Indiana University School of Medicine1130 W. Michigan St.Fesler Hall 400Indianapolis, IN 46202(317) 278-1258
Avinash Mantravadi, MD FACS – Fellowship Director
Program Website |
Number of Fellowships: 1 Duration (in years) / Type: 1 year year / 1 yr clinical Faculty: Avinash Mantravadi, MD (Head & Neck Surgery/Microvascular Reconstruction) Jessica Yesensky, MD (Head and Neck Surgery/Microvascular Reconstruction) Chad Galer, MD (Head & Neck Surgery) Michael G. Moore, MD Michael Sim, MD (Head & Neck Surgery/ Microvascular Reconstruction) Benjamin Anthony, MD (Head & Neck Surgery/Laryngology) Taha Shipchandler, MD (Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery/Microvascular Reconstruction) Jon Ting, MD (Head & Neck Surgery/ Rhinology/Skull Base Surgery) Mark Langer, MD (Radiation Oncology) Paul Anthony (Radiation Oncology) Sara Jo Grethlein, MD (Medical Oncology) Gregory Durm, MD (Medical Oncology) Kristine Mosier, DMD, PhD (Head and Neck Radiology) Nicholas Koontz, MD (Neuroradiologist) |
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Overview: Indiana University Medical Center is the only academic medical center in the state of Indiana and serves the head and neck cancer patients of this population of over 6.6 million people. The primary head and neck cancer service at Indiana University School of Medicine is located at IU Health University Hospital. Attached to this building is the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, an NCI-designated cancer center since 1999. At this location, patient care is provided by all members of a multidisciplinary team including representatives from head and neck surgery, radiation and medical oncology, oral pathology, neuroradiology, dental, speech therapy, oral maxillofacial prosthodontics, and thoracic surgery. Additional hospitals on campus include Eskenazi Medical Center, The Indianapolis VA Medical Center, Riley Hospital for Children, and IU Health Methodist Hospital.
Objectives: We offer a one year clinically oriented fellowship focused on developing skills in assessment, treatment strategies, and surgical techniques utilized in the management and reconstruction of advanced head and neck malignancies and certain traumatic, infectious, and benign neoplastic conditions. The main goal is to provide an experience that will prepare the trainee to enter into a career in academic head and neck surgery. In addition to developing proficiency in head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery, the participant will also be integrated into the multidisciplinary team at Indiana University in an effort to emphasize the importance of this comprehensive approach to care.
Outside of clinical duties, a strong emphasis will be placed on the fellow’s role as an educator. This part of the experience will come through regular interactions with residents and medical students and through the experience as an attending physician at Eskenazi Health Center. This will culminate at the end of the year where the fellow will participate in the annual discussion and dissection free flap cadaver course. The goal of this activity will be to solidify their knowledge of these techniques at the end of their fellowship to best prepare them to transition into practice.
Strengths: The primary strength of the program stems from the diversity of training backgrounds and enthusiasm of the faculty as well as the breadth and depth of the patient care and teaching experience. As the only academic center in the state of Indiana, this program serves as the major referral source for a large geographic area, resulting in a high volume of both early and advanced stage disease and salvage operations. The trainee will gain exposure to all aspects of advanced head and neck surgery including advanced ablative and endocrine procedures, open and endoscopic skull base surgery, head and neck reconstruction including a large volume of free tissue transfers and Mohs reconstructions, tracheal resections, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), and transoral laser approaches to aerodigestive tract malignancies. As a credentialed clinical instructor, the fellow is able to gain early independence in the workup and clinical management of head and neck patients and as an educator in the supervision of residents in the clinic and operating room at Eskenazi Hospital.
Eligibility: The applicant must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, General Surgery, or Plastic Surgery and must have passed or attained qualification to sit for the American Board of Otolaryngology, Surgery, or Plastic Surgery. Canadian applicants must have passed or attained qualification to sit for the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada Exam.
Fellows’ Duties/Responsibilities: The head and neck fellow will be involved in all major head and neck surgical cases. They will assist in the training of senior residents in moderately complex head and neck procedures, while being the primary surgeon/first assistant for free flap harvests and most components of head and neck reconstructive procedures. Each week, they will have their own outpatient clinic for one-half to one full day, where they will see patients with general otolaryngology and head and neck disorders, and they will be provided one-half to one full day per week to schedule their own operative procedures from this practice. At any time, the fellow can approach other staff from the institution to assist with or provide surgical back-up for the procedures. The fellow will also assist with staffing of inpatient consults at the IU Health University Hospital.
Regarding floor care, the resident team, headed by the chief resident, will have primary responsibility of day-to-day patient care, however, the fellow will be asked to actively follow all major head and neck patients and oversee their care with additional attending supervision.
During the course of the year, the fellow will be required to generate and complete a clinical research project worthy of submission for publication and/or presentation at a national or international meeting. In addition, the fellow will be given the opportunity to spend two weeks on the medical oncology service (primarily in clinic) and an additional two weeks in clinic with the head and neck radiation oncology team to gain a more in-depth appreciation for these aspects of cancer therapy.
Research Opportunities: As the largest medical school in the United States, Indiana University School of Medicine provides ample opportunity for research collaboration clinically and in the basic sciences. Numerous resources are available to assist in the conception, data acquisition, and analysis for projects initiated by the fellow. Opportunities for immediate research contribution include the department’s ongoing collaboration with the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology in the facial nerve laboratory investigating improved reconstructive outcomes after facial nerve injury, as well as the multidisciplinary IUPUI Center for HPV Research.
Supervision, Teaching & Call: On the head and neck surgical team, there is one chief resident (PGY-5), one intermediate resident (PGY-3), an intern and a physician-assistant. The integration of the head and neck surgical fellow will be with the goal of optimizing the training experience to all involved, while improving patient care. Once proficiency has been demonstrated by the fellow, they will be allowed to transition into a supervised staff role where they will instruct residents on moderately complex head and neck surgical procedures such as neck dissections, thyroidectomies, and salivary gland surgery. The fellow will work with the head and neck surgical staff for all free flap harvests and microvascular anastamoses, with senior residents being incorporated, when appropriate. Regarding patient care, the chief resident will have the primary responsibility of dictating patient care, with the fellow in direct communication with the team on all major head and neck cases.
The fellow will be intimately involved in training of residents and medical students during the fellowship experience. This education will be in the form of didactic teaching at the head and neck departmental lecture series (will teach approximately one lecture every three months). They will be given additional opportunities to provide instruction in the clinic, operating room and on the wards of the hospital. The head and neck fellow will also be asked to organize and run the head and neck surgery team’s presentations at the weekly tumor board discussion.
At the completion of the academic year, the fellow will be given the opportunity to teach a portion of the head and neck reconstructive section of the annual IU Basic Science and Cadaver Dissection Course. This will allow for the fellow to reinforce their experience in free flap harvest and head and neck reconstructive theory. The head and neck reconstructive staff will be available to provide teaching materials/framework so this will not produce an unreasonable burden on the fellow as they approach the end of their experience.
The fellow will be included in the staff otolaryngology call schedule and will cover approximately 4 weeks of call during the year. The also will be asked, within reason, to be available for active issues that arise with in-patient major head and neck cancer patients.
PAST FELLOWS
- Gaurav Prasad, MD- Private Practice/Clinical Instructor- Meritas Health/University of Kansas- Kansas City, MO
- Gregory Ward, MD- Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery- St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO
- David Hernandez, MD- Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery- Baylor University, Houston TX