Thomas Jefferson University University Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 925 Chestnut Street 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA  19107 (215) 955-6784 David M. Cognetti, MD – Fellowship Director (215) 760-4590 Adam J. Luginbuhl, MD – Fellowship Co-Director (215) 240-0748 Mary Beier – Coordinator (215) 955-6056 Program Website

Number of Fellowships: 1 Duration (in years) / Type: 1 year / 1 yr Clinical Department Chair: David M. Cognetti, MD Faculty:  David Cognetti, MD Adam Luginbuhl, MD Joseph Curry, MD Richard Goldman, MD Elizabeth Cottrill, MD Christopher Fundakowski, MD

 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Overview: Fellow will participate in comprehensive, specialized care for patients with benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck. Our department offers a high volume of TORS, microvascular free flap reconstruction, endoscopic skull base surgery and minimally invasive thyroid and parathyroid surgery. In addition to the clinical responsibilities, fellow will be responsible for teaching of residents and medical students and will be provided the title of Clinical Instructor as a member of the faculty of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Objectives: The operative experience consists of three days per week. The fellow would be expected to obtain a rounded experience with at least some experience in ablative upper aerodigestive malignancy, endocrine and salivary gland surgery, as well as to obtain open, endoscopic and robotic experience. The department has robotic block time and performs TORS on a weekly basis. The fellowship offers a microvascular reconstructive option. Our current pace is 85-100 free flaps per year. Such cases are performed on 2 days per week regularly. The fellow will participate in any and all cases in which they are available and desire to participate, with their role being primary surgeon and teaching surgeon under the guidance of the attending. All fellows will get microvascular training. Recent fellows have finished with > 60 TORS and > 80 free flaps.

Strengths: The Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery and Microvascular Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University consists of one year of progressive clinical training in all aspects of head and neck surgery and reconstructive surgery. This includes head and neck cancer, endocrine surgery, robotic and laser surgery, salivary gland surgery and microvascular reconstruction. The training is carried out under the supervision of the faculty of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Fellows successfully completing the TJUH curriculum demonstrate a broad fund of knowledge in the specialty. Moreover, they effectively apply and communicate concepts learned through independent scholarship and formal didactic education. The faculty is singularly dedicated to the curriculum: resident attendance at Wednesday morning conferences is mandatory—no conflicting clinical responsibilities are scheduled.
Fellows learn how to apply and convey their knowledge through Grand Rounds, Head & Tumor Conference, Thyroid & Parathyroid Conference, and Morbidity & Mortality Conference.

In all of these sessions, fellows must effectively communicate their understanding of a clinical scenario and demonstrate their ability to successfully manage its outcome. In the above conferences and especially in Journal Club, residents learn to read and listen critically. In so doing, they hone their clinical judgment and prepare themselves for a lifetime of self-education after the completion of their formal fellowship training.

The department encourages personal scholarship and scientific inquiry by dedicating substantial departmental resources to the fellowship program. For example, facilities are available year round for fellows to perform anatomic dissections on their own time. Residents and fellows can regularly attend state and national meetings with full departmental support.

Eligibility: To be considered for the position, the candidate for the head and neck fellowship must have completed an ACGME accredited residency in Otolaryngology and must be qualified to sit for the ABO written and oral exams. The candidate must be able to secure a Pennsylvania Medical License.

Fellows’ Duties/Responsibilities:

Operative:
The operative experience consists of three days per week. The fellow would be expected to obtain a rounded experience with at least some experience in ablative upper aerodigestive malignancy, endocrine and salivary gland surgery, as well as to obtain open, endoscopic and robotic experience. The department has robotic block time and performs TORS on a weekly basis. The fellowship offers a microvascular reconstructive option. Our current pace is 85-100 free flaps per year. Such cases are performed on 2 days per week regularly. The fellow will participate in any and all cases in which they are available and desire to participate, with their role being primary surgeon and teaching surgeon under the guidance of the attending. All fellows will get microvascular training. Recent fellows have finished with > 60 TORS and > 80 free flaps.

Office hours:
The fellow is expected to attend office hours for one day weekly with one of the head and neck faculty. This will include full interview and examination of all new patients, and participation in their care on the level of an attending. They will subsequently follow such patients clinically and operatively throughout their course.

Inpatient responsibility:
No explicit inpatient duty is assigned to the fellow i.e. such as rounding at resident level, writing notes etc. They are encouraged to round regularly on patients on whom they have operated. Clinical Instructor privileges would allow for the fellow to perform relevant inpatient consultations.

Research Opportunities: It is expected that the fellow produce at least one relevant project for presentation at a meeting and publication during the fellowship. Attendance is financially supported to any meeting at which a departmental project is accepted. Assistance through our departmental research coordinator will be available for establishing the necessary IRB or other paperwork prior to the fellow’s arrival, should they wish to initiate a new project; however, numerous clinical and translational projects are currently in progress. Should the fellow choose to join an existing project the expectations of producing one paper during the year remains. Currently all of the residents in our program are expected to participate in our yearly resident research symposium and competition. The fellow would participate as well.

Supervision, Teaching & Call:

Supervision: Our high clinical volume and large residency program facilitate an appropriate balance of fellow autonomy and fellow oversight, which are both important to the optimal development of surgical skills.

Teaching:
The Fellow is expected to participate in teaching of the residents, medical students, as well as the staff. The fellow is to present grand rounds once during the year. Additionally, regular teaching is expected on rounds and in the operating room on a daily basis in an informal format. Formal resident and student teaching responsibility includes providing at least a total of three hours of lecture time during the course of the year during resident education hours. This may be in any format that the fellow chooses so long as it consists of educations of material relevant to the fellowship.
Call Responsibility:
Clinical instructor privileges would allow for the fellow to perform attending level call for approximately four weeks in the 12 month period.

PAST FELLOWS

Richard Goldman, MD
Brian Boyce, MD
Jeffrey Hotaling, MD
John Gleysteen, MD
Larissa Sweeny, MD
Dylan Roden, MD
Anne Kane, MD
Yamil Selman,MD
Ameya Jategaonkar, MD (current fellow)
Nayel Khan, MD ( to start July 1, 2022)