Program Director
Director: Bruce Gantz, MD
Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
Tel 319-356-2173
Fax 319-356-3967
e-mail : Sharon Flake sharon-flake@uiowa.edu

Number of Positions
One position is available every two years. One candidate is selected to enter the program, and fellowships do not run concurrently. Enrollment is now open for the program starting in July 2010.

Eligibility
Candidates who have completed an ACGME accredited residency in Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery are eligible for the match. Further selection for training is based on demonstrated excellence in research and a commitment to teaching.

Accreditation
The Otology/Neurotology fellowship program was ACGME accredited in 1997. Out of the 16 fellows trained since 1985, 10 now hold positions in Academic Otolaryngology.

Objectives and Training

Clinical
Objective:
To develop special expertise in the diagnosis and medical/surgical management of diseases and disorders relating to the following disciplines within otology/neurotology: auditory system, vestibular system, facial nerve, temporal bone and related skull base structures tumors and other lesions of the cerebellopontine angle and lateral skull base.

Training:
The usual course of surgical training consists of mastering the surgical approach during the first year and actual tumor removal and cranial nerve conservation surgery during the second.
The fellowship training includes (but is not limited) to the following:

Neurosurgical training is provided in the operating room, in-patient clinic, and during the Neurotology/Skull Base Conference. Experience in head and neck interventional radiology, neuroradiology, neuroradiation therapy is observational throughout the two year residency.
The Otology/Neurotology fellow is assigned to Neurotology cases in the operating room.
Practical experience with patients undergoing Vestibular testing (ENG, Rotary Chair) and rehabilitation is provided in the Balance disorders clinic. Additional exposure to facial nerve electophysiology and other cranial nerve monitoring is also provided here.
Audiology staff provides extensive empirical training to the fellow with regard to audiological testing procedures, and Cochlear implant evaluation, testing and fitting.
Time spent in the Hearing Aid Center further rounds out a comprehensive audiology training experience.

The importance of an interdisciplinary approach to patient care is demonstrated through the Skull Base Conference. Faculty from Neurosurgery, Ophthalmologic Plastic Surgery Neuroradiology, Radiation Oncology along with Neurotology/Head and Neck Surgery specialists convene when a combined surgical approach is planned.

Course structure
For the first six weeks of the program fellows attend relevant Otology/Neurotology lectures at the Basic Science course.

Fellows are expected to spend a minimum of 20 months of their fellowship on the clinical service, during which time they attend all otology/neurotology clinics neurotology cases in the operating room, and remain responsible for the inpatient service.

Attendance is required at the Otology/Neurotology Conference, Grand Rounds and Temporal Bone Rounds and Drilling in the Temporal Bone Laboratory. Otology surgical cases are reserved for general otolaryngology residents in their senior years of training. The fellow may provide teaching oversight on otology cases for general otolaryngology residents if there are no Neurotology cases scheduled that day.

Research
The fellow is provided one day a week dedicated research time. An additional two to three days per month may be available depending on the schedule of the supervising faculty.

An extensive variety of research opportunities present themselves to the fellow. The opportunity exists to pursue a two-year research project in any area chosen. The collaborative research network that has been established for the Department’s T-32 NIH Research Training Grant provides a framework that ensures research mentorship throughout the entire University of Iowa Neuroscience community.

Application procedure

1. Please complete the PDF application and return, (with a copy of your CV and three letters of recommendation) before August 1, 2009 to:

Sharon Flake
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
200 Hawkins Drive (21201 PFP)
Iowa City IA 52242-1078

2. Register through the Neurotology match (at www.sfmatch.org).