OVERVIEW OF FELLOWSHIP
The Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center offers a one-year fellowship program in advanced rhinology and skull base surgery. This training provides a comprehensive experience in the management of complex sinonasal disorders, sinonasal malignancy, and skull base/orbital pathology. The faculty at our high-volume center routinely perform more than 650 surgical cases per year. The surgical experience during this year focuses on revision endoscopic sinus surgery including cystic fibrosis, nasal airway surgery, advanced endoscopic and open frontal sinus surgery, CSF leak repair, endoscopic sinonasal tumor resections, endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery for basic and complex skull base lesions, advanced reconstruction techniques, and management of orbital pathology. This fellowship program is designed to prepare an individual for an academic career in rhinology and cranial base surgery.
As an Instructor in Otolaryngology, the fellow will be actively involved in the educational rhinology curriculum. Teaching opportunities include didactic lectures, resident training, and mentoring other trainees on research projects. The fellow will also benefit from a structured curriculum including weekly Skull Base Film Conference, monthly Interesting Case Conference, and quarterly Journal Club. The fellow will also serve as an integral member of the skull base team by participating as a lab instructor in the Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery of the Skull Base CME Course which provides the fellow with an opportunity to interface with leaders in the field of rhinology and skull base surgery.
The fellowship benefits from multidisciplinary collaborations with neurosurgery, oculoplastics, neuroradiology, and head and neck oncology.
FELLOWSHIP DESCRIPTION
Weekly Schedule:
- 1 protected academic day (every other week)
- 1 day of clinic
- 3-4 operating room days
Research Responsibilities:
Clinical research is expected and mentored to allow the fellow to formulate independent research study. The availability of several prospective clinical databases allows for diversity of research projects. The fellow is also expected to produce a published review paper or chapter. Instruction in clinical trial design and participation is facilitated by ongoing multi-institutional clinical trials. There is a full-time research manager dedicated to rhinology and cranial base that helps facilitate research productivity during the year.
Diversity of Cases:
The faculty at our high-volume center routinely perform more than 650 surgical cases per year including 200-250 endoscopic skull base cases. The fellow’s surgical experience is geared towards more challenging endoscopic cases, such as revision and frontal sinus surgery and skull base, orbital, and intracranial pathology. Ablation of both benign and malignant sinonasal neoplasms is also a robust area of the fellow’s surgical experience.
If the fellow has interest, they can become proficient in advanced nasal airway surgery including open septorhinoplasty and open approaches to the paranasal sinuses and neck.
Call Schedule:
The fellow will participate in the department’s general and maxillofacial trauma call schedule approximately five weeks a year and be available to cover for postoperative sinus and skull base patients if needed.
Additional Information:
The fellow is funded to attend the annual meetings of the North American Skull Base Society and/or the American Rhinologic Society.
FELLOWSHIP DIRECTORS
Eric Wang, MD, FARS
Professor
Carl Snyderman, MD, MBA
Professor
REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTMENT
Applicants must be Board eligible/Board certified and satisfy requirements for appointment to the active medical staff which requires completion of an ACGME-approved residency training program (https://apps.acgme.org/ads/Public/Programs/Search).
APPLICATION INFORMATION
We offer 2 fellowship positions. To apply, please visit the Rhinology Match program at: www.SFmatch.org. Interviews will be conducted in the Spring in accordance with the Rhinology Match.
SF MATCH PROGRAM ID# 2879
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications are processed through SFMatch. Deadlines are available on their website here.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mary Jo Tutchko
UPMC Department of Otolaryngology
200 Lothrop Street
The Eye & Ear Institute, Suite 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
tutchkomj@upmc.edu
412-647-8186 (T)
412-647-2080 (F)