Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at Oakland

Welcome

The Residency Training Program in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) - is sponsored by the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at Kaiser Permanente Oakland. It is fully accredited for two residents per year. The program requires five years of postgraduate training.

The first year is spent as a general surgery resident in the University of California San Francisco East Bay General Surgery Residency Training Program. In accordance with the ACGME guidelines for the PGY-1 residents’ educational experience, the year includes five months in at least three of the following: general surgery, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, or surgical oncology. The year also includes two months of otolaryngology and one month of emergency medicine, critical care (ICU or trauma service), anesthesia and neurosurgery. The remaining four years are spent as an Otolaryngology resident at Kaiser Permanente Oakland. There are a total of eight residents in training.

The program offers broad clinical experience with an emphasis on diagnostic and therapeutic methods, supplemented by an extensive schedule of conferences, lectures, and rounds providing in-depth basic and clinical science teaching.

Residents are given a minimum of four months of dedicated time for research on individual and departmental projects and produce papers for presentation and publication.

Our graduates develop excellent surgical, clinical, research, and academic skills preparing them to pursue their ultimate career objectives. As a final tenet of our training philosophy, we remain dedicated to our residents beyond graduation - assisting them with studying for board certification, pursuing fellowship appointments, and seeking practice opportunities. Many of our former residents remain active in the program attending journal club, proctoring conferences, and contributing to ongoing research projects.

Our Philosophy

The philosophy of our residency program is to employ our dedicated attending staff and the extensive resources of the Kaiser Permanente medical system to support a complete educational experience fostering the development of the highest quality head and neck surgeons. Important processes and concepts in developing this philosophy include:

• A highly selective interview/match process
• An introductory supervised "one-on-one" proctorship
• Graduated autonomy leading to independent clinical decision making and independent surgery
• An academic atmosphere fostering inquiry and research
• Comprehensive didactics
• A supportive, collegial work environment
• A multi-ethnic patient population promoting an understanding of diversity/tolerance
• Opportunities for community service/International medicine.

Our nonprofit HMO status emphasizes disease prevention, healthy lifestyles and cost conscious medicine.