Curriculum

The Physician Assistant Fellowship in Otolaryngology is a comprehensive 12-month program. Core competencies have been established in the evaluation and management of various head and neck disorders.

Physician assistants provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive health care services under the supervision of physicians. During the fellowship, the fellow is assigned a supervising physician who provides proper supervision in accordance with Arizona state law and Mayo Clinic practice guidelines for physician assistants.

By the end of the fellowship year, you will have:

Performed minor office procedures

• Obtaining a patient history
• Head and neck physical examination
• Ordering diagnostic studies
• Formulating a differential diagnosis
• Radiographic interpretation
• Applied pharmacology

Exhibited a working knowledge of relevant disease entities

• Ear pathology
  • Infections
  • Trauma
  • Tumors (cholesteatoma, glomus tumors, acoustic neuromas)
  • Facial nerve disorders
  • Vertigo and imbalance
  • Hearing disorders
• Nose and sinus pathology
  • Infections
  • Trauma
  • Sinonasal tumors
  • Allergic disorders
  • Smell disorders
  • Epistaxis
  • Sinus disease
• Pharyngeal and oral cavity pathology
  • Infections
  • Trauma
  • Oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors
  • Taste disorders
  • Odontogenic pathology
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
• Laryngeal pathology
  • Infections
  • Trauma
  • Tumors
  • Voice disorders
  • Swallow disorders
• Neck pathology
  • Infections
  • Trauma
  • Tumors (lymphoma, metastatic disease)
  • Thyroid gland disorders
  • Parathyroid gland disorders
  • Airway management
  • Tracheotomy management
  • Laryngectomy management
  • Salivary gland disorders

Exhibited a working knowledge of relevant skills and procedures

• Ear pathology
• Microscopic otoscopy
• Myringotomy
• Pressure-equalizing tube placement
• Cerumen removal and external auditory canal debridement
• Rigid nasal endoscopy
• Nasal packing and control of epistaxis
• Flexible nasolaryngoscopy
• Tracheotomy tube placement and maintenance
• Transesophageal puncture tube placement and maintenance
• Wound care and management
• Airway management
• Suturing and suture removal

Successfully completed rotations

• Head and neck — microvascular reconstructive surgery
• Head and neck — transoral laser microsurgery
• Otology
• Rhinology and sinus surgery
• Laryngology and allergy
• Pediatric otolaryngology
• Facial plastic surgery
• Radiation oncology
• Audiology
• Speech and swallow therapy

Successfully completed assessments

• Weekly otolaryngology topic review
• Inpatient teaching rounds with attending physician and physician assistant staff
• Weekly multidisciplinary head and neck tumor board
• Bimonthly head and neck radiology conference
• Weekly otolaryngology core curriculum
• Bimonthly otolaryngology journal club
• Monthly morbidity and mortality conference
• Weekly case study review with attending physician
• Midyear written examination
• End-year manuscript

Grading or evaluation

Successful completion of all clinical rotations, program seminars, formal presentations, activities and the midterm examination, as well as preparation of an academic manuscript, is required for graduation.

Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences uses evaluative tools that include:

• Written examination
• Demonstration of skills
• Self-assessment exercises
• Faculty reviews

Curriculum enhancements

Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences is committed to developing and maintaining the best education programs. The curriculum and other aspects of this program are routinely assessed and changed as necessary to ensure the highest quality training.