University of North Carolina Hospitals Program

Program Identity & Fit

UNC's Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery program is a tertiary/quaternary academic center anchored at a public university hospital system, drawing high-volume subspecialty caseloads (>250 free flaps, >700 new head and neck cancers, >300 cochlear implants, >2500 pediatric cases annually) across fully developed divisions including head and neck oncology, pediatric otolaryngology/craniofacial, rhinology/skull base, otology/neurotology, facial plastics, and laryngology. Research infrastructure is substantial and structurally embedded, evidenced by dedicated PhD research faculty in auditory science, an optional NIH T32-funded 7-year track with two protected research years, four months of built-in PGY-2 research time for all residents, and a stated average of 40 resident publications per year. Clinical training incorporates an external level-1 trauma site (WakeMed, Raleigh) for general otolaryngology and trauma exposure, layered onto main-campus subspecialty immersion, with chief-year rotations emphasizing service leadership. The program explicitly produces graduates entering both top subspecialty fellowships and academic or private practice, reflecting a dual identity as a high-acuity academic surgical training ground with an optional physician-scientist pathway.