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Course Objectives

The Otolaryngology clerkship clinical experience occurs during third year and is a three week sub-rotation under the Department of Surgery. The Otolaryngology sub-rotation rotation takes place at our core teaching sites or community sites from the list below.

 

  • Michael Garron Hospital

  • Sinai Health

  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

  • Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael’s Hospital

  • University Health Network

Each hospital develops and distributes a site-specific schedule of teaching sessions and clinical experience in the outpatient clinics. The remainder of the time will be spent on the wards and in the operating room. Each student will be assigned to a primary supervisor, who will serve as the main contact for questions and guidance, however, within each hospital, students will have an opportunity to work with other memebers in our department. Call experience is included, where students will have the opportunity to shadow residents during this time. This sub-rotation aims to build a solid foundation in the diagnosis and management of disorders that affect the ears, nose, throat, neck and upper aerodigestive tract. Students will also develop the skills necessary to perform a comprehensive head and neck examination.

Call Shifts

Within the OHNS sub-rotation, call experience is included. Students are responsible for self-scheduling call shifts at their assigned hospital in consultation with their preceptor or chief resident. Students must ensure that they are not post-call during mandatory teaching activities. 

OHNS 3-Week Rotation Requirements 

Students are expected to join our call team for 4-5 at home call or 4 in house call with at least one being a Friday or Saturday.

 

 

Course Objectives

The Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) sub-rotation is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of Otolaryngology and help them develop key clinical skills relevant to the specialty. 

 

By the end of this sub-rotation, students will have gained hands-on experience and foundational skills in the following Head & Neck examination techniques: 

  • Thyroid examination and cervical lymph node assessment 
  • Oral cavity and oropharyngeal examination
  • Ear examination, including otoscopy
  • Cranial nerve assessment 
  • Observed flexible nasopharyngoscopy 

 

While on rotation, students will also learn and be able to apply the following concepts and be able to demonstrate an approach to patients presenting with: 

  • Dizziness/Vertigo 
  • Epistaxis 
  • Hearing Loss
  • Nasal Obstruction
  • Neck Mass

Course Director

Dr. Ambrose Lee, umecoordinator.ohns@utoronto.ca

The MD Program Competency Framework describes the Exit Competencies that graduating medical students are expected to have acquired at completion of the MD Program Curriculum.

Click here to see the full learning outcomes.

Textbooks/Learning Resources

Recommended Readings (Textbook)

Toronto Notes, Comprehensive Medical Reference and Review for MCQE 1 and USMLE 2 Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery Chapter

Learning Guide

We feel that there are few resources designed to support your learning during your OHNS sub-rotation. These materials are intended to help you make the most of your time in the hospital by providing an understanding of key clinical skills.

We hope this Learning Guide enhances your understanding and helps you feel more prepared throughout your sub-rotation. 

Seminar Recordings & PowerPoints

Audiology & Pediatric Otolaryngology Seminar Recordings & PowerPoints

Online Resources:

Comprehensive Research Experience for Medical Students (CREMS)

Research Opportunities

The University of Toronto has the most extensive biomedical and health research resources in Canada and among the best in the world. Medical students are encouraged to explore their interest in research through opportunities organized within the UME program and through other initiatives offered by individual Departments and Hospital Research Institutes affiliated with the University. The majority of such opportunities are offered during the summer, when Preclerkship students in particular are able to devote large blocks of time to research projects.

Comprehensive Research Experience for Medical Students (CREMS)

CREMS is an umbrella program that allows interested medical students to gain extracurricular research experience in various structured sub-programs without interrupting their medical studies. CREMS aims to provide participating students with an opportunity to:

  • Explore their research interests

  • Gain valuable hands-on research experience

  • Prepare for a clinical career with a good research foundation and understanding of biomedical research

  • Consider a career as a clinician-scientist

For a complete description, please see: http://md.utoronto.ca/research

Students participating in any of the CREMS programs undertake an original research project under the supervision of a member from the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine. The research may be in the basic, clinical, applied biomedical, or epidemiological sciences, or in social sciences/humanities related to medicine or medical practice. Projects are diverse and may involve laboratory experiments, prospective, or retrospective clinical or social studies. All potential supervisors and research projects must be approved by the CREMS Director and Advisory Committee prior to commencement of the particular CREMS program of choice.

The CREMS programs are not part of the required medical curriculum. Students participating in the CREMS programs do so in addition to the regular official curriculum and electives as set forth by the Faculty of Medicine. Moreover, students must be in good academic standing (i.e. have passing grades in all courses) both to participate and continue in any of the CREMS programs. Failure to satisfy administrative requirements of the CREMS program may also lead to dismissal from this extra-curricular activity.

For all CREMS programs, participating students are expected to present their work at the Medical Students Research Day held in late winter/early spring of the following year.
The various CREMS programs are described below:

1. CREMS Research Scholar Program

The Research Scholar program is a 20-month longitudinal program that begins in January of first year of medical school with a modest commitment of time (up to ten hours per week) for the rest of the first year. It extends as a full-time block throughout the summer between first and second year, continues during second year (again up to ten hours per week), and then concludes with a second full-time block in the summer between second and third year. A stipend of $15,000 for the entire program is provided. The CREMS Research Scholar program accommodates up to 30 students at one time. Supervisors must be full or associate members of the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies. Please check the website for deadlines and information on the application process: https://md.utoronto.ca/research

2. CREMS Summer Program

This is a 10-to-12-week full-time program that can be completed either during the summer between first and second year or during the summer between second and third year. Students may seek out a mentor independently or select from a list of potential mentors provided by the CREMS program. The chosen supervisor does not need to be affiliated with a University of Toronto graduate program. Students are selected through a competitive application process, and each receives a stipend of $5,500. Please check the website for deadlines and information on the application process: http://md.utoronto.ca/summer-research-programs

3. MAA International Health-Related Scholarships (in partnership with CREMS)

This international health program is a 10-to-12-week summer experience that enables students to conduct research in a developing country. There are usually eight to ten positions available for the summer. The scholarship are offered by the Medical Alumni Association (MAA) and are intended to cover return airfare and a modest stipend. There are two options:

  • The supervisor is a U of T faculty member who has an ongoing global health project. or

  • The project can be self-initiated, provided that the student is able to secure both a U of T faculty supervisor and an in-country supervisor.

The quality of proposed projects is adjudicated by a CREMS program committee, and the top-ranked projects will be supported. Please check the website for deadlines and information on the application process: http://md.utoronto.ca/medical-alumni-association-crems-programs

4. MAA Scholarships in Humanities and Social Sciences (in partnership with CREMS)

This program provides a 10-to-12-week summer opportunity for two students to pursue research interests in the humanities or social sciences related to medicine. Preference will be given to one project related to the history of medicine. Supervisors do not have to be from the Faculty of Medicine but must be from the University of Toronto. A stipend of $5500 is provided. Please check the website for deadlines and information on the application process: http://md.utoronto.ca/medical-alumni-association-crems-programs

Other Extra-Curricular Research Opportunities

In addition to research under the umbrella of the CREMS programs, students may participate in other research opportunities made available by individual University Departments and Institutes or by hospitals. These include pure research programs as well as combined research/clinical experiences such as the Department of Paediatrics “PeRCS” (Pediatric Research and Clinical Summer) program. Please note that the application procedures, funding practices, expected time commitment, and eligibility restrictions are at the discretion of the sponsoring Department or institution.