PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Overview: The fellowship offers the full spectrum of training in head and neck surgery, both ablative and reconstructive. Ablative procedures include major head and neck resections, transoral robotic surgery, open anterior skull base surgery, advanced endocrine surgery, and cutaneous oncology. Reconstructive surgery includes local and regional reconstructive techniques and microvascular reconstruction.  Separate tumor boards in head and neck, thyroid/parathyroid, skull base, and melanoma expose trainees to a number of focused multidisciplinary learning environments and mentored experiences in head and neck surgical oncology.  Additional experiences include sialoendoscopy, ultrasound training, facial nerve reanimation, and, in conjunction with the Rhinology division, endoscopic skull base surgery.  Fellows have the opportunity to train with Drs. Baik, Divi, Holsinger, Kaplan, Noel, Orloff, Rosenthal, Sirjani, and Sunwoo, each of whom have unique clinical interests and experience.  Each fellow will develop a clinical schedule based on their interests with the goal of creating a well-rounded training experience. According to their interest, fellows will also have the opportunity to participate in ablative and reconstructive cases at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System.

Objectives: The overall objective of the fellowship is to prepare recently trained otolaryngologists for a career in academic head and neck surgery. This is accomplished by providing outstanding clinical training (including both decision-making and technical expertise), encouraging teaching, and developing a scientific and investigative framework for a future of research.

Eligibility: Completion of training in an accredited residency program in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, General Surgery, or Plastic Surgery.

Research Opportunities:

The home of six Nobel Prize Laureates in Medicine, Chemistry and Biology, the Stanford University School of Medicine provides an unparalleled opportunity for research.  Dr. Sunwoo directs the research programs in NIH funded basic and translational research, focused on cancer stem cell biology and cancer immunology.  Dr. Baik’s research focuses on precision diagnostics to aid pre-operative decision making in radiomics. Dr. Rosenthal runs an R01-funded basic science lab and multiple clinical trials open for molecular imaging research.

Through a growing partnership with the Department of Health Research and Policy, the division is also home to health services research examining the cost and quality of head and neck cancer care.

Leveraging the strengths of the Stanford community, Dr. Sirjani is developing collaborative projects in innovative surgical simulation.  Professor Starmer coordinates research program around comprehensive functional and objectives measuring of speech and swallowing in all aspects of head and neck and endocrine surgery.

Dr. Holsinger leads a program in surgical innovation and prospective clinical trials research, focusing on robotics, surgical vision, and machine learning.  Quynh-Thu Le chairs the national head and neck cancer committee for the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group.  The division is actively engaged in several national clinical trials.  Fellows interested in clinical research will have the opportunity to take the Intensive Course in Clinical Research through The Stanford Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Education.

Supervision, Teaching & Call: Fellow will take attending call for the department approximately 3-4 weeks per year.

Past Fellows:

• Michael Topf – Current Fellow
• Andrew Birkeland, MD -Assistant Professor, Division of Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity of California Davis
• Steven Hong, MD – Attending Surgeon—Head and Neck Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
• Ryan Orosco, MD – Assistant Professor, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Diego
• Vinay Fernandes, MD – Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Ameet Grewal, MD – Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Central Coast Head and Neck Surgeons,  Monterey, CA
• Ryan Li, MD – Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland