Faculty in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences spend countless hours treating patients, training residents and fellows, and engaging in research to further knowledge in the fields of expertise.
In addition, many faculty volunteer their time to contribute to courses, workshops and boot camps the Department holds. These educational opportunities allow trainees to get deeper exposure to the specialty.
On a recent September weekend, several faculty participated in a sinus and skull base course on Friday, followed by another batch of faculty teaching facial plastics and head and neck surgery on Saturday. Other courses include an emergency skills boot camp, temporal bone course and trauma course.
To acknowledge their extra efforts, Liana Puscas, MD, MHS, with support from Department Chair Howard Francis, MD, MBA—both of whom have participated in several courses—started sending letters of recognition to the faculty members’ division chairs, external department chairs and program directors thanking them for their effort. It’s a gesture that lets faculty know their time is valued.
“To do a course requires extra time and effort, especially over the weekend,” Dr. Puscas says. “Time with family and friends is precious, and these courses can be an incursion on work-life balance.”
Participating in the courses allows faculty to further pursue the Department’s education mission. Charles Woodard, MD, Otolaryngology Residency Program Director and Chair of Accreditation Subcommittee for Duke Graduate Medical Education, has participated in several courses and workshops, including the Annual Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Course, the Annual Emergency Skills Bootcamp, the Semiannual Resident Injection Clinic, and the Annual Endoscopic and Head & Neck Surgery Cadaver Course.
“The courses offer an opportunity for us to share best practices in clinical and surgical management,” Dr. Woodard says. “They are also a great chance for us to collaborate with other disciplines.”
Nicholas Clark, MD, chief resident in the Otolaryngology Residency Program, has experienced both sides—attending the OHNS Emergency Skills Course as an intern and helping teach the suturing workshop and communications workshop as a chief resident.
“Teaching brings education full circle. By effectively teaching a topic, one is able to learn even more,” Dr. Clark says.
Faculty find participating in the courses and boot camps rewarding in itself, but the recognition is appreciated. “Acknowledgement of donated time in some tangible way validates that effort,” Dr. Woodard says.
These courses also further the Department’s commitment to contribute to patient care and faculty enrichment.
“It’s an important part of contributing to the mission of an academic department when you voluntarily give of your time to educate others,” Dr. Woodard says.
The Department thanks the faculty for their enthusiasm in helping us further our missions.