PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Overview: The University of Michigan’s Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction Fellowship is designed to provide intensive training in all facets of oncologic care of the head and neck cancer patient. Our goal is to train future leaders in the field of head and neck cancer care, clinical and translational research, and to provide the platform from which a successful academic career is launched. As the major center for head and neck surgery in Michigan, our multidisciplinary team treats numerous head and neck cancer patients each year, and our fellows are integral participants in caring for these patients. We perform well over 100 free tissue transplants yearly, harvesting from the full breadth of donor sites. Additionally, we have the largest melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma programs in the United States. In addition to extensive training in head and neck mucosal extirpative surgery, both open and transoral, the fellows are trained in the following specialized areas: microvascular reconstructive surgery, advanced cutaneous malignancy surgery, including sentinel node biopsy, skull base surgery and reconstruction, and salivary and endocrine surgery. Dedicated time is allotted to rotate with our entire multidisciplinary team, including radiation and medical oncology, radiology, pathology, and speech language pathology, as well as any other specialists the fellow may wish to work with. Beyond the clinical experience, we pride ourselves on providing life-long mentorship to our fellow graduates, and our Fellow Alumni group provides additional networking and mentorship opportunities.

Objectives: It is our intention to develop the next generation of head and neck surgeon leaders, launching each fellow’s career via in-depth training and preparation, as well as cultivating their long-term career goals through life-long mentorship.

Strengths: A focus on career-long mentorship and sponsorship. Large, varied surgical case volume, including the entire free tissue armamentarium. Diverse training and backgrounds of faculty. Rich research portfolio in a wide array of scholarly disciplines. Accomplished fellowship alumni.

Eligibility: At the present time, we are only able to consider fellowship applicants from U.S. training programs. Observation visits of weeks or months duration are available for international candidates.

Fellows’ Duties/Responsibilities: 

1. Work-up and follow surgical patients while admitted to head and neck service.
2. Assist in major surgical cases.
3. Assist in microvascular surgical cases.
4. Supervise at the VA Hospital 1 day per week (may be shared if 2 fellows are matched in same year).
5. Summarize cases at weekly Multidisciplinary Tumor Board.
6. Prepare and submit fellowship research project.
7. Present research at the Annual Krause Research Day.
8. Participate in all Cancer Center activities related to the Head and Neck Oncology Program, including monthly meeting attendance and attend the annual Head and Neck Oncology Program Retreat.
9. Participate with faculty in student and resident teaching, including several formal lectures at tumor conferences.
10. Daily rounds with faculty.
11. Participate in “on-call” responsibilities (5-6 weeks/year).
12. Attend one national scientific meeting per year.
13. Prepare annual operative list and list of publications.

Research Opportunities:  The Head and Neck Oncology Program of the University of Michigan is one of the most prolific head and neck cancer research groups in the world. We maintain tumor biology research laboratories both at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center. Basic science research opportunities are available in the molecular biology of tumors, predictive biomarkers, stem cell research, genomics and proteomics. We are also national leaders in clinical trials development, outcomes and quality of life research and health services research. Finally, we have burgeoning research programs in quality of head and neck surgical care and in simulation education research that may appeal to fellows with interests in quality improvement/patient safety or graduate medical education. Any and all of these research opportunities are available for the head and neck fellows.

Supervision, Teaching & Call:  Fellows are responsible for 5 to 6 weeks of faculty call each year. They are well supported by a highly available, permanent faculty corp. The fellows see basic neck mass and “general” head and neck complaints in their clinics; when such a patient is diagnosed with cancer, they are co-managed by the fellow and a head and neck faculty member. In this fashion, the fellow has a graduated experience managing their head and neck patient with direct support from the faculty, and the patient is assured a safe and continuity-of-care-focused experience at our institution.

PAST FELLOWS
Douglas B. Chepeha, MD, MScPH, FRCSC, Professor, University of Toronto
Mark E. P. Prince, MD, FRCSC, Professor and Interim Chair, University of Michigan
Larry Myers, MD, Associate Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Brian Nussenbaum, MD, FACS, Professor, Washington University in St. Louis; Executive Director-Elect, American Board of Otolaryngology
Steven Wang, MD, FACS, Professor and Chair, University of Arizona
Kevin Fung, MD, FRCSC, FACS,  Professor and Chair, Western University, London, Ontario
Jeffrey S. Moyer, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, University of Michigan
Christopher D. Lansford, MD,  Private Practice, OSF Healthcare, Peoria, IL
Lance E. Oxford, MD, Private Practice, Ear, Nose & Throat Specialty Care, Dallas, TX
Amy A. Lassig, MD, FACS, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota
Kevin Emerick, MD, Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School
Kelly M. Malloy, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, University of Michigan
Samir Khariwala, MD, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota
Keith Casper, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
Shamir Chandarana, MD, Msc, FRCSC, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Naweed Raza, MD, Assistant Professor, Wayne State University
Vivian Wu, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Henry Ford Health System
Matthew Spector, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
Chaz Stucken, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
Jesse Ryan, MD, Assistant Professor, SUNY Upstate
Danielle Gainor, MD, Assistant Professor, Emory University
Brittny Tillman, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Texas, Southwestern  Medical Center
Tiffany Glazer, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin