marenda, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor
    Brian Perry, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor

 
Hospitals & Clinics

The University Hospital - South Texas Medical Center of the University Health System - Bexar County, Texas, is the main teaching facility for The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. It is a 560-bed hospital which serves a large urban population and also has facilities for private patients. The busy clinic averages 6,173 patients visits a year. In addition, the full time faculty see pediatric otolaryngology patients at Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital.

The South Texas Veterans Health Care System - Audie Murphy Division (formerly Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans' Hospital) is located immediately across the street from University Hospital. The Otolaryngology Service has its own 20-bed ward. The busy clinic averages 4,100 patient visits per year.

Other affiliated hospitals used for the resident Clinical Faculty Rotation include Baptist Memorial Hospital System (including St. Luke's Baptist Hospital), Methodist Healthcare System (including San Antonio Regional Hospital, Women's and Children's Hospital, and South Texas Ambulatory Surgery Hospital), Santa Rosa Health Care System, and San Antonio Surgery Center.

 
Resident Schedule

R-I: Surgical Internship (PG I)

The candidate is required to take the surgical internship in the Department of Surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. This year is specifically designed for the Otolaryngology resident with rotations in Oral Surgery, Trauma, Otolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery, Neurosurgery, Plastic, Anesthesia.

R-II: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (PG II)

The R-II year is spent primarily on the University Hospital Otolaryngology service with one month spent on the private pediatric otolaryngology service. The resident also spends several days a week working with the faculty in the private clinic (University). At the beginning of the PGY-II year, the residents take an introductory course which includes clinical and basic science lectures, an introduction to audiology, and cadaver dissections (to learn the surgical anatomy of the head and neck).

R-III:Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (PG III)

The third postgraduate year is spent at the University Hospital and South Texas Veterans Health Care System - Audie Murphy Division. The primary goals of this year are to achieve diagnostic skill, competence in preoperative and postoperative patient management and improve operative skills.

R-IV:Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (PG IV)

This year is divided between the South Texas Veterans¹ Health Care System - Audie Murphy Division and the Clinical Faculty Rotation. The resident performs a wide variety of surgical procedures and gains additional experience in office diagnosis and treatment. Included in the private practice rotation is a 2-month full-time otology/neuro-otology experience with the Ear medical Group. During the six month VA rotation, residents will have 2-3 days per week to complete their research project.

R-V: Chief Resident:Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (PG V)

The Chief Residents divide their time equally between the University and Veterans' Hospitals where they are directly responsible for the clinical activity and administration of the service and perform advanced surgical procedures.

 
Resident Education

The Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Faculty, in conjunction with faculty members from other departments, provides several hours of formal teaching each week. Attendance and active participation in these conferences by all residents is mandatory.

Temporal Bone Laboratory
Communicative Disorders Conference
Faculty Rounds
Grand Rounds *
Case Presentation Rounds *
Journal Club
Combined Modality Head and Neck Tumor Board
Quality Assurance Conference
Introduction to Audiology
Introduction to Research Methods
PG-II Introduction to Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Course*
Pathology Conference
Research Conference
Core Competency Training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Seminars in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

* In conjunction with Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center Otolaryngology training programs.

 
Research

Facilities are available for individual laboratory research in auditory anatomy and physiology,head and neck oncology, molecular biology of head-neck cancer, laryngeal anatomy and physiology, facial nerve neurophysiology, otitis media and middle ear pathophysiology, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. The large clinical population permits extensive clinical research.

A research methods course is required for all residents. Each resident shall have the experience of completing a project of sufficient quality that it may be presented at a national meeting.

 
Meetings & Travel

The Department will provide funds for meetings where the resident presents an original clinical or laboratory research paper. In addition, Otolaryngology Departments at our sister institutions within The University of Texas System sponsor additional courses annually for which travel and registration may be provided, including bronchoesophagology and Temporal Bone Anatomy courses.

 
Applications & Interviews

Two applicants are accepted for graduate training each year. Applications must be submitted through the ERAS/NRMP. Selected applicants of high standing and achievement will be invited for a personal interview. A copy of the application will automatically be sent to the General Surgery Program Director for inclusion in the National Resident Matching Program. Further information may be obtained from:

Sylvia M. Vargas, Residency Training Coordinator
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7777
San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900

(210) 567-5669
Email: vargass@uthscsa.edu