Project Summary/Abstract
Surgeon-scientists are uniquely positioned to accelerate the translation of basic discoveries into new clinical
treatments. However, a declining number of surgeon-scientists, including Otolaryngologists, has been well
documented. Recognizing the need to develop trainees prepared to succeed as academic Otolaryngology
surgeon-scientists, we have developed a program offering an academic career development pathway for
Otolaryngology resident trainees, and an early mentored immersive research opportunity for medical students.
This training proposal seeks funding for the formation of the Otolaryngology Surgeon-Scientist career Path
(OSSP) program at Duke University. Our proposal combines the substantial academic rigor of the Duke
University School of Medicine, with the Duke Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Science’s
commitment to training surgeon-scientists, and forms a new transdisciplinary team that is uniquely qualified to
merge basic and applied Otolaryngology research with surgical practice. The program offers dedicated research
training and career development mentoring to residents matching into an ACGME-approved 7-year
Otolaryngology residency track. The training program will be co-directed by two active surgeon-scientists with
complementary areas of research expertise, involving basic science and clinical research. Program participants
will include one resident and two medical students per year. OSSP residents and students will be selected based
on academic and research achievements. Trainees will select a primary mentor from among our highly qualified
and diverse group of researchers from multiple primary departments at Duke, offering opportunities for immersive
research projects concentrated on basic, translational, or global/population health research. Medical student
trainees: students will engage in an academic-year program of dedicated research with OSSP faculty mentors.
Resident trainees: following an initial 2 years of clinical residency, trainees will follow structured didactic work
covering biostatistics, research ethics, and professional development skills, and engage in a sustained 2-year
protected mentored research block, prior to re-engaging in senior clinical training. Ongoing mentorship and
mechanisms to maintain involvement in research projects will help prepare resident trainees for successful
transition to the next phase in their academic Otolaryngology career upon completion of the OSSP program.