Fellowship in Neurotology

The Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina established a fellowship in Neurotology in 2012. In 2018, the Neurotology Fellowship was accredited by the ACGME under the directorship of Ted A. Meyer, M.D., Ph.D. Additional clinical faculty include Robert F. Labadie, M.D., Ph.D., Peter R. Dixon, M.D., MSc, Ted R. McRackan, M.D., MSCR, and Habib G. Rizk, M.D., MSc. This is a two-year program and we accept one fellow every two years. The fellowship provides a comprehensive experience in the following areas of otology and neurotology: audiological testing, management of patients with hearing loss, vestibular testing, management of patients with vestibular disorders, facial nerve disorders, tumors of the cerebellopontine angle and other lateral skull base tumors, temporal bone malignancies, and the management of CSF otorrhea, among others. Salary and benefits are commensurate with PGY-6 and PGY-7 level positions.

The Neurotology Fellow is expected to be prepared to undertake the clinical, outpatient, inpatient, and surgical care of patients with complicated neurotological disorders including those requiring surgery of the posterior or middle fossa under the direction of the attending physicians. For complicated and advanced skull base procedures, attending supervision decreases with increasing fellow responsibility as experience and technical skill level and familiarity with the procedures dictates. Senior level residents perform the majority of the otological surgical cases with the attending surgeons. The Neurotology Fellow assists the attendings in the instruction of all levels of residents in appropriate cases to maximize resident education and hands on experience. The Neurotology Fellow is also expected to be involved with instructing medical students.

Clinical Component

Fellows will spend approximately 2.5 days per week in the operating room and 1.5 days per week in the clinic. Experience in audiological and vestibular testing is available through the division of Audiology. The surgical approach to the skull base will be the focus of the first year of the fellowship. Progression through the approach and tumor removal with an emphasis on cranial nerve preservation will be the focus of the second year of the fellowship.

Research Component

One day per week is reserved for research. A wide variety of clinical and basic science research opportunities are available to the fellow. Fellows are expected to write five manuscripts/chapters and give national/regional presentations of their research during the fellowship.

Educational Component

The fellow is expected to attend all Otology resident lectures as well as Neurotology lectures specifically for the fellowship. The fellow will prepare and present at least one lecture in Otology-Neurotology each semester. An eleven station Temporal Bone Laboratory is fully outfitted with video equipment, instrumentation, and temporal bone specimens for self-paced dissection, research, and resident education. The fellow is expected to attend Temporal Bone Laboratory sessions (three multi-session blocks per year) to further develop surgical knowledge and skils, and to assist with resident instruction in the lab. In addition, the fellow will serve as a faculty member for the Semi-Annual MUSC Temporal Bone Dissection Courses.

Eligibility

Applicants for the neurotology fellowship must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in Otolaryngology. A South Carolina medical license must be obtained prior to the fellowship year as well as VA privileges.  Applicants are required to complete an application through the SF Match, including three letters of reference, and a personal on-site interview.

Contact Information

Program Director:  Ted A. Meyer, M.D., Ph.D.
Program Coordinator:  Tanya Byers
byerst@musc.edu
843-876-0791