HWN Suggests

Why ENT? Choosing a specialty and what drew me to ENT

When I say “ENT,” you say “tonsils.” True, ENT may not be as sexy as, say, neurosurgery, but in the public eye it remains a largely hidden specialty. As I learned more about otolaryngology as a specialty, I kept finding myself saying “they can do that?” That’s the beautiful thing about ENT. It’s a little bit minimally invasive surgery. A little bit non-invasive procedures. A little bit of plastics. A little bit of orthopaedics. A little bit of neurosurgery. And a little bit of good old open dissection. A little bit of immunology, rhinology, family practice, pediatrics, infectious disease, oncology. The advantage of having a specialty that is specialized on a specific anatomical region is the…

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Articles of Interest

A Conversation with an Otolaryngologist

I treat many types of conditions including recurrent acute otitis media, chronic middle ear fluid, hearing loss, snoring, acute and chronic adenotonsillitis, allergic and non-allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, hoarseness, tumors of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, cough, gastrointestinal reflux (GERD), vertigo, and headache.

ENT in the context of global health

Global health is a fashionable term frequently used in the twenty-first century’s news that is rarely understood by ear, nose and throat (ENT) professionals. Communicable diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria have been in the headlines of global health for decades. Despite the recent public health concerns about noncommunicable diseases, including ENT disorders, these disorders still receive little attention on the global health stage. Despite the ‘benign’ nature and a large number of patients affected at a given time, noncommunicable diseases were found to account for 60% of international mortality in 2008. More specifically to ENT, disabling hearing impairment has been found to be the most common disability globally. Therefore, it is now critical for otolaryngologists worldwide to get involved in the overlooked ENT global issues.

Healthcare Disparities in Otolaryngology

Healthcare disparities have been identified by numerous research studies within otolaryngology for many vulnerable groups that include racial and ethnic minority groups, low-income populations, and individuals from rural areas among many others. These populations continue to experience suboptimal access to timely, quality otolaryngologic care that exacerbate disparities in health outcomes.

So You Want to Be an Otorhinolaryngologist (ENT)

So you want to be an otolaryngologist, or ENT. You like the idea of working on the ears, nose, and throat. Overall the head just really gets you going. Let’s debunk the public perception myths, and give it to you straight. This is the reality of otolaryngology.

Tackling Controversial Issues in Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology programs might want to reassess how they evaluate residency applicants, considering the decline in application numbers and evidence that the admission process might overemphasize cognitive ability at the expense of other important traits.

What controversies have ENT talking? 3 expert insights

When I think about controversies in otolaryngology broadly, a couple of systemic issues come to mind. First is the issue of how we will use and incorporate telemedicine into our practices when the pandemic is over. There is still a lot of debate about what can or cannot be accomplished successfully via this modality and questions remain about the trade-off between access to care and quality of physical examination. Second is the issue of value-based care and how this can or should be incorporated into the practices of a surgical subspecialty.

Why I Chose Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as My Specialty

I found otolaryngology almost by chance. In my second year of medical school, I started working on a research project (which wasn’t otolaryngology-related) with one of the otolaryngology residents at our hospital. She asked me if I would like to join her and one of her attendings, Chris Holsinger, MD, in the operating room later that week to observe a thyroidectomy.

Resources

American Board of Otolaryngology

The American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery serves the public by assuring that diplomates meet our standards of training, knowledge and professionalism through initial and continuing certification.