Otolaryngology Surgeon- Scientist career Path (OSSP) program

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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.