Update on the Education Council in Otolaryngology
The revamped council is uniting key organizations to tackle educational challenges and shape the future of resident training in the specialty.
Eric J. Dobratz, MD
The Education Council in Otolaryngology has existed since the mid-1990s and has been integral in instituting significant changes to resident education in the specialty. One example is the transition from two years of general surgery and three years of otolaryngology to one year of general surgery and four years of otolaryngology. Another example is incorporating the PGY-1 year into the otolaryngology residency program instead of general surgery. Although the group has included many participants from The American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS), the Association of Academic Departments of Otolaryngology (AADO), the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Review Committee (ACGME RC), and the Society of University Otolaryngologists (SUO), it was recognized that the council’s structure and processes could be improved to make it more effective.
In November 2022, a task force was formed to develop a new framework for the group. The task force explored the structure of similar resident education councils in other surgical specialties, such as neurosurgery and colorectal surgery. The task force drafted a mission statement for the council to “Collaborate on transformative initiatives that focus on the education and training of future otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to benefit the profession and meet the needs of the public.” We seek to create solutions for the challenges related to education in otolaryngology.
The council is now made up of six member organizations, including the Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNSF), AADO, ABOHNS, OPDO, SUO, and the Triological Society (TRIO). The ACGME RC participates in an advisory role. All organizations have appointed two representatives to participate on the council and there is an elected chair. The council seeks to share information among its member organizations and align their efforts.
We are excited to share a photo of our first meeting at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM) in Chicago, Illinois, in May 2024. We are looking forward to communicating the council’s activities to its member organizations and their members.
(From left to right) Richard V. Smith, MD (AAO-HNSF), Dana L. Crosby, MD, MPH (AADO), Stephen S. Park, MD (TRIO), Brian Nussenbaum, MD, MHCM (ABOHNS), D. Gregory Farwell, MD (AADO), Alan G. Micco, MD (ACGME), Eric J. Dobratz, MD (Chair), Yash J. Patil, MD, MPH (TRIO), Meredith Merz Lind, MD (AAO-HNSF), Marc C. Thorne, MD, MPH (OPDO), David J. Brown, MD (SUO), Stephen D. Pletcher, MD (OPDO), Sonya Malekzadeh, MD (SUO). Not pictured: Bradley Marple, MD (ABOHNS), Vishad Nabili, MD (ACGME).
If you have any questions, contact your organization’s representative (pictured above) or to the current chair of the council, Dr. Dobratz, at dobratEJ@evms.edu.
