Medical Education

Visiting Acting Internships

• Course Goals

  1. To give a fourth year student a realistic appreciation of otolaryngology including life in the clinic and in the operating room.

  2. To give a fourth year student exposure to all the different sub specialties within otolaryngology.

  3. To give a fourth year student ample opportunity to see what spending a 5 year otolaryngology residency would be like at UTMB Galveston.

  4. To give a fourth year student applying for an otolaryngology residency opportunities to meet and interact with our chairman, our residency director, and our director of medical student education.

• Course Objectives

  1. Obtain and evaluate the history of a patient with symptoms of disorders of the ear, nose, sinuses, mouth, pharynx, larynx and neck.

  2. Perform a thorough examination of the above structures.

  3. Evaluate and institute the appropriate treatment for the common causes of pain and discharge of the ear, deafness, tinnitus and vertigo.

  4. Evaluate and institute the appropriate treatment for the common causes of nasal obstruction and discharge, epistaxis, sinus disease and face pain.

  5. Evaluate and institute the appropriate treatment for the common causes of hoarseness, dysphagia, pain or discomfort in the throat, lumps in the neck and obstruction to the airway.

  6. Evaluate and manage trauma of the head and neck regions (e.g. foreign bodies, ingestion of caustics, facial fractures, open and closed injuries to the neck).

  7. Interpret an audiogram and results of vestibular testing and apply them to the patient's complaints.

  8. Demonstrate appropriate use of the otoscope, microscope and flexible laryngoscope.

• Course Description
  The Department of Otolaryngology is divided into different teams which are comprised of a faculty members and residents. These different teams have varying clinical responsibilities and also reflect the sub-specialty interests in otolaryngology. The student will be encouraged to attach himself/herself to a number of these teams during his/her stay. In this way, he/she will be able to assist the ENT residents in the course of his/her duties and obtain some continuity of care of individual patients. The duties will comprise working in the outpatient clinics (both adult and pediatric), on the wards and in the operating room. The student will be encouraged to visit the center for audiology and speech pathology and also the vestibular clinic. A selection of audiovisual aids from the department's library are recommended for the student's use. Attendance at conferences, clinical ward rounds, and didactic sessions are strongly encouraged. A reading list is given to the student at the beginning of the rotation. As an acting intern, the student is a full time member of our departmental team, and is encouraged to accept a greater degree of clinical responsibility. There will reasonable on call obligations taken from home. This may include one weekend during the month long rotation. We recommend this elective for students contemplating otolaryngology as a career choice.
• Testimonials

  A number of both our current residents and alumni have taken this course as visiting students. Here is what they had to say:

  "Spending time at UTMB for an away rotation was an amazing experience. I was immediately welcomed as part of the team, and was always able to participate in every day activities from OR cases to clinic visits to educational sessions. The attendings, residents, and staff welcomed me into their routine and ensured I had a full range of experiences within all of the subspecialties of ENT. The obvious skill and knowledge of the staff along with the clear dedication to patient care motivated me to work hard every day and strive to learn all I could. The support, camaraderie, and fun I experienced while on my rotation made my decision to apply to UTMB for residency very easy, and I am ecstatic to be joining the UTMB team and welcoming new visiting students to spend time with us. I cannot think of a better place to gain exposure to such an amazing field with such outstanding physicians." — Lara Reichert, MD

  "My away rotation at UTMB was a great experience. I was extremely impressed with the facilities, faculty, and of course the scenery. The whole experience showed me more of what Otolaryngology consisted of helping solidify my choice in the specialty. I learned a lot during the rotation and felt the faculty really challenged their residents as well as advocated for their improvement. The residents were friendly and helpful which was a pleasant asset to the program and a necessary component in my considerations. The camaraderie of the residents outside of work really created an enjoyable atmosphere that I knew instantly I wanted to be a part of. By the end of my rotation at UTMB, I realized the program and location was a good fit for me and my family." — Steven Smith, MD

  "I did a lot of research on the different ENT programs in Texas prior to rotating at UTMB. My wife and I both have a lot of family in Texas and I was determined to match in the area. I chose to rotate at UTMB over the other Texas ENT programs (I was only able to do 1 clinical away rotation due to scheduling conflicts) because of the great things I had heard about UTMB through word of mouth and through Otomatch. In short, UTMB exceeded my expectations. By the end of my first day I knew this is where I wanted to match. The faculty was universally friendly and inclusive; Dr. McCammon and Dr. Pine in particular offered me a ton of advice on my applications, strengths/weaknesses, and how to approach the interview process. The camaraderie among residents was readily apparent. As a student, I felt that the ENT residents treated me like one of them. Clinically, I received broad exposure to the different subspecialties including general ENT, pediatrics, otology, trauma, and head and neck. UTMB is also unique in having the primary prison hospital for the state of Texas (TDC). As a student in TDC clinic I did a ton of procedures including flexible scope exams, rigid nasal endoscopy, and microscopy with cerumen removal. Outside of the hospital, Galveston is a very quirky and fun place to live: there are lots of beaches, festivals, attractions (i.e. Moody gardens), bars, restaurants, historical sites, and local culture. Overall, I could go on and on about why I loved UTMB when I rotated and why I am thrilled to be here for residency. I hope future ENT applicants read this testimonial and are as encouraged to pursue UTMB as I was." — Jeremy Foon, MD

  "My acting internship at UTMB was one of my favorite rotations during medical school. I definitely enjoyed my time spent in the clinic, operating room, and lecture hall, but more importantly, I was impressed by the people here. I felt that the faculty were down-to-earth and meshed well with the residents. The residents were enthusiastic, nice, helpful, and had an excellent sense of teamwork. It quickly became clear that the residents had a great bond with one another, and they had a great time both in and out of the hospital. This fun, productive, and supportive atmosphere is what drew me to this program." — Ben McIntire