Skip to main content.

FAQs

Want to know more about our Otolaryngology Residency Program? Here are answers to the questions we're asked most frequently.

General Information

In 2020, we received just over 350 applications. We typically invite 45-60 applicants per year to interview. Because we will not have rotators this year due to the impact of COVID, we anticipate inviting at least 60 applicants to interview this season.

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)
  • Truman Medical Center (TMC) - the county hospital for Jackson County, Missouri
  • St. Luke's Hospital (SLH) - a not-for-profit regional health system
Conferences and Curriculum

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, thyroplasty carving, robot, etc.)

Residents also participate in a number of workshops 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 as 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 day in clinic and 4 days in the OR.

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

Rotations are based on location. While at KU, residents are organized into teams. KU Blue covers the Head & Neck Service. KU Red Covers the subspecialties (Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology, FPRS). There is also a KU Purple rotation that focuses on outpatient care, with a focus on FPRS and Otology.

PGY 1:

  • 6 months ENT (2 months CMH, 1 month VAMC, 1 month TMC, 1 month KU Blue and 1 month KU Red)
  • 1 month MICU
  • 1 month Plastic Surgery
  • 2 month General Surgery/Trauma
  • 1 month Vascular Surgery
  • 1 month Neurosurgery

PGY2:

  • 3 months CMH
  • 2 months KU Blue
  • 4 months KU Red
  • 3 months VAMC

PGY3:

  • 3 months KU Blue
  • 3 months KU Red
  • 3 months Research
  • 2 months SLH
  • 1 months CMH

PGY4:

  • 3 months KU Blue
  • 3 months KU Red
  • 3 months TMC
  • 3 months Research

PGY5:

  • 3 months KU Blue
  • 3 months KU Red
  • 3 months VAMC
  • 1 month KU Purple
  • 1 month SLH
  • 1 month CMH

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 2-4 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.

Research

PGY 3 and 4 residents each 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. Kevin Sykes, PhD in which residents can participate. Dr. Andrés Bur has recently spearheaded the Department's efforts to stand up a research group 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 Chair's weekly meeting, where residents receive guidance on research design and conduct.

In addition to faculty support, residents have to opportunity to work with the Department Research Fellows, who can 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 up to $1,500 in travel expenses for one meeting per year.

Our residents participate in the entire spectrum of research opportunities from bench work to outcomes research. In the 2019 - 2020 Academic year, residents presented their work at AAO-HNSF, The Fall Voice, and COSM (virtually), in addition to a number of regional meetings.

Institutional Support

Residents receive a competitive stipend, include annual raises and cost of living increases.

The Department provides each new resident a copy of Cummings Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, white coats and an otoscope. In the PGY 2 year, the Department provides funds to put toward the purchase of surgical loupes.

The cost of parking at KUMC, medical licenses and a gym membership to Kirmayer Fitness Center are provided by the KU GME office.

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

Alumni

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 2021
Private Practice, Denver, CO
Private Practice, Minneapolis, MN
Laryngology Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University
FPRS Fellowship, Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary

Class of 2020
Private Practice, Appleton, WI
Private Practice, Clackamas, OR
Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Institute
FPRS Fellowship, Farrior Clinic, Tampa, FL

Class of 2019
Private Practice, Ft Wayne, IN
Neurotolgoy Fellowship, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Rhinology Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania
H&N/Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary

Living in Kansas City

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.

Kansas City has a relatively low cost of living, and many of our residents purchase their own home/condo while in residency.

Public schools in Johnson County, KS are consistently ranked among the top in the nation.

Kansas City has a robust art scene. The Nelson-Atkins museum is an architectural marvel that hosts works by Caravaggio, Monet, Gaugin and Van Gogh. The Kauffman Center is the city's premiere venue to the performing arts and is home to the Kansas City Lyric Opera, Symphony and Ballet. The Sprint Center hosts large concerts from touring national artists throughout the year. When it comes to music, it's hard to beat live jazz at any of the venues at the historical 18th and Vine district.

Kansas City is a dream for sports enthusiasts. We are home to the 2020 Superbowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC. Kansas Citians are avid supporters of college sports. The Sprint Center hosts the Big 12 Basketball Tournament each March.

Foodies are never at a loss in Kansas City. While we are best known for our barbeque, there are a number of excellent restaurants on the Plaza, Downtown or in the River Market area. The City Market has been home to one of the Midwest's most enduring farmer's markets, and has been operating since 1857.

Learn More

KU School of Medicine

University of Kansas Medical Center
Department of Otolaryngology–
Head & Neck Surgery
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Mailstop 3010
Kansas City, KS 66160
913-574-0181