PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Overview: The Penn State Head and Neck Fellowship program provides advanced clinical training in head and neck oncology, transoral robotic surgery,  microvascular free flap and pedicled reconstruction and advanced skull base surgery. The Penn State Head and Neck Surgery Fellow will have exposure to a very large volume head and neck endocrine practice and will benefit from teaching using the best principles and methods from both otolaryngology and endocrine  surgery. The unique strength of the cutting edge and high volume head and neck  surgery program at Penn State is the true collaborative nature of surgical services (Otolaryngology, endocrine surgery, neurosurgery, oculoplastics, etc.) which creates an atmosphere for teaching and providing excellent patient care. This combination will allow the development of future academic leaders in head and neck surgery.

Objectives: The fellow will oversee the care of all head and neck cancer, skull base, thyroid and parathyroid patients being treated at the Penn State Hershey Medical center. The fellow will act as a junior attending surgeon and will assist with the teaching of residents in ablative head and neck surgical and head and neck endocrine procedures. He/she will receive training in  trans oral robotic surgery (using the Flex and da Vinci platforms) and training in free flap and pedicled reconstruction as well as skull base surgery. The fellow is expected to participate in head and neck tumor board, thyroid cancer tumor board, outpatient  clinic, resident teaching rounds, and specialty tumor board conferences. The fellow will also have dedicated rotations with exposure to in-office ultrasound, neuroradiology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology.

Strengths: The Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the Penn State  serves as the  primary referral center and sole academic center for advanced head and neck cancer care in central Pennsylvania with a catchment area of over 4 million patients. The high clinical volume provides the fellow with extensive experience in the management of these patients.  Unique aspects include: 1. Vast breadth of pathology, including very high volume endocrine surgery cases, in addition to multidisciplinary head and neck oncology cases in a premiere academic medical center. 2. Advanced TORS training and experience using the both the Flex and da Vinci surgical robotic systems. 3.  Collegial atmosphere and faculty committed to training future leaders in academic medicine.

Eligibility: A candidate must be Board Certified or Board Eligible in Otolaryngology, General surgery or Plastic surgery. A Pennsylvania  state medical license is required before the start of fellowship. All interested US and Canadian fellowship applicants are required to be registered with the Match Program of the Advanced Training Council for Approval of Training in Head and Neck Oncology Surgery (sponsored by The American Head and Neck Society). Those applicants who are not eligible for the Match Program are required to undergo the same application process by filling out the AHNS application with references and sending them directly to the Head and Neck Institute (c/o Dr. Goldenberg).

Fellows’ Duties/Responsibilities: The fellow will oversee the care of head and neck cancer, skull base, thyroid and parathyroid patients being treated at the Penn State Hershey Medical center. The fellow will act as a junior attending surgeon and will assist with the teaching of residents in ablative head and neck surgical and head and neck endocrine procedures. The fellow is expected to participate in head and neck tumor board, thyroid cancer tumor board, outpatient  clinic, resident teaching rounds, and specialty tumor board conferences.

Research Opportunities:  All fellows are expected to participate in mentored clinical research projects; fellows will be expected to present and publish throughout the year. Resources for clinical research include a research technician, staff to help submit and prepare grants and manuscripts, and in-house statistical support. Several national and institutional databases are accessible as well. Translational and basic science research opportunities are available for those who are interested.

Supervision, Teaching & Call:  The fellow will serve as an instructor and teaching surgeon for the  residents for basic head and neck and endocrine cases.  The fellow will be expected to round and provide oversight for care of hospitalized patients on the head and neck service along with the chief resident on a daily basis.  The fellow will see patients independently two half days a week. The fellow will take attending call.

PAST FELLOWS

Elizabeth Cottrill, MD- Jefferson University Physician