The AdventHealth Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery APP Fellowship

The fellowship demands a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the head and neck, as well as a readiness to build proficiency in performing comprehensive patient evaluations, assisting in complex surgical procedures and managing pre- and postoperative care. By the end of the fellowship year, the fellow should have experience in the following:

Head, neck and neurotology clinic:

• Applied pharmacology
• Formulating a differential diagnosis and plan of care
• Obtaining a patient history and physical examination
• Ordering diagnostic studies, including labs and imaging
• Radiographic and laboratory interpretation
• Inpatient care and management
• Surgical first assist

Our clinical curriculum is designed around core rotation blocks:

Head and neck, where he/she will gain experience in the following:

• Laryngectomy
• Management of cutaneous malignancies and facial plastic reconstruction
• Microvascular reconstructive surgery
• Neck dissections
• Parotid surgery
• Peg tube placement
• Skull base surgery
• Thyroid/parathyroid surgery
• Tracheostomy surgery
• Transoral laser microsurgery and transoral robotic surgery

The fellow will participate in the postoperative care and management of all surgical patients.

Neurotology/audiology, where he/she will gain experience in the following:

• Craniectomy
• Cochlear implant (OCEA/OSIA/BAHA/bone bridge/Envoy Esteem)
• EAC reconstruction
• Mastoidectomy/tympanoplasty
• Stapedectomy

The fellow will participate in the postoperative care and management of all surgical patients.

General ENT, where he/she will gain experience in the following:

• Aspiration/incision and drainage of neck abscess
• Eustachian tube dilation and plugging
• Functional endoscopic sinus surgery
• Incision and drainage of peritonsillar abscess
• Septoplasty
• Tonsillectomy
• Tympanostomy tube

Medical oncology, where he/she will gain experience in management of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as the mitigation/treatment of side effects

Plastic surgery (with special focus on facial plastics)

Radiation oncology, where he/she will gain experience in primary and adjuvant radiation to head and neck, RAI and gamma knife radiation. He/she will learn how to manage side effects of radiation.

Speech and swallow therapy

Our didactic curriculum will run concurrently with core rotation blocks. Didactics will be delivered on Mondays of each week and will also include time spent with our head and neck surgical fellows during their lecture time. Examples of didactic material include:

Ear pathology:

• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Facial nerve disorders
• Infections, both acute and chronic
• Trauma
• Tumors (cholesteatoma, glomus tumors, acoustic neuromas)
• Vertigo and imbalance
• Hearing disorders (otosclerosis, hearing implants)

Cutaneous malignancies, including but not limited to basal cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma

Nose and sinus pathology

• Epistaxis
• Infection
• Sinonasal tumors
• Sinus disease

Pharyngeal and oral cavity pathology

• Infection
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Odontogenic pathology
• Oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors
• Trauma

Laryngeal pathology

• Infection
• Swallow disorders
• Tumors
• Voice disorders

Neck pathology

• Infections
• Parathyroid gland disorders
• Salivary gland disorders
• Thyroid gland disorders
• Trauma
• Tumors (lymphoma, metastatic disease)

The fellow will gain experience in performing minor procedures, including:

• Biopsies
• Cerumen removal and external auditory canal debridement
• Emergency airway management
• Fine Needle/core needle aspiration
• Flexible laryngoscopy and tracheoscopy
• Full-thickness and split-thickness skin graft harvest
• Mastoid debridement
• Microscopic otoscopy
• Myringotomy/pressure-equalizing tube placement
• Nasal packing and control of epistaxis
• Oral Cavity
• Oropharyngeal
• Rigid nasal endoscopy
• Shave/punch for cutaneous malignancies
• Suturing and suture removal
• Tracheotomy tube placement, exchange, and maintenance
• Transesophageal puncture tube placement and maintenance
• Wide local excision
• Wound care and management

• End-of-year research project
• Inpatient teaching rounds with attending physician and physician assistant staff
• Midyear written examination
• Neurotology, head and neck, and thyroid/parathyroid journal club
• (Pending CME credit), one head and neck or neurotology conference per year
• Weekly case study review with attending physician
• Weekly multidisciplinary head and neck tumor board
• Weekly otolaryngology core curriculum
• Weekly otolaryngology topic review

• Any graduated AG-ACNP/ACNP or PA-C
• Current AG-ACNP/ACNP or PA students currently enrolled in an accredited program

• National board certification
• Florida licensing

• Curriculum vitae/resume
• One-page statement of interest
• Transcripts from graduate education program — if you are a current student, send transcripts reflective of status within the program. Minimum GPA of 3.5 required.
• Copy of BLS and ACLS certifications
• Three letters of recommendation addressing clinical experience, clinical knowledge, critical thinking and professionalism — specifications for letters of recommendation found on application
• Completion of application found here

Fellows are selected based on demonstrated academic and clinical achievement, commitment to practice in a critical care environment, motivation, communication skills, overall maturity and growth mindset.

Upon acceptance of the online application, applicants must be available for an interview with program staff at AdventHealth. All travel-related costs are at the expense of the candidate.

Successful applications will meet all hiring requirements of the AdventHealth Medical Group Human Resources Department.

The AdventHealth APP Fellowship values diversity across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as age, gender identity, disability and years of experience in the health care field.