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American Head & Neck Society

American Head & Neck Society

Advancing Education, Research, and Quality of Care for the Head and Neck oncology patient.

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University of California – Davis

University of California – Davis
2521 Stockton Blvd. #7200
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-2790

Andrew Birkeland, MD – Fellowship Director
Jamie Grainger – Program Coordinator
(916) 734-2801

Number of Fellowships: 1

Duration (in years) / Type: 1 year / Clinical
Faculty: Arnaud Bewley, MD
Marianne Abouyared, MD
Scott Fuller, MD
Andrew Birkeland, MD

Program Website

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Overview: The history of head and neck fellowship program dates back to 1987 when it began as a one year training program in advanced head and neck oncologic surgery. It grew to include plastic and reconstructive surgery and surgery for facial trauma. The program has continued uninterrupted to date but has greatly expanded since its inception to cover all forms of extirpative surgery including skull base surgery, minimally-invasive laser and robotic surgery, microvascular and reconstructive surgery (including trauma), and endocrine surgery.

Objectives: The Head and Neck Fellowship is a one year position with salary support through the resources of the University of California, Davis, Department of Head and Neck Surgery. The objectives of the training program are to produce exceptionally-skilled clinicians, teachers, and investigators in the field of head and neck oncologic, skull base, and microvascular surgery.

Strengths: The University of California at Davis has had a long history of an integrated skull base surgical team composed of otolaryngology, neurosurgery, pathology and neuroradiology that meets on a regular basis to review the skull base surgical cases that are seen during this period. Preoperative management and strategies are discussed, and definitive treatment is planned. UCDMC is unique in having this program in northern California, and there are few such centers in the western United States.

Other strengths include

  • Extensive and extremely broad clinical experience given the wide catchment area and diverse population served
  • Comprehensive microvascular exposure to the breadth of free tissue transfer donor sites
  • Large endocrine practice
  • Minimally invasive surgical practice including transoral laser, robotic and endoscopic skull base surgery
  • Fresh anatomical specimens available for surgical dissection
  • Tremendous translational, functional, and big-data research opportunities

Eligibility: U.S. and Canadian graduates of M.D. Otolaryngology Resident Programs.

Research Opportunities: Fellows will have wide access to both translational and clinical research opportunities. In particular, we have a history of strong collaboration with our colleagues in laryngology, and scientists from the biomedical engineering department and the veterinary school. As an NCI designated cancer center, our fellows also have the opportunity to participate in multiple clinical trials. Clinical outcomes projects are also available and often supported by the Department of Biostatistics.

Supervision, Teaching & Call: The fellowship allows for a graduated increase in responsibility as the fellow’s surgical acumen allows. It is anticipated that upon completion of the fellowship, the graduate will be comfortable and more importantly competent in head and neck surgery. As most of our fellows continue in academic medicine, it is also stressed that the fellow develops and improves their teaching abilities by leading conferences, giving lectures and teaching routine cases to the residents. Specifically, fellows are expected to give two educational talks over the course of the year.

PAST FELLOWS

2023: Steven Dennis, Mission Health Ashville, NC
2022: Dustin Silverman, University of Cincinnati
2021: Joshua Kain, MD, Houston Methodist Hospital
2020: John Hanks, MD, Boston University
2019: Jessica Yesensky, University of Indiana
2018: Timothy Phillips, Queens University
2017: Orly Coblens M.D. University of Texas at Galveston
2016: Christopher Vanison, M.D., University of Tennessee
2015: Patrik Pipkorn, M.D., Washington University
2014: Vincent Biron, M.D., University of Alberta
2014: Nathaniel Peterson M.D., Loma Linda University
2013: Jon Burton, M.D., University of South Florida
2012: Andrew Cho, M.D., University of Auckland
2011: Lawrence Yen, M.D., Yangming Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
2011: Deborah Amott, M.D., University of Melbourne, Australia
2010: Scott Fuller, M.D., Mather Veterans Administration Hospital, Sacramento; UC Davis
2010: Rony Aouad, M.D., University of Kentucky
2009: Steven Brigance, M.D., University of Indiana
2008: Quang Luu, M.D., University of California, Los Angeles
2006: Kevin Brumund, M.D., University of California, San Diego
2005: Chetan Gujrathi, M.D., Barrows Institute, Phoenix

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