Otolaryngology/ENT

Spend some time in our specialty, shadowing both in clinic and the operating room.  We have a very diverse specialty made up of many subspecialties - the more exposure you have, the better you are able to decide if this specialty is for you!  Otolaryngology is also a highly competitive residency program with importance placed on clerkship evaluations, Step 2 score, and research.

Research experience, including presentations and publications, are looked upon very favorably and at this point would say usually expected. Otolaryngology research is ideal, but any research is good. Start as early as possible - a case report at the beginning of your fourth year of medical school is better than nothing, but a more substantial research project starting in your M1 or M2 year is much better and will give you a leg up! 

Besides the M3 2-week ENT elective and the M4 one-month ENT elective, other potentially beneficial specialties would be:

• Neuroradiology (where you learn head and neck anatomy from an imaging standpoint)
• Allergy and Immunology (where you see rhinology patients, chronic cough patients, and patients with immunodeficiencies who often overlap with us)
• Radiation oncology (where you can see nonsurgical treatments for head and neck cancer patients)
• Audiology and Speech Pathology are also great resources and learning opportunities, as we work with them a lot.   

In general, yes, as this is a good way to get exposure to other institutions and departments.  Away rotations can help you, as often programs do interview their rotators, but they can also hurt you if you do not give your best effort.  I would tell students to give "110%" for their away rotations and be strategic.  Go to programs you are genuinely interested in, but it can help to be strategic.  For example, if you've done all of your training/schooling and lived in only one geographic area your whole life, consider doing an away rotation in another geographic area to show programs that you are willing to travel (if you are).    

Usually one and sometimes two.

July through October.

December or January.

No, but at least two of the three required letters should be from otolaryngologists.  If the third letter is not from an otolaryngologist (or researcher within the Otolaryngology Department), then there should be a good reason for this.  An example would be a research mentor or a mentor from a meaningful clinical or volunteer experience who knows you well. 

There is no one specialty that is valued more highly than another - it matters more that the person writing the letter knows you well and would be able to write a good letter (as this would be the reason you are seeking outside the specialty for a letter).

No, but the more well-known the person, the better the letter.  As Otolaryngology is a relatively small specialty, the bigger names are usually known well by people at most programs.

Yes. Every student should have a letter from the chair, and they should also consider one from the residency program director.

During the winter of the M3 year, students should attend specialty sessions sponsored by the ENT department to more about the specialty and meet attendings and residents in the field.