There’s more to an otolaryngology residency at the Duke Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences than learning how to provide excellent patient care. Our focus on developing researchers helps set us apart.
Research is integrated into both our 5-year traditional program and our 7-year NIH R25 surgeon-scientist track. We provide the mentorship and support that’s essential to helping residents succeed as researchers.
5-Year Traditional Track
Our traditional track develops well-rounded otolaryngologists through exposure to all facets of the specialty. In addition to gaining clinical experience, residents are involved in research throughout the program — and each resident completes four to six months of dedicated research.
Residents are required to complete a major research project, which involves presenting a comprehensive proposal to research faculty in preparation for a productive research block. Faculty help create an individualized curriculum, so each resident can pursue projects that interest them, with mentors providing guidance throughout the process.
“During the dedicated research time, the breadth and depth of research related to ENT is excellent,” says Kristal Riska, AuD, PhD. “Mentoring is a priority for our residents and resources are dedicated to this research block.”
7-Year NIH R25 Surgeon-Scientist Track
The 7-year track provides an additional two years of NIH-funded mentored and dedicated research training between the second and third years of standard otolaryngology-head and neck surgery clinical training. The research track provides ongoing career development on a pathway designed to prepare trainees for an academic surgeon-scientist career.
Students who have a strong commitment to pursuing an academic otolaryngology career as a clinician and as a researcher are most likely to benefit from the 7-year research track residency. The track is designed to position trainees to transition into the early faculty career phase well-prepared to compete for funding, such as an NIH mentored career development award (K grant).
“Our specialty needs more surgeon-scientists prepared to balance a clinical career with a rigorous research career,” says Bradley Goldstein, MD, PhD, director of the track. “While there are different possible pathways to becoming a surgeon-scientist, the R25-funded residency is designed to help address some of the barriers to success.”
The R25 also funds positions for two medical students per year to pursue a gap year of dedicated research prior to residency.
Mentorship Makes the Difference
While there are research opportunities at many otolaryngology programs, we pride ourselves on our faculty and collaborators who are both outstanding scientists and mentors and who excel at providing research training and career development. Our NIH funding portfolio reflects the quality of these research programs.
Rolvix Patterson, MD, a fifth-year resident on the 7-Year track, says his mentors have helped shape his future in ways he couldn’t have anticipated.
“When I started, I had a vague concept of what I wanted to do with global health research,” Dr. Patterson says. “Through the incredible mentorship that I've gotten in the R25 research track and through the coursework that I took and the relationships that I built at the Duke Global Health Institute, I have a very clear vision of what type of research I want to do: implementation science.“
“I didn't know this existed before I started residency here. And now I think it will be the core of what I do for the rest of my career."
Hannah Martin, MD, a fourth-year resident of the 5-Year track, worked with Dr. Riska’s lab on a project seeking to understand the relationship between hearing loss, vestibular function, cognition, and fall risk in older adults.
Dr. Martin says that working on this project deepened her understanding of vestibular function and the pathophysiology underlying common patient symptoms. It has also provided better insight into the specific challenges faced by this patient population, inspiring ongoing research with direct applications for patients.
“Dr. Riska has been an incredible mentor, with expertise in everything from the nuances of current vestibular research to the logistics of conducting prospective studies with human participants,” Dr. Martin says. “I appreciate the support of Dr. Riska, the lab team, and the department in the intentional and thoughtful effort to provide these research opportunities during our residency training.”
Departmental Support Makes It Possible
To become an independent researcher, residents need support from leadership as well as mentors.
Our leadership understands the importance of having a breadth of perspectives and types of research expertise in our field, and they are committed to supporting residents in whatever area they want to focus on.
“Our leadership doesn't have a preconceived notion of exactly what you should do with your time or the type of research you should do. They're just willing to make possible whatever you need to realize your goals,” Dr. Patterson says.
“I've had an incredible level of support from the department, and they've made things possible for me that would not have been possible at almost any other residency program.”