Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine – Head and Neck Endocrine Surgery Fellowship 601 N. Caroline St. Suite 6242 Baltimore, MD  21287 (410) 955-3628 Jon Russell, MD – Fellowship Director Donna Riley – Coordinator

Number of Fellowships: 1 Duration (in years) / Type: 1 year / Faculty: Jon O. Russell MD Vaninder Dhillon, MD Carole Fakhry, MD, MPH David Eisele MD, FACS Jason D. Prescott, MD, PhD Aarti Mathur, MD Program Website

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Overview: The Johns Hopkins Head and Neck Endocrine Surgery Division was formally established in 2011.  It was founded on the collaborative efforts of otolaryngology – head and neck surgeons, general surgery/endocrine surgeons, endocrinologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, head and neck radiologists, and pathologists. These entities helped form a collegial, integrated and productive multidisciplinary program. The Head and Neck Endocrine Surgery Fellowship was established in 2012. The program is designed to provide advanced training in all aspects of the management of thyroid and parathyroid disease. Through extensive clinical training and a strong emphasis on research and teaching, we aim to equip those fellowship candidates with the tools necessary to plan a successful academic career focusing on the comprehensive management of thyroid and parathyroid disease.

Objectives: The one-year fellowship is designed to provide a comprehensive training of head and neck endocrine surgical fellows in the surgical and medical management of thyroid and parathyroid disease. This is done by exposure to the practices of our endocrine focused surgeons and through interactions with collaborating specialties. In addition to developing proficiency in head and neck endocrine surgery, the fellow will also be integrated into the multidisciplinary team in an effort to emphasize the importance of this comprehensive and personalized approach to care. The program also offers extensive research opportunities which will support the development of those candidates planning an academic career.

Strengths: The program is composed of a team of world renowned specialists who have integrated their respective expertise into a multidisciplinary team. The main strengths of our fellowship program include: 1. the abundance of endocrine surgical volume encompassing the full spectrum of surgical procedures (including re-operative and remote access surgery with a focus on trans-oral vestibular approach), 2. the collegial, and collaborative environment established by all stakeholders and  3. the wide variety of clinical and translational research opportunities and 4.early and leading adopters in novel technologies like RFA and parathyroid autofluorescence. The fellow obtains surgical experience with both Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and General Surgery disciplines. The fellow is expected to attend/participate in the multidisciplinary thyroid tumor board, head and neck tumor board, research meetings, journal clubs, and the annual Johns Hopkins CME course on Thyroid and Parathyroid surgery, which is co-directed by the General Surgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery departments.

Eligibility:

1. BC/BE otolaryngologists or general surgeons trained in the United States or Canada.
2. Graduates of otolaryngology or general surgery residency programs outside the United States and Canada who have passed the USMLE and hold a certificate from the ECFMG.
3. A Maryland state medical license is required before the start of fellowship.

Fellows’ Duties/Responsibilities: Clinical – The Head and Neck Endocrine Surgery fellow will be appointed Instructor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. The fellow participates in all aspects of the management of patients with thyroid and parathyroid diseases.  The fellow evaluates, plans, and executes treatment plans for outpatient clinic patients under faculty supervision and for their own clinic patients. Exposure to ultrasound techniques occurs throughout the outpatient experience. The fellow will also participate in surgical cases that the faculty have and will attend to their own patients under faculty supervision/guidance.  At the end of training, the graduate is capable of making independent decisions in the management of all patients with thyroid and parathyroid diseases.

Research – The fellow is expected to take an active part in ongoing clinical and translational research projects. The fellow is encouraged to initiate and complete new projects. The fellow actively participates in a monthly thyroid and parathyroid research meeting and journal club. She/he is expected to produce at least one abstract for a national meeting and/or a manuscript during the year, but ample opportunity for more research is provided. Attendance and presentations at national meetings is encouraged and funding is available.

Research Opportunities:

• Trans-oral vestibular thyroid and parathyroid surgery improvements in process and technology
• RFA treatment of thyroid nodules and parathyroid adenomas
• Clinical outcomes and efficiencies
• Translational research regarding novel molecular markers for prognosis

Supervision, Teaching & Call:  The fellow will participate with the faculty in all decisions relative to the prescribed treatment. The fellow’s operative responsibility will be assigned commensurate with ability. The fellow is responsible for teaching residents and medical students during rounds, lectures and conferences, clinics, and in the operating room. The fellow is expected to assist residents during surgery and guide them as needed in operating room. The fellow will be in the call pool for attending faculty in the department.

PAST FELLOWS

Jon O. Russell MD

Vaninder Dhillon, MD