Clinical Rotation and Call Schedule
The close geographic proximity of our three primary medical centers is a major benefit to residents on call - there is no driving between medical centers - just a quick walk from site to site when needed.
Residency Rotation and Call Schedule
Clinical Rotation by Program Year
PGY-1 (INTERN)
Residents spend their PGY-1 (intern) year rotating through general surgery and otolaryngology head and neck surgery (OHNS) services during thirteen 4-week blocks. When they are on an off-service (non-OHNS) rotation, residents rotate through general surgery rotations including Vascular surgery, Pediatric Surgery, VA general surgery, Surgical oncology/ endocrine surgery, and the Burn ICU.
PGY-2
PGY-2 residents are responsible for handling all in-house and emergency consultations while becoming very proficient at airway management, trauma care, and general pediatric procedures. There is an emphasis on early surgical exposure, with residents developing autonomy in multiple procedures early.
PGY-3
PGY-3 residents continue developing core competencies in every adult otolaryngology specialty. Early exposure to all subspecialties is an important means to guide in career planning. The PGY 3 year includes a 5 month protected research block.
PGY-4
The PGY-4 year is primarily focused on developing advanced skills in head & neck, plastic, and skull base surgical procedures. The PGY-4 also serves as the chief on the pediatric service, developing skills in complex pediatric cases including airway reconstruction, otologic surgery, sinus surgery, and craniofacial reconstructive procedures.
PGY-5
PGY-5 residents are the chiefs on all services and direct all other residents. Residents have exposure to all adult otolaryngology services, with an emphasis on developing autonomy, teaching, and leadership.
Exposure and clinical rotation by PGY year are outlined in the table below:
| General Surgery | Comprehensive / General Oto | FPRS | Otology | Laryngology | Rhinology / Sleep | Head and Neck | Ped OTO | VA | |
| PGY 1 | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| PGY 2 | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||
| PGY 3 | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||
| PGY 4 | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||
| PGY 5 | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Clinical Rotation by Location
Our residents rotate at the following locations:
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Adult Hospital)
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Nashville Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Williamson County Hospital/Cool Springs Surgery Center
One Hundred Oaks Outpatient Center
Wilson County Hospital/Outpatient Surgery Center
Call Schedule
In 2021, our residency switched to a night float system. Every night, a junior resident (PGY-2 or PGY-3) and a senior resident (PGY-4 or PGY-5) are on call for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, and the Veteran's Administration Hospital. An attending specific to each hospital is also on call. The close geographic proximity of our three medical centers is a major benefit to residents on call: there is no driving between medical centers—just a quick walk from site to site when needed.
Junior Resident (PGY-2 and PGY-3) Call
Except for holidays, there is an in-house junior resident during the week, Sunday night through Thursday night. Junior residents take such night float call in one week (PGY-3) or two week (PGY-2) blocks. PGY-2 residents cover 6 weeks of nights and PGY-3 residents cover 4 weeks of nights. Weekends (Friday night through Sunday day) are home call covered by two different junior residents. During call, junior residents are responsible for seeing and managing all consults and floor issues. Junior residents can discuss patients with senior residents, who act as backup from home. Junior residents directly contact attending physicians to discuss management plans while on call.
Senior Residents (PGY-4 and PGY-5) Call
The senior resident on call takes back-up call from home and is available to assist the in-house junior residents as needed. The ten senior residents are in a single call pool and rotate the on-call schedule:
- Weekday call: senior residents take back-up home call on average every tenth night.
- Weekend call: a single senior resident is on back-up home call Friday evening through Monday morning, an on-call average of one weekend out of every ten weekends.
Facial Trauma Call
We share call for facial trauma with the Plastic Surgery and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery services. Our department is on call for facial trauma every Tuesday, as well as a rotating Friday-Monday schedule split between the three services.