Trainees working together in a lab
Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Resident Research

Residents are required to engage in mentored research training throughout the residency period. To support this requirement, residents spend six months doing research during the PGY-4 year. Through our advanced research training track, one resident each year pursues an 18-month research rotation beginning during the PGY-3 year.

Our residents have been remarkably successful in competing for extramural grants and have had impressive research productivity, particularly in the last few years. Resident-initiated projects have created the first 3-D printed airway splint (which made international news and has emerged into a dynamic NIH funded program), designed a prospective randomized controlled trial for perioperative infection prevention, made cutting-edge discoveries in head and neck cancer genomics with immediate translational potential and implemented a lean system for operating room efficiency.

Otolaryngology Resident Research Committee

The department’s Research Committee, co-chaired by Steven Chinn, MD, MPH, Erin Kirkham, MD, MPH and David Kohrman, PhD continues our long history of promoting research excellence among trainees. Residents meet monthly to review progress, assist with grant-writing and manuscript preparation, review research methodology and liaise with departmental faculty.

The committee also provides financial support for trainee research projects through the Otolaryngology Resident Research Committee Research Grant. This grant awards $10,000 total annually and aims to supplement extramural funding mechanisms in order to foster meaningful and substantive clinical and/or basic science research. Recipients are announced at the Charles J. Krause, MD Lectureship in June.

a female scientist working in a lab Department Resident Research Awards

Resident research projects are presented at the annual Charles J. Krause, MD Lectureship, with awards given for outstanding projects.

  • Paparella Otologic Research Award
  • Rontal Family Resident Education Award
  • John L. Kemink, MD, Clinical Research Award
  • Merle Lawrence Basic Science Research Award
view of all posters in hallway Publications, Oral Presentations & Poster Presentations

Residents are expected to present and publish their work throughout their residency. The department offers financial support for trainees whose research is accepted for presentation at industry meetings and conferences.

  • Learn more about our department's research
  • Research Committee Co-Chairs
    labcoat Steven B Chinn, MD, MPH, FACS
    Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
    Program Associate, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
    Otolaryngology Education Lead
    Profile-ErinKirkham-2023 Erin M Kirkham, MD, MPH, FACS
    Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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