Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Fellowship 11100 Euclid Avenue, LKS 5045 Cleveland, OH  44106 (216) 844-8433   Nicole Fowler, MD – Fellowship Director Phone: (216) 844-5460 Karen Walsh – Coordinator Phone: (216) 844-8433 Program Website

Number of Fellowships: 1 Duration (in years) / Type: 1 year / Clinical Department Chair  Nicole Maronian MD, FACS Surgical Faculty Involved with the Fellowship: Rod Rezaee, MD Nicole Fowler, MD Theodoros N. Teknos, MD Madelyn Stevens, MD Pierre Lavertu, MD Jason Thuener, MD Cyrus Rabbani, MD Sai Gourishetti, MD Non-Surgical Faculty Involved with the Fellowship: Jay Wasman, MD, H & N Pathologist Gabe Smith, MD H & N Pathologist Charles Lanzeri, MD, Neuroradiologist Jennifer Dorth, MD, Radiation Oncology Matthew Mirsky, MD, Medical Oncology

 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The goal of this one-year fellowship is to provide comprehensive exposure to the multidisciplinary care of the head and neck cancer patient. University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center is a large tertiary referral base for head and neck oncology in the northeastern Ohio region. The fellow has the opportunity to work with faculty members who have trained at many well-known fellowships around the country. He or she will learn to perform as well as to supervise a wide spectrum of ablative procedures, and will have the chance to participate in 160-180 free tissue transfers. Below are some of the additional details of the fellowship.

A Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Fellowship. Areas of Concentration include:

1. Microvascular free tissue transfer
2. Complex endocrine and salivary surgery
3. Sentinel node mapping for head and neck melanoma
4. Minimally invasive head and neck surgery
5. Transoral laser and transoral robotic surgery
6. Endoscopic and open skull base surgery
7. Non-microvascular head and neck reconstruction (Two FPRS attending’s on fellowship faculty and no FPRS fellow)

Goals and Objectives:

1. The head and neck oncology and reconstructive fellowship is designed to provide otolaryngology clinicians with an opportunity to expand their knowledge and level of expertise in this field.
2. The fellow will be expected to develop and complete one clinical research project, which will result in a presentation and/or publication. This will be developed with the Ear, Nose and Throat Institute staff and the research mentor, and will be concluded by the end of training. It is anticipated that this will be developed in the
   form of a manuscript which can be submitted for publication, as well as presentation. The fellows may also be involved in projects such as book chapters, but the primary goal of involvement in the development of the manuscript is to hone the skills of investigation and research methodology, and this will be the primary initiative outside of the clinical and educational duties.
3. Plan and perform microvascular reconstruction on the appropriate patient to include flap harvest and flap in-setting using a wide variety of flaps including: fibula, anterolateral thigh, radial forearm, lateral arm, serratus, scapula, rectus, and latissimus flaps.
4. By the conclusion of fellowship, the fellow will understand the extent to which his/her medical system impacts and is impacted by the treatment of head and neck tumor patients, and the education and research surrounding head and neck patient care. This understanding includes the unique multimodality approach to the head and neck cancer patient, which crosses many disciplines and levels of providers, and the synergy gained by working as part of a team of care providers within a cohesive system.

Strengths:

1. Dedicated head and neck faculty with diverse training backgrounds and over 60 years of combined experience and AHNS involvement.
2. High volume endocrine, cutaneous cancer, complex head & neck malignancy program with >160 microvascular opportunities a year.
3. Independent fellow clinic with the ability to book and perform non-microvascular head and neck surgery as an attending
4. Opportunity for National and International teaching program involvement
5. Opportunity for involvement in complex trauma reconstructive cases. University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center is a Level 1 trauma center

Eligibility:

1. Successful completion of ACGME approved Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Training Program.
2. ABOto Board eligible or Board Certified.
3. Candidate must be able to secure an Ohio Medical License.
4. Salary is commensurate with PGY level.

Fellows’ Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Participate in tumor boards: weekly Friday @ 7 am (head and neck cancer) Optional: monthly skull base and weekly cutaneous oncology
2. Rounding: encourage rounding at least 1 weekend day per week
3. Grand rounds: at least 1 presentation to the department on topic of fellow’s choosing
4. Involvement in the inter-institutional tumor board (joint effort between the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals-Cleveland Medical Center)
5. The fellow has the opportunity (optional) to be involved with our international surgical outreach program that travels twice yearly to Kampala Uganda to perform complex head and neck surgeries and teach local physicians and residents.
6. Participate in Annual Head and Neck Microvascular Bootcamp

Research Opportunities:

We encourage the fellow to participate in at least two clinical research projects throughout the year (in conjunction with a resident and Case Western medical student). There are a myriad of opportunities to choose from.  The fellow has the ability to present any successfully submitted research projects at the AHNS spring meeting. This is fully supported by the department.

Involvement in the Case Head and Neck Research Collaborative

Clinical: Besides retrospective studies, the fellow can work with the clinical trial unit (team, CTU) to better understand the role head and neck surgeons play in institutional and national clinical trials and how to integrate this important aspect of research into their future practice.

Translational Head and Neck Research: Opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Quintin Pan, PhD of Case Western Reserve University

Supervision, Teaching & Call:

1. The fellow will have appropriate supervision by faculty for complex ablative and reconstructive cases, with progressive responsibility and independence as skills develop
2. The expectation is that the fellow will actively participate in junior resident teaching in the OR and clinics. He/she will have a supervisory/teaching role for appropriate cases.
3. The fellow will have his/her own clinic and operative experience (1/2 day a week clinic with head and neck and general Oto OR cases as generated from this clinic).
4. Call: 1 day a month and 1 in 13 weekend coverage (attending level call)

PAST FELLOWS

Jake Brady, MD (2024 – 2025) – Current Fellow from University of Washington
Nithin Peddireddy, MD (2023 – 2024) – Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeon, Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University
Lindsay Olinde, MD (2022-2023) – Assistant Professor, Oschner/LSU Health Department of Otolaryngology
Daniela Scarola, MD (2021-2022) – Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut Department of Otolaryngology
Syed Ali, MD (2020-2021) – Assistant Professor, Henry Ford Department of Otolaryngology
Jon Garneau, MD (2019-2020) – Assistant Professor, University of Virginia Department of Otolaryngology
Rohan Joshi, MD (2018-2019) – Assistant Professor, UTMB Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Jason E. Thuener, MD (2017-2018)- Assistant Professor, CWRU SOM, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cleveland, OH.
Akshay Patel DO: (2016-2017) – Assistant Professor University of Connecticut Otolaryngology-Hartford Hospital
Sami Melki MD: (2015-2016)-Assistant Professor Lebanese American University Rizk Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Evan Greenbaum MD: (2014-2015)-Assistant Professor, Feinberg SOM, Northwestern University, Department of Otolaryngology, Chicago, Ill.