Published: December 1, 2021

Providing Expanded Opportunities to Further Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Skills

Thanks to the AAO-HNS/F Diversity Endowment URM Away Rotation Grant, I had the opportunity to complete a visiting student rotation at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston during the month of September 2021.


Simi Odusanya, MD Simi Odusanya, MD

Simi Odusanya, MD
Candidate, Class of 2022, University of Minnesota Medical School


Thanks to the AAO-HNS/F Diversity Endowment URM Away Rotation Grant, I had the opportunity to complete a visiting student rotation at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston during the month of September 2021. My time there was spent primarily rotating with the otolaryngology service at Memorial Hermann Hospital and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.

One of the numerous reasons that attracted me to the field of otolaryngology was the distinctive scope of practice and the diversity in the range of medical problems that otolaryngologists manage. During the course of my monthlong rotation, I was exposed to various aspects of otolaryngology including pediatric otolaryngology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, head and neck surgery, general otolaryngology, laryngology and voice disorders, otology and skull base surgery, and rhinology. 

The first half of my rotation was spent with the pediatric, otology, and facial plastic and reconstructive services, and the last two weeks were spent working with the head and neck, laryngology, rhinology, sinus, and skull base surgery services. My rotation was very hands-on, and I had the opportunity to scrub in and assist on multiple surgical cases. These cases included functional endoscopic sinus surgeries, partial maxillectomy, total laryngectomy, adenotonsillectomy, mastoidectomy, tympanostomy septorhinoplasty, and facial reanimation. 

In the clinic I was seeing patients independently, completing thorough head and neck exams, and coming up with differential diagnoses and treatment plans for commonly presenting otolaryngology problems. I also got to work on procedural skills, and toward the end of my rotation, I became more comfortable with performing flexible laryngoscopy exams independently. 

Completing an away rotation provided me an opportunity to further my skills in otolaryngology. This award also provided me the chance to experience otolaryngology in a different hospital with a different faculty and patient population, all while gaining substantial insight into the daily functioning of a residency program. I am truly grateful to the Academy and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for this travel grant, which allowed me the opportunity to explore my interests. I am very excited about my future in otolaryngology and look forward to contributing to the Academy throughout my academic career.



More from Dec21/Jan22 – Vol. 40, No. 11