Otology Observational Mini-Fellowship

Overview

The Emory Otology Observational Mini-Fellowship is aimed at developing an increased awareness of the pathophysiology and diseases of the temporal bone and associated skull base and the medical and surgical treatments of these conditions. Fellows will observe patient evaluations in the outpatient clinic and learn basic and advanced history and physical examination skills for otologic disorders. They will also observe oto-microscopic evaluation for the purposes of diagnosis and intervention in the clinic setting.

The Emory otology clinical team includes faculty physicians, otolaryngology residents, audiologists, medical students, and nurses, and the fellow will learn the importance of this team approach for the care of the otologic patient. Fellows may spend dedicated time with the audiology team to observe diagnostic testing, including comprehensive audiometry, videonystagmography (VNG), and cochlear implant evaluations.

Fellows may observe such procedures as myringotomy, PE tube placement, and postoperative mastoid cavity debridements, and become familiar with primary and revision tympanomastoid surgery, stapedotomy for otosclerosis, and management of benign and malignant neoplasms of the temporal bone and lateral skull base.

The otology team has a busy adult implantable hearing device practice that encompasses cochlear implants and bone anchored devices, and participates in a skull base service with neurosurgeons that performs cerebrospinal fluid leak repair and resection of such skull base tumors as vestibular schwannoma. Fellows will become familiar with technical issues associated with these surgeries and gain insight from surgical advice provided by experienced faculty.

All surgical experiences are variable and depend on the cases scheduled during the time of the fellowship.

To aid in developing skills to treat otologic disorders, the fellow may choose an option that includes access to the surgical dissection laboratory at Emory University Hospital Midtown, which is equipped with temporal bone dissection stations and instruments that allow for cadaveric dissection.

Goals and Objectives

• To become familiar with the evaluation and treatment of patients with acute and chronic disorders of the ear and diseases of the associated skull base.

• To become familiar with the evaluation and diagnosis of hearing loss and assess candidacy for implantable hearing devices.

• To develop otologic surgical skills in the laboratory setting.

Fellow Duties

• Fellows will function in an observational fashion when shadowing physicians as they perform patient evaluations and office procedures. While fellows will view surgical procedures in the operating room, they are prohibited from participation due to licensing issues.

• Fellows that choose the optional laboratory dissection experience will be expected to develop a skill set in mastoid surgical drilling.

• Fellows will not have on-call responsibilities.

• Fellows are welcome to participate in new and/or ongoing research efforts.

Conferences

Fellows have the option of attending all educational conferences sponsored by the Emory Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. These include weekly Grand Rounds (Thursday mornings), Tumor Board, and Otology and Vestibular conferences, which are held every other Wednesday morning.

Housing

The Emory Department of Otolaryngology is unable to offer room or board to visiting mini-fellows, though it can assist with locating a suitable arrangement.

Cost and Contact

The month-long Emory Otology Observational Mini-Fellowship costs $2,500 with the laboratory option, and $1,500 without. The fee covers faculty mentors' time and incidentals. The laboratory fee will be waived if the fellow enrolls in Emory Otolaryngology's five-day temporal bone surgical dissection course during the span of the mini-fellowship.

Checks may be made payable to Emory University or wired (wire transfer instructions available upon request).

Extensions of the month-long standard will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please contact Dr. Esther Vivas to inquire about the mini-fellowship.

Program Faculty

Director:

Esther Vivas, MD

Additional Faculty:

Douglas, Mattox, MD

Candace Hobson, MD