Department of Otorhinolaryngology

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Otorhinolaryngology

Fellowship Programs: Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery

Fellowship Director

Alexander G. Chiu, MD
Assistant Professor, Director
Rhinology Fellowship Program

Fellowship Co-Directors

David W. Kennedy, MD
Vice-Dean
University of Pennsylvania
Professor, Division of Rhinology

James N. Palmer, MD
Associate Professor, Director
Division of Rhinology

Noam A. Cohen, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Director
Rhinology Research Laboratory

The Rhinology Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania has had a long storied tradition of producing leaders in our specialty. Originally started at Penn in 1992 under the leadership of David Kennedy, MD, the Division of Rhinology has grown to encompass four clinical rhinologists, two nurse practitioners, a clinical research nurse, an allergy center and a dedicated Rhinology research laboratory of over ten investigators.

Our goal is to provide the highest level of dedicated rhinologic and skull base subspecialty training available to qualified applicants. The training is aimed towards providing an extensive clinical subspecialty experience, as well as opportunities to participate in leading translational research, with the ultimate goal to produce future academic leaders within the specialty. The extensive national and international referral patterns for the rhinologic service at Penn ensure a wide spectrum and high volume of tertiary rhinologic cases.

Fellowship surgical experience benefits from the busy practices of four surgeons, and is geared primarily towards the more challenging skull base, orbital, intracranial and revision surgical management issues.

The Division of Rhinology performs greater than 550 endoscopic surgeries/year and 125 skull base cases/year, and case mix comprises mainly of complex frontal sinus surgery, revision FESS, benign and malignant sinonasal tumors, pituitary resections, epistaxis surgery, orbital surgery and CSF leak and encephalocele repair.

Fellowship Description

  • The Fellowship is currently a 1 year clinical/research experience. Consideration is currently being given to the option of two additional years of funded research.

  • Clinical rotations are provided on the clinical services of David Kennedy, MD, James Palmer, MD, and Alexander Chiu, MD. The extensive national and international referral patterns for the rhinologic service at Penn ensures a wide spectrum and high volume of tertiary rhinologic cases. Fellowship surgical experience is geared primarily towards the more challenging skull base, orbital, intracranial and revision surgical management issues. Combining the caseloads of the three surgeons, there are greater than 550 endoscopic surgeries/year and 125 skull base cases/year, which includes benign and malignant sinonasal tumors, pituitary resections, CSF leaks and encephaloceles.

  • The Rhinology Research Laboratory is headed by Noam Cohen, MD, PhD. Protected time is provided for research and extensive opportunities are available in this well-funded and supported laboratory. Current research projects involve the investigation of biofilm rhinosinusitis, ciliary physiology of the paranasal sinuses, and novel topical treatments for recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis. Past fellows have also been involved with multiple clinical projects that have resulted in publications and national presentations, and have had many opportunities to collaborate in book chapters and review articles. There are additional research opportunities in the internationally renowned University of Pennsylvania Smell and Taste Center, led by Richard Doty, PhD.

  • The Otolaryngic Allergy Center offers inhalational allergen testing and immunotherapy. Fellows will be instructed on the basics of otolaryngic allergy and how to manage an allergy clinic.

  • Fellows are paid at University PGY-6 level ($54,000 for FY 2007-08) in addition to full University health benefits.

  • The fellowship encourages and provides the opportunity to present research works at national meetings. Funding is provided for oral presentations.

  • Fellows participate on an equal basis in attending call schedule (2-3 nights/month) and participate in resident supervision and teaching.

  • Fellows participate in the instruction of visiting fellows, mini-fellowship participants and as a faculty member in the internationally acclaimed Penn International Rhinology Course.

  • Fellows present Grand Rounds at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery approximately two times a year.

  • Fellows participate in Rhinology/Otology teaching conference on a weekly basis.

Requirements For Appointment

  • Board eligible/Board certified Otolaryngologist
  • Valid Pennsylvania state license
  • Applications are taken in the winter and spring for a position beginning July 1 of the subsequent year
  • Interest in subspecialty Rhinology and Rhinologic research

Current and Past Rhinology Fellows

  • John Lee, MD - Current Fellow
  • Jayakar Nayak, MD, PhD - Current Fellow
  • Kevin Welch, MD - Assistant Professor, Loyola University Medical Center
  • Brad Woodworth, MD - Assistant Professor, University of Alabama-Birmingham
  • Satish Govindaraj, MD - Assistant Professor, Mt. Sinai University
  • Alexis Jackman, MD- Assistant Professor, Montefiore University
  • Jivianne Lee, MD- Private practice, Los Angelos, CA
  • Noam Cohen, MD, PhD - Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania
  • Rakesh Chandra - Assistant Professor, Northwestern University
  • Rodney Schlosser - Associate Professor, Medical University of South Carolina
  • Andrew Lane - Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University
  • Stephanie Joe - Assistant Professsor, University of Illinois-Chicago
  • Erin Wright - Associate Professor, St. Joseph's Health Care London, Canada
  • Peter Hwang - Associate Professor, Stanford University
  • Richard Orlandi - Associate Professor, University of Utah
  • Brent Senior - Associate Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Eugenia Vining - Clinical Associate Professor, Yale University
  • Donald Lanza - Private practice, Sinonasal Institute of South Florida

Application

The University of Pennsylvania is participating in the Rhinology match. Applications should be filed through www.SFmatch.org with an application deadline of February 1. Applications will be reviewed on an individual basis and interviews will be offered in March and April.

For more information please contact:

Alexander G. Chiu, MD
Department of ORL-HNS, Division of Rhinology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-662-2360 | Fax: 215-614-0071
Email: Alexander.Chiu@uphs.upenn.edu