PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Overview: The Head and Neck Oncology Fellowships at Johns Hopkins began in 1986. It received approval of the American Head and Neck Society in 1993. The objective of the Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Johns Hopkins is to promote and develop leaders in the field of Academic Head and Neck Oncology. Emphasis is on broad clinical training including all aspects of head and neck surgical oncology.

Objectives: The objective of the Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Johns Hopkins is to promote and develop leaders in the field of Academic Head and Neck Oncology. During the clinical year, fellows will participate in clinical and surgical care of patients within the faculty practices, but will also have an individual, mentored clinical surgical practice. Fellows completing the program will have finely honed skills in surgical diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the head and neck. Training will cover the entire gamut of head and neck surgery including endocrine, robotic, skull base, and minimally-invasive approaches.

Strengths: We offer one of the largest head and neck oncology teams in the country with a very busy clinical service. The fellow will develop increasing comfort in managing complex head and neck oncology patients within a multi-disciplinary framework. Dedicated clinical faculty provides mentorship to help develop skills and knowledge needed for an academic career. The academic milieu includes one of the finest Otolaryngology residency programs in the country, with excellence in every aspect of the field. The tumor biology research program of the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology is world renowned as a leader in clinical translational research pertaining to head and neck cancer. Trainees have been highly successful in launching clinical translational academic careers.

Eligibility: Board eligibility in Otolaryngology

Fellows’ Duties/Responsibilities:

• Clinical/ surgical rotations with faculty
• Attendance and participation in multidisciplinary patient care conference and clinic
• Independent fellow clinic
• Resident teaching
• Journal club
• Academic project

Research Opportunities:  Interested fellows may choose to do an additional year of research. We offer a rich environment of translational research bridging surgical oncology, molecular biology and immunooncology pertaining to head and neck cancer. The research training may serve as the basis to seek grant funding in order to facilitate the initiation of an academic career and is particularly attractive to those candidates seeking a career as a clinician-scientist. Fellows may set up an individualized research training experience in consultation with the fellowship director. Often fellows will perform research in molecular biology or immunology of head and neck cancer. Other studied areas have included bioinformatics, epidemiology and a variety of opportunities are available throughout Johns Hopkins University.

Supervision, Teaching & Call:  Fellows will participate in clinical and surgical care of patients within the faculty practices.  Fellows will have a faculty appointment at the Instructor level that includes a mentored experience focused on a transition to independence. In particular, fellows develop skills in clinical teaching within the context of our residency program. Additionally, fellows participate in journal club and resident teaching to develop teaching skills. As instructors, fellows participate in the faculty call schedule.

PAST FELLOWS
Richard Scher
Joseph Brennan
Shelly McQuone
Michael Spafford
David Huchton
Robert Ferris
John McClure Brockenbrough
David Goldenberg
Anthony Chuang
Edward M. Stafford
Melonie Nance
Kavita Malhotra Pattani
Carole Fakhry
Martin P. Curry
Geoffrey D. Young
Ryan H. Sobel
Mazin Merdad
Zhen Goui
Hamad Chaudhary
Andrew Day