Otolaryngology Residency Program

The Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers a full complement of services in the major areas of:

PGY1 (Intern)
Resident will spend the first two months with the Department of Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in rotations, including general surgery and trauma. The additional four months will include rotations with anesthesiology, neurosurgery, neuro- intensive care and ophthalmology. The remaining six months of the year are spent on Otolaryngology Services. The role of the intern on these services is primarily to manage inpatient care. However, the intern is typically assigned to clinic or surgical cases appropriate to their level of training. 

PGY2
Resident rotates six months on the General Otolaryngology, three months on the Pediatric Otolaryngology and three months on the Head & Neck Surgery/Laryngology rotation. On each of these services, the resident sees all inpatient consultations. Responsibilities are split between clinic and the operating room. In particular, the resident becomes very proficient at airway management (tracheostomy, direct laryngoscopy, etc.) and general pediatric procedures. 

PGY3
Resident year is split between time on the General Otolaryngology services (General, Pediatric and Otology). Responsibilities are split between clinic and operating room. The PGY3 resident gains significant experience with basic otolaryngology procedures, sinus surgery, septorhinoplasty and facial reconstruction. The last three months of rotation includes Otology completed with our clinical faculty in Ft. Worth, Texas.

PGY4
Resident rotates three months on General Otolaryngology, Head/Neck Laryn, Otology/Neurotology and Pediatric Otolaryngology. The PGY4 resident spends a large majority of their time in the operating room and gain significant experience with multiple head and neck procedures. This year is also an opportunity to build on previous experience with sinus surgery, septorhinoplasty, and facial reconstruction.  

PGY5 (Chief)
Resident rotates three months on Head/Neck Laryn, three months on General Facial/Plastics and six months on General Otolaryngology. The resident spends a large majority of their time in the operating room. They are the chiefs on all services and direct junior residents. The Chief Resident has significant autonomy and directly mentors a PGY2 in the clinic and operating room. The Chief resident gains significant experience in advanced surgical cases and is able to finesse their surgical skills with increased independence.

Salaries and Benefits
View our most current Salaries and Benefits.

Vacation Days

• PGY 1-21 Working Days
• PGY 2-28 Working Days
• PGY 3-28 Working Days
• PGY 4-28 Working Days
• PGY 5-28 Working Days

Sick Leave
PGY 1 to PGY 5 receive 7 working days per year.

Health/Dental Insurance
The individual monthly premium for the group hospitalization coverage is furnished by TTUHSC. Coverage for dependents is available at the House staff Officer's (Resident's) expense. A $5,000 term life insurance policy and $5,000 accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included in the insurance plan.

Long-Term Disability - Is provided by TTUHSC for all residents and their eligible dependents.

Professional Liability Insurance
Coverage for House staff Officer (Resident) is at the level of $100,000-$300,000 while participating in TTUHSC sponsored training activities. This insurance covers any activity which is part of Appointee's training program.

Other Benefits

• Monthly meal allowance
• Lab coats and laundry service
• Membership to AAO-HNS including FLEX (Focused Lifelong Education Xperience) Home Study Course
• ACLS and ATLS required. ACLS and ATLS must be obtained prior to start of residency. The department will pay for ACLS renewals through residency. 
• PGY 1's receive loupes

House Staff Policies
To review our policies, please click House Staff Policies. 

Miscellaneous

• Meeting Expenses-for meetings where resident is presenting an abstract and has written the manuscript in journal format
• Resident office area is equipped with computer and access to the internet and database programs

• Five-year training program
• Selection of one resident per year
• Six-months of Otolaryngology during intern year
• Three-months of dedicated for research time (PGY3)
• Every Otolaryngology subspecialty represented, including Sleep
• Sites of primary rotations and call are on three medical campuses
  • TTUHSC Medical Pavilion
  • University Medical Center
  • Covenant Medical Center and Covenant Children's Hospital
• Three-to-Four hours of protected resident education/academic time per week
• Multiple dedicated courses including:
  • Journal Club
  • Temporal Bone Lab and Course
  • Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Course
  • Head and Neck Cadaver Dissection