University of Wisconsin Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery FellowshipUniversity Hospital and Clinics600 Highland AvenueMadison, Wisconsin 53792(608) 265-8207Gregory Hartig, MD – Fellowship Director Program Website
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Number of Fellowships: 1 Duration (in years): 1 year Faculty: Dr. Gregory Hartig, Professor, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Dr. Timothy McCulloch, Professor, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Dr. Aaron Wieland, Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Dr. Tiffany Glazer, Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Dr. Ian Koszewski, Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Dr. Paul Harari, Professor, Human Oncology Dr. Randall Kimple, Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology Dr. Jessica Schuster, Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology Dr. Adam Burr, Chief Resident, Radiation Oncology Dr. Michael Bassetti, Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology Dr. Justine Bruce, Assistant Professor, Medical Oncology Dr. Ticiana Leal, Assistant Professor, Medical Oncology Dr. James Cleary, Associate Professor, Medical Oncology Dr. Gregory Avey, Assistant Professor, Radiology Dr. Tabassum Kennedy, Associate Professor, Radiology Dr. Ricardo Lloyd, Professor, Pathology Dr. Rong Hu, Assistant Professor, Pathology Nadine Connor, PhD, Professor, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery |
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Overview:
The mission of the head and neck oncology and microvascular surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin is to provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary training such that the graduating fellows may lead head and neck oncology programs in academic training centers or other venues while providing the highest quality of care.
This fellowship will stress the multidisciplinary management of head and neck malignancies with a primary clinical experience focused on head and neck oncologic resection and microvascular reconstruction. The fellow will also gain experience with transoral laser and robotic resection, trans-nasal endoscopic paranasal sinus and skull base resections, maxillofacial trauma surgery and open anterior skull base surgery. Our head and neck fellow will work with four experienced head and neck oncologic and microvascular surgeons with a typical free flap experience of greater than 120 flaps per year. The experience will offer both mentored and independent clinical responsibilities in the operating room and outpatient clinic setting.
Our core team consists of 4 head and neck surgical oncologists, one endoscopic skull base surgeon, 3 head and neck radiation oncologists, and 2 head and neck medical oncologists. We routinely incorporate evaluations with other specialties, including speech and swallowing therapy, health psychiatry, addiction services, physical therapy, nutrition and social work. We have also recently welcomed Dr. Ian Koszewski, who specializes in endoscopic skull base surgery, as the newest member of the fellowship faculty.
In addition to their work at the University Hospital, fellows will also play an integral role in the management of head and neck cancer patients at the William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Hospital. This will include a half-day of clinic two to three times per month, as well as serving as the staff surgeon for operative cases. The fellow will work closely with the speech and swallowing therapists at the VA hospital addressing the needs of head and neck patients. The fellowship experience also provides one-week rotations with radiation oncology, medical oncology, neuroradiology, and surgical pathology. This will only enhance the fellows’ experience and interactions with the providers who currently participate in the Multi-Disciplinary Head & Neck Tumor Board.
The University of Wisconsin serves as the tertiary care referral center for much of the state of Wisconsin, the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and northern Illinois. Our head and neck oncology team has remained consistent for more than 20 years, allowing for the cultivation of mature relationships with referring physicians. This program cares for a large patient population/referral base.
The University of Wisconsin was awarded Wisconsin’s first NIH-funded Head and Neck Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE). This SPORE, which awarded $14 million over 5 years, focuses on translational research of head and neck cancer, and provides over $400,000 annually in funding for pilot research projects in head and neck cancer. Although this original SPORE is nearing completion, we have applied for a second SPORE which, if awarded, will provide additional research opportunities for the head and neck fellow. Additionally, the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics is a Lead site for PCORI head and neck outcomes research.
We hold a weekly multidisciplinary head and neck tumor board, which also includes head and neck neuro-radiologists and surgical pathologist. The tumor board case list contains all patients with new or recurrent malignancies, and on average, 15-25 patients are presented each week. In addition to the weekly tumor board, melanoma tumor boards, endocrine tumor board, and sarcoma tumor boards are attended as patient needs demand. We provide regular didactics and journal club discussions with a head and neck focus for our residents and fellows. We have also incorporated the AHNS fellowship curriculum with regular shared readings with the fellow and head and neck faculty.
Eligibility: Candidates of this position must be eligible/board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. Candidates must be able to secure a Wisconsin Medical License.
Fellows’ Duties/Responsibilities: The head and neck fellow helps manage the head and neck cancer patient population at the University Hospital under the supervision of Drs. Hartig, McCulloch, Glazer, and Wieland. This includes rounding on and managing head and neck patients in a post-operative period alongside the residency training program. The fellow also provides general support of resident patient management in a teaching environment.
In addition to responsibilities at the University Hospital, the fellow is also given clinical responsibilities at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. The fellow will operate at the VA hospital in both outpatient and inpatient settings, round daily with residents and staff. They will typically staff a half-day clinic at the VA once every other week, supporting cancer care for the patients there. Fellows may also attend staff outreach clinics in a similar capacity as they do clinics at the University and VA Hospitals.
Research Opportunities: This one-year fellowship has a strong clinical focus with numerous opportunities for clinical research projects. Fellows are encouraged to submit two manuscripts for publication during their year here at UW. The fellowship offers one half day per week for administrative, educational, and research activities. The fellows also have access to the Ebling Library, the biomedical and health sciences library of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
We have a robust head and neck tumor database with more than 20 years of comprehensive entries, which is an IRB-approved prospective research database of patients treated for HNC at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics (UWHC). It includes almost 3,000 adult patients treated with radiation therapy, surgery, and/or drug therapy since 1990. The HNC database captures approximately 150 data collection items on each participant, including demographic information, alcohol and tobacco use history, diagnosis, pathology, treatment and outcomes of primary site and neck, side effects of treatment, complications of treatment, and follow-up status.
Supervision, Teaching & Call: All fellows are given the position of Clinical Instructor within the Department of Surgery. In this role, the fellow is expected to provide an appropriate level of training and guidance to Otolaryngology residents and medical students. Additionally, the fellow will take call, staff independent outreach clinics and VA clinics, maintain an independent surgical schedule, and fill an important role on the head and neck surgical team.
During this same interval, the fellow participates directly as surgeon with mentor guidance in both ablative and reconstructive procedures. Once the fellow has demonstrated proficiency, they function as junior faculty, taking residents through cases of increasing complexity as their skills and experience increase.
The fellow is expected to attend the weekly multi-disciplinary tumor board, and to assist with staff call for general otolaryngology in rotation with the attending doctors. The Head and Neck fellow does not participate in Pediatric or Facial Trauma call.
PAST FELLOWS
Rajeev Masson, MD (2021-2022) – Current fellow
Zachary Pflum, MD (2020-2021) – Aurora Health Care in Greenfield, Wisconsin
James Thompson, MD (2019-2020) – Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jamal Ahmed, MD (2018-2019) – Marshfield Medical Center, Marshfield WI
Cheryl Nocon, MD (2015-2016) – Los Angeles Sinus and Allergy Specialists in Los Angeles, California
Jonathan Cohen, MD (2013-2014) – Atlantic Medical Group in New Providence, New Jersey
Brad Mons, DO (2012-2013) – Ascension Oklahoma St. John Medical Center
Aaron Wieland, MD (2010-2011) – Associate Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Wisconsin, Co-director of the UW Multidisciplinary Facial Nerve and Facial Reanimation Clinic, and Chief of Otolaryngology at the W. Middleton VAMC.