Impact Achieved, Innovation Planned: The Otolaryngology Core Curriculum
Standardized resident education has rapidly become a critical pillar of postgraduate education in our specialty.
Meredith Lind, MD, AAO-HNSF Coordinator for Education and Otolaryngology Core Curriculum Co-Director
Meredith Lind, MD, AAO-HNSF Coordinator for Education and Otolaryngology Core Curriculum Co-Director
As of July 2025, the OCC is subscribed by 119 of the 133 ACGME-accredited otolaryngology residency programs in the United States, reaching more than 1,500 U.S. residents. Adoption has also extended to a growing number of international residency programs and institutions. The program was recently made available to individual subscribers, including for use in training Advanced Practice Providers (physician assistants and nurse practitioners), further broadening its impact across the otolaryngology care team.
The success of these first two years is a testament to the collaborative effort of hundreds of volunteers—section editors, module authors, question writers, and the dedicated Editorial Board peer reviewers—working in partnership with AAO-HNSF Education staff. Resident usage remains high, program director and faculty feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and teams have worked to incorporate continuous feedback to ensure that up-to-date and accurate information is shared.
Planned Enhancements and Modifications
Content Updates
Modules will be reviewed and refreshed to reflect the latest Clinical Practice Guidelines, landmark publications, and emerging therapies.
Track Differentiation
For the first time, we will introduce basic as well as advanced tracks within many of the modules, allowing programs and individual learners to tailor depth according to PGY level and career focus.
Expansion of Conference Prep Resources
The Conference Prep section will undergo a major enhancement, including new cases for each of the modules. Cases will feature more clinical detail, richer multimedia, and a faculty guide to facilitate module teaching.
Enhanced Additional Resources
Continued expansion of our library of on-demand podcasts, procedural videos, and animated reviews, many produced in collaboration with the AAO-HNSF’s specialty societies and sections.
Revamped Quizzes and Question Bank
Module quizzes will continue to be revised, and topic-focused assessment items will continue to be added to the OCC Question Bank to allow learners to continue deliberate practice and self-assessment within the OCC platform.
Supplemental Modules
New standalone modules on environmental sustainability in otolaryngology (already available), wellness, practice management, business of medicine, and others will be added to the library and available to programs and trainees to complement the core clinical content.
The OCC remains a living resource—one that belongs to the entire otolaryngology community. We continue to welcome your suggestions, content contributions, and volunteer support as we build Version 2 together.
On behalf of the AAO-HNSF Education Committees and the OCC Editorial Board, thank you for embracing this transformative educational tool. Watching the OCC grow from concept to the daily learning platform for more than 1,500 residents—and now learners around the world—has been one of the proudest accomplishments of my career in otolaryngology education. We look forward to delivering an even stronger Version 2 in 2026 and beyond.
