With the new signal system, typically we receive ~250 applications. We typically invite 40-45 applicants per year to interview, in addition to the students who do an away rotation with our department (typically around 60-65 total).

We match four residents to our program each academic year. There are no plans to expand the resident complement in the near future.

• University of Kansas Health System (KUMC) - a tertiary-referral academic hospital
• Children's Mercy Hospital (CMH) - a free-standing academic children's hospital
• Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC)
• University Health Truman Medical Center (UH) - the county hospital for Jackson County, Missouri
• St. Luke's Hospital (SLH) - a not-for-profit regional health system

All residents participate in an educational program founded on the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABO) curriculum and the American Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Core Competency Curriculum.

The component parts of the education program include:

• Didactics covering core concepts in OTO-HNS (Friday am)
• Grand Rounds with institutional and national leaders in OTO-HNS and allied fields (3rd Monday pm)
• Case conference (1st, 3rd, 4th Tuesday am)
• GME Core Competency Conference (2nd Tuesday am)
• PQSI/M&M (2nd Monday pm)
• Tumor Board (site dependent)
• Journal Club (quarterly)

In addition to scheduled didactic activities, we host skills labs throughout the year (injectables and fillers, airway lab, facial reconstruction, trauma, etc.)

Residents also participate in a number of courses offsite. Each year, the PGY-2s participate in an AO-CMF Principles course. The PGY-3s participate in a regional sinus/skull base course. Each fall, the department sponsors the PGY-5s as they attend the AAO-HNSF Annual meeting.

Residents in good standing with the program are eligible to attend additional courses in areas of personal interest. Examples include the AO-CMF Orbital Trauma Course, Advanced Temporal Bone and Lateral Skull Base Course.

The ratio of clinic to OR days is rotation dependent.

At KU and CMH, residents typically spend 1-2 days in clinic and 3-4 days in the OR.

At SLH/VAMC/TMC, residents typically spend 2-3 days in the OR, and the remaining days in clinic.

Details about the clinical rotations can be found on the Resident Training page.

PGY1:

When on non-ENT services, interns are integrated into the call schedule of the sponsoring program.

When on ENT services, interns take buddy call during the second half of the academic year in order to prepare them for primary call as PGY2s

PGY2-5:

There are two call pools, one for KUMC and one for the Missouri-based hospitals.

The KU call pool covers the inpatient service and the ED at KUMC. Primary call is in-house and is covered by the PGY 2-3 residents. Back-up call is covered by the PGY 4-5s.

The Missouri call pool covers the inpatient services and the EDs at SLH, CMH and VAMC. They also attend to patients admitted to the ENT service at TMC. Primary call is home call and is covered by the PGY 2-3 residents. PGY 4-5 residents provide back-up call.

PGY 3 residents have 3 months of dedicated research. Research planning begins in the second half of the PGY 2 year. PGY 2-3s are expected to attend the Chair's research meeting at 6, 3 and 1 month prior to the start of their research rotation to facilitate their preparation.

Residents have the option to participate in both basic science and clinical research. Dr. Hinrich Staecker MD, PhD (Neurotology) and Dr. Sufi Thomas, PhD (H&N Oncology) routinely sponsor residents in their labs during their research rotation. Each of the clinical Divisions regularly conduct outcomes research overseen by Dr. Frank Materia, PhD in which residents can participate. Dr. Andrés Bur conducts groundbreaking research focused on Artificial Intelligence.  Residents are encouraged to partner with labs/groups outside of the Department to explore their research interests.

During the Research rotation, residents attend the research meetings, where residents receive guidance on research design and conduct.

In addition to faculty support, residents have the opportunity to work with the clinical research coordinators, research fellows, and research adminstration staff, who assist in the conduct of research.

The Department has a number of faculty and adjunct personnel who are well versed in grant writing and development who can assist with pursing financial support for projects.

Residents interested in presenting their work at a regional or national meeting may submit their work to the Research Committee for consideration. The Department will support approved projects and reimburse registration, hotel and travel expenses, as well as a daily stipend.

Our residents participate in the entire spectrum of research opportunities from bench work to outcomes research. Residents frequently present their work at AAO-HNSF, The Fall Voice, TRIO and COSM, in addition to a number of regional meetings.

Details about resident benefits can be found on the Resident Benefits page.

For more information on benefits, visit KU Medical Center's GME website.

Residents pursue a variety of opportunities after graduation. Many of our residents choose to pursue a fellowship, while other elect to go into private practice. Recent graduates:

Class of 2025
Private Practice, McAllan, TX
Facial Plastics Fellowship – San Francisco, CA
Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship – Cleveland Clinic, OH
Anterior Skull Base and Rhinology Fellowship – KUMC, KS

Class of 2024
Private Practice, New York City
Facial Plastics Fellowship – Albany, NY
Head and Neck Surgery Fellowship – Oregon Health and Science University
Laryngology Fellowship – University of Alabama Birmingham, AL

Class of 2023

Private Practice, Anchorage, AK
Neurotolgoy Fellowship, Case Western University, OH
Facial Plastics Fellowship Penn State University, PA
H&N/Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary, MA

Residents are required to live within 15 minutes of KUMC. This radius encompasses the metro area, as well as much of northern Johnson County, KS and Jackson County, MO.

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