During July and August of each year, the OTOHNS faculty present the Head and Neck Anatomy and Dissection Course, the Basic Science Course and the Temporal Bone Anatomy and Dissection Course. The Head and Neck Anatomy and Dissection Course consists of faculty lectures followed by cadaveric dissection sessions. Each focuses on a major component of the Head and Neck. All level residents participate in this course. The Basic Science consists of lectures on Monday evenings to the PGY-2 OTOHNS residents and rotating medical students on the basic OTOHNS History and Physical Examination, as well as Head and Neck Anatomy and common OTOHNS disorders and diseases. In parallel with this, the PGY-3 thru PGY-5 residents attend the annual Temporal Bone Anatomy and Dissection Course in the Departmental Temporal Bone Laboratory. This course consists of didactic lectures followed by mentored dissection sessions. These courses are supplemented by the monthly Morbidity and Mortality Conference (M & M).

After the above courses are completed, the routine Monday Conference schedule begins. This includes 1 or 2 Faculty lectures alternating with either the Resident Research Committee Meeting, Core Competency Conference, Head and Neck Pathology course (bi-monthly), Head and Neck Radiology course (bi-monthly), Basic Science lecture (monthly) or Resident Grand Rounds (1 per resident annually). This is then followed by M & M Conference discussing pertinent OTOHNS cases from the Program Institutions, an Interesting Case Conference, a Model Patient Conference or the OTOHNS Interactive Course. In the Interesting Case Conference, each hospital service is responsible for presenting an interesting patient and provides a short didactic session followed by Departmental discussion. Model Patient Conference is led by different OTOHNS sub-specialty faculty and are opportunities to delve deeper into specific sub-specialty subjects in the format of the OTOHNS Oral Board Exam using a physician-patient interaction as a learning tool. The clinical competency aspects of this simulated interaction are also assessed. The OTOHNS Interactive Course is a round table review of a particular subject and classic “pearl” questions including discussion of pertinent literature. The evening is concluded with an in-depth discussion led by an OTOHNS faculty member centered on readings from the Bailey's Head and Neck Surgery-Otolaryngology textbook or other pertinent textbook chapter. This textbook is provided to each first year OTOHNS resident upon entering the OTOHNS program. Other morning conferences include faculty lectures and the multidisciplinary OTOHNS Head and Neck and Thyroid Tumor Boards. The bi-weekly KUMC multidisciplinary OTOHNS Head and Neck and Thyroid Tumor Boards are attended by OTOHNS faculty and residents, Neuroradiology, OTOHNS Nursing, Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Endocrinology, Pathology, and Social Services. A similar multidisciplinary Tumor Board occurs at the VAMC.

The core conference curriculum is based on a 24-month cycle, so that each OTOHNS resident is given the complete cycle twice. The Core Competency Curriculum is based on a 48 month cycle. Residents actively participate in all conferences and are asked to comment on these lectures. These comments are used in a regular review to upgrade and improve this lecture series. Numerous pertinent interdepartmental conferences are also offered at KUMC and VAMC, especially those in the Kansas Cancer Institute and the Sigma Xi Research Society.

These didactic conferences are supplemented by other parts of the OTOHNS Resident Program Curriculum, such as the annual AAOHNS Home study Course (provided during the PGY3 and PGY4 years); KUMC audiology/vestibular rehabilitation rotations; KUMC OTOHNS allergy rotation; Hard Tissue and Soft Tissue Courses (alternates bi-annually); Round Table Conferences (held annually with community OTOHNS physicians at a local restaurant); annual Alumni Day Research Conference and monthly Journal Clubs (held at a Faculty household over dinner). This curriculum is mandatory for all residents and the clinical schedule at all institutions is adjusted to allow attendance at all educational events.

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