Dear Resident Applicant:
The UCLA Division of Head and Neck Surgery is committed to excellence in patient care and
teaching, and is proud of its national and international reputation in basic and applied research.
The division provides consultative and therapeutic services for adult and pediatric patients with
every type of condition pertaining to general otolaryngology, head and neck oncology, facial plastic
and reconstructive surgery, bronchoesophagology, communicative disorders, and maxillofacial surgery.
Division faculty are active in a variety of major research areas, including laryngology and voice
disorders, neuro-otology, audiology and hearing sciences, speech, head and neck oncology, genetics
and immunology, vestibular research, and use of lasers in head and neck cancers.
U.S. News and World Report again ranked UCLA Medical Center among the top five hospitals in
the United States in 2004; it has ranked “Best in the West” all 15 years that these rankings have
been published. UCLA’s Division of Head and Neck Surgery was ranked seventh in the nation in 2004.
Our resident training program seeks to train new residents not only as head and neck surgeons,
but as scientific investigators and academicians. Several of our current and recent residents have
received prestigious awards from national scientific societies for excellence in research work.
Admission to the residency program remains very competitive. We normally interview about 30
applicants from a pool of about 175. Five applicants are accepted into the program each year.
Interviews are by invitation only.
Thank you for your interest in our program and I wish you the best of luck in your academic
and medical careers.
Sincerely,
Gerald S. Berke, M.D.
Professor and Chief
Division of Head and Neck Surgery
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Objectives and Underlying Philosophy
The integrated UCLA Head and Neck Surgery (Otolaryngology) residency program is designed
to produce academic surgeons who are also scholars and productive investigators. Residents
receive broad, closely supervised training and experience in diagnosis and treatment of diseases
and abnormalities of the ear, nose, throat, sinuses, larynx, esophagus, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
Responsibility increases gradually until competence is achieved in the medical and surgical treatment
of disorders of the head and neck, including ablative and reconstructive surgery for cancer,
maxillofacial trauma, plastic and reconstructive surgery, microsurgery of the ear, salivary gland
surgery, phonosurgery, and bronchoesophagology. The program integrates training at UCLA Medical
Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Olive View Medical Center, VA Healthcare System (West Los
Angeles and Sepulveda) and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
The inclusion of basic science courses and research training in the clinical program, combined with
the recognized excellence of the school and faculty, provide a superior milieu for the development of
teacher-investigators. A significant number of former trainees have pursued careers in teaching and
investigative otolaryngology. More than 25 former trainees have chaired otolaryngology departments.
In screening applicants, priority is given to those who intend to enter careers in research and
academic medicine, whose previous records indicate that such intent is serious, and whose
capabilities are commensurate with this objective. Although residents who do not desire academic
careers certainly can profit from the superior academic training offered at UCLA, those who aspire
only to practice the profession should seek programs whose emphasis is more strictly clinical.
Program Overview
The integration of UCLA along with five affiliate medical centers provides quantity as well as high
quality clinical material. Residents receive their basic science, research and primary didactic training
at the UCLA Medical Center and serve three-month rotations at the other hospitals. This approach
provides residents with balanced experience in the management of general otolaryngology; facial
trauma; bronchoesophagology; pediatric otolaryngology; as well as otologic, rhinologic, and head
and neck tumor surgery.
An outstanding feature of the integrated program is the basic science instruction that is provided
by faculty members from several departments within the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
The basic science and didactic courses are open to individuals from all training programs in the area,
as well as from the Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Department.
In addition to the basic science courses, classic and current surgical techniques are incorporated in
didactic and practicum courses in surgical head and neck anatomy and in temporal bone dissection.
Courses include a comprehensive survey of all structures of the head, neck and thorax as they
pertain to the specialty, as well as temporal bone and advanced temporal bone dissections.
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Admission Requirements
The integrated UCLA Head and Neck Surgery (Otolaryngology) residency is a five-year training
program. Admission requires graduation from an approved medical school and one year of postgraduate training in our newly revised core surgery program. The R-1 year at UCLA includes
general surgery training and rotations in the surgical subspecialties and critical care.
Appointments are reviewed annually and renewal is contingent on performance, which is expected
to be maintained at a high level.
Beginning in 2005, all application materials are processed by the Electronic Residency Application
Service (ERAS) at www.aamc.org/eras.
The application process to the UCLA program requires:
(1) Completion of ERAS application form;
(2) Three letters of recommendation from supervising physicians/researchers;
(3) Medical school transcripts;
(4) National Board scores;
(5) Letter of recommendation from the Dean of the applicant’s medical school
(when available).
Interviews are by invitation only, and will be held in November. Interviews cannot be scheduled
until all materials are received by ERAS.
Residents will be matched through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP)
in mid-March.
For specific questions about the program or the application process, please contact:
Gale Shornick, Ph.D.
Administrator/Residency Coordinator
Division of Head and Neck Surgery
62-140 CHS
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1624
(310) 825-4551
gshornick@mednet.ucla.edu
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Program Outline
First Year: General Surgery (R-1)
Residents must take the R-1 year at UCLA, which is an approved ACGME
surgical residency. The rotations are specifically selected to benefit future head and neck training.
Residents are required to take the annual surgery in-service exam, and are expected to have passed
Part III of the National Boards to qualify for a California medical license.
In the UCLA program, first-year residents are assigned to the divisions of General Surgery at
UCLA, Olive View Medical Center, and the VA Healthcare System (West Los Angeles and Sepulveda) for
training in basic surgical techniques and in the management of pre- and post-operative surgical
patients. Residents attend various departmental and division conferences on a regular basis. They
make daily inpatient staff rounds, assist in major surgical operations and perform minor procedures
under supervision. Rotations within the basic surgical program are specifically selected to maximize
future head and neck surgical training.
A mentor from the Division of Head and Neck Surgery is assigned to each resident to
monitor progress through the program and to assist the resident should any problems arise.
Second and Third Years: Otolaryngology (R-2 and R-3)
These two years are devoted to the acquisition of a good foundation in the basic principles of
otolaryngology. Residents develop the ability to use the tools of the field under close supervision
of the faculty. They are introduced to head and neck and otolaryngological surgery by assisting the
faculty in the operating rooms. After achieving a basic knowledge of the procedures, residents
perform surgical procedures under supervision. They serve as consultants to the hospital emergency
room service and take consultations requested by other services, reviewing cases with a chief resident
and the attending staff. As part of the initial training experience, residents are exposed to surgical
pathology and radiology in order to gain proficiency in these fields. This training is utilized when
residents present cases at the weekly Head and Neck Tumor Board.
Residents’ outpatient responsibilities include history-taking, most minor treatments, hearing testing
under the auspices of an audiologist, training in clinical neuro-otological and vestibular examination
procedures, and training in diagnostic and treatment procedures for voice and speech disorders.
During this period, residents are encouraged to develop relationships with faculty and observe
various research laboratories. This exposure introduces residents to the various investigators
and research being conducted in the division laboratories and allows them to begin to select the
laboratory and investigator that best fits their areas of interest. Research rotations may be
scheduled in the R-3 or R-4 years.
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Fourth Year: Otolaryngology (R-4)
Fourth-year residents assume increasing responsibility in the care of patients before, during, and
after surgery. They assist the chief residents and faculty in many operations, and perform operations
of intermediate complexity under close faculty supervision. Residents directly supervise the senior
medical students (clinical clerks). They prepare and deliver presentations on subjects related to
hospitalized patients, and continue to work on research projects.
Fifth Year: Otolaryngology Chief Resident (R-5)
This year is one of advanced responsibility. Residents conduct daily rounds and see all pre- and
post-operative patients. Chief residents have definitive responsibility for the care of patients, including
all aspects of pre-operative and post-operative care, with consultation and assistance from the faculty.
Chief residents supervise junior residents and medical students in the outpatient clinics (with faculty
available as consultants).
Chief residents are expected to continue and complete research work that was previously initiated.
Efforts are made to place papers on regional and national programs, and significant reports are
submitted for publication.
Throughout the training years, limited but increasingly greater responsibilities for teaching, research
and administration are assigned to residents in an effort to prepare them for academic careers.
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Resident Teaching Responsibilities in Medical Students’ Program
Each resident plays an active role in medical student teaching. Training in otolaryngology
at the UCLA Medical Center is included in all four years of the medical school curriculum. Members
of the division lecture first-year medical students in basic anatomy and physiology related to the
organs and structures of the head and neck. In the second year of medical school, the division
teaches 12 half-days of Introduction to Clinical Medicine. Time is utilized to master the ENT
physical examination. Third-year medical students are assigned to the Head and Neck Surgery
(Otolaryngology) Service full-time for seven days. During this year, the faculty also provides 18 lectures (a series of six given three times) in the Introduction to Surgery course. The fourth year of
medical school consists entirely of electives. Varying numbers of students elect clinical clerkships for
the inpatient, outpatient, or research rotations in all hospitals. Head and Neck Surgery provides an
additional elective in otology and participates in multi-disciplinary elective courses on the respiratory
system, oncology, and trauma. Finally, research opportunities are available to pre-doctoral students
in the summer and during free and elective time throughout their training. Students often serve
elective fellowships in the Division of Head and Neck Surgery at these times.
The medical school training program thus provides opportunities for training and teaching medical
students and residents in the field of otolaryngology. It is the purpose of the program to stimulate
interest among medical students in the broad field of otolaryngology, and to prepare residents for
academic and research careers in this specialty. As a corollary, this type of program enhances the
training of pediatric, family practice, general surgery, and other specialty residents, nurses and
ancillary paramedical personnel, while upgrading the level of practice of otolaryngology in the
community, in the area, and in the country.
Under this system, the chief residents assume significant responsibility for teaching and supervising
medical students and junior residents. This experience may serve the teacher to even better advantage
than it does the pupil, and effectively cultivates the habit of teaching. The faculty serve as preceptors,
advisors and counselors to all students and residents and are always available. It is, however,
incumbent upon all residents to take a special interest in the students by encouraging and teaching
them whenever possible. This, after all, is the primary reason for the existence of the medical school.
Teaching responsibilities of second-, third-, and fourth-year residents include presentation of cases
to medical students in preparation for the Professor’s Conference. When qualified, residents are
responsible for training R-1 surgical residents in the techniques of physical examination and for
introducing the theory and fundamentals of the specialty. Residents also report at departmental
conferences on special, unusual or obscure problems encountered in the course of clinical work.
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Curriculum and Conferences
The program’s curriculum is focused on providing residents with a well-rounded education in
all facets of otolaryngology. Conferences are presented in otology, laryngology, oncology, pediatric
otolaryngology, pharmacology, immunology, allergy, facial and reconstructive surgery, audiology
and speech, research methods and ethics, psycho-social issues, and practice management (medicallegal, financial, etc.).
Conferences are held Wednesday afternoons after weekly Tumor Board. Residents prepare and
present approximately half of all conferences and are generally paired with a faculty lecture based
on a specific topic. During this time, operating rooms in all of the hospitals and clinics are closed
at noon, except for emergencies, to allow residents to attend these conferences.
Faculty presentations are given by UCLA Head and Neck faculty, faculty from other departments
at UCLA, and visiting faculty from other universities.
Additionally, throughout the year, workshops are given on special topics such as laser and
endoscopic techniques and temporal bone drilling. A Journal Club for Facial Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery is held quarterly.
Instruction in audiology, speech pathology, and phonetics is provided as part of the regular
conference schedule on Wednesday afternoons. In addition, each resident spends one half day per
week with one of the audiology or speech pathology faculty during one quarter of the R-2 year.
The rotation provides time for residents to become proficient in the application of auditory tests,
and knowledgeable about diagnosis and treatment of voice and speech disorders. Patient evaluation,
scientific and clinical journal readings, and discussion with faculty all serve to provide a solid
background in audiology, speech and voice.
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Policies and Responsibilities
Annual Otolaryngology Examination
All residents are required to take the Annual Otolaryngology Examination administered by
the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery in the spring of each year.
Resident Travel Policy
An important and unique aspect of the program is that funds are provided by the division for
residents to present accepted research papers and posters at national meetings. Up to four days leave
is available and no vacation time is required. Longer leaves may be available at the faculty’s discretion.
On-Call and Consultation Responsibilities
Residents participate in all clinical activities of the division, both in the clinic and in the operating
room. Residents take all calls from home.
Residents on-call go to the emergency room as needed. Chief residents on-call are notified of
all patients admitted through the emergency room. If a patient proceeds to the operating room,
the surgery will be staffed by a resident and a faculty member.
In addition to emergency calls, on-call residents make rounds on all post-operative and acutely
ill patients before signing out. They are responsible for checking on all pre-operative cases, the
laboratory tests, x-rays and pre-op orders.
Consultations may be assigned by the chief resident to a junior resident who will make the
consultation and then confer with the chief resident. All consultations are seen on the same day
they are received. A full-time faculty member is always available on-call for consults.
Facilities
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Facilities
UCLA Medical Center
Since opening its doors in 1955, UCLA Medical Center has consistently been a healthcare innovator.
Known worldwide for its pioneering technological contributions, UCLA Medical Center year after
year is ranked number one in the West by U.S. News and World Report’s annual survey of
“America’s Best Hospitals.”
UCLA Medical Center, with more than 600 beds, offers patients of all ages comprehensive care,
from routine to highly specialized medical and surgical treatment. Some factors that contribute to
its top rankings are specialized intensive care units, state-of-the-art inpatient and outpatient operating
suites, a Level-1 trauma center, the latest diagnostic technology, and a high level of commitment
from a dedicated and experienced staff of more than 1,000 physicians and 3,500 nurses, therapists,
technologists and support personnel.
In 2006, all services will relocate to the UCLA Westwood Replacement Hospital, currrently taking
shape across the street from UCLA Medical Center. The building of the replacement medical center
affords UCLA the opportunity to re-imagine what a medical center can and should be as the institution
moves forward from this moment in time. It is a chance for those who are among the very best in
medicine to create an ideal environment to delve for deeper understanding, to reach for new tools
and treatments, and to heal those who suffer ill health. The replacement medical center, designed by
internationally renowned architect I.M. Pei to bring an abundance of natural light to each of its 520
private patient rooms, will be among the first structures built to meet California’s stringent new
2008 seismic safety standards.
UCLA Medical Plaza Outpatient Clinic
Located across the street from the medical center, UCLA Medical Plaza offers an accessible,
friendly environment for a broad range of outpatient services, including more than 80 specialty
clinics. The plaza is composed of the following facilities:
• 100 UCLA Medical Plaza, a 140,000-square-foot facility, provides space for approximately
100 physicians who are currently members or are eligible to become members of the clinical
faculty of the school of medicine. It is the first facility of its kind to be privately developed,
financed and operated on a UC campus.
• 200 UCLA Medical Plaza, a six-story, 380,000-square-foot outpatient care center, houses
virtually all of UCLA Medical Center’s outpatient services. It offers a complete range of services,
from a Family Health Center offering primary care for routine illnesses, to clinics providing
state-of-the-art outpatient treatments for complex cancers. The facilities in the Surgery Center
enable patients to go home the same day following many types of surgical procedures.
• 300 UCLA Medical Plaza, a 104,000-square-foot building on the southern end of the plaza,
houses outpatient and training programs of the Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital,
as well as the Medical Center’s rehabilitation program.
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Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is located in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. It is a public teaching
hospital that is well known for its academic excellence. The facility is operated by the County of Los
Angeles and serves a population of 2 million, providing care for the underserved population in
southern Los Angeles County.
The hospital is an academic affiliate of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and faculty
members have academic appointments at UCLA. The Medical Center consists of numerous buildings,
including a 52,000-square-foot primary care and diagnostic center, housed on 71 acres. The main
hospital has 553 beds and 63 bassinets, and is a Level-1trauma center.
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center is a county hospital located in the north end of the San Fernando
Valley, about 30 minutes away from UCLA. The 377-bed medical center is a general acute care
teaching hospital that serves more than 1.5 million residents of the San Fernando Valley and
adjacent north Los Angeles County areas. Olive View-UCLA Medical Center primarily serves an
ethnically diverse, low-income and middle-class patient population.
West Los Angeles V.A. Medical Center
The West Los Angeles V.A. Medical Center is a 700+ bed hospital located a few miles west
of the main UCLA campus and serves as the hub of the newly created Greater Los Angeles VA
Health Care System. A new paperless medical record system highlights the innovations in this
medical center. The medical center has a large full-time faculty who all have academic positions
at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Founded in 1901, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles began with four beds in a converted private
home. Today, it is a world resource for advanced pediatric care. Each year, the nonprofit, 314-bed
hospital receives 300,000 visits from patients ranging in age from newborn to 18 years.
Every year since beginning its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” issue in 1990, U.S. News &
World Report magazine has listed CHLA among the country’s top five pediatric facilities. The
CHLA medical staff is composed of 350 highly respected community physicians and more than
250 hospital-based doctors.
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Major Subspecialties
Laryngology and Voice Disorders
The UCLA Center for Voice in Medicine and the Arts manages patients with a wide variety of
vocal problems including voice disorders of obscure etiology, spasmodic dysphonia, weak voice due
to advanced age or neurologic disease, laryngeal paralysis, benign and malignant laryngeal lesions,
and voice problems of the professional voice user.
With over two decades of clinical and research experience, the UCLA Center for Voice in Medicine
and the Arts is a unique, national resource for all problems affecting the voice. A multidisciplinary
team of experts, including speech pathologists, voice scientists, and surgeons work to optimize voice
function. Many patients who had lost their voices have returned to normal, productive lives through
treatments offered in the center.
Since 1982, the center has received a number of grants from the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) for the development of evaluation techniques aimed at improving the management of voice
disorders. Additionally, ongoing study of new techniques and treatments have resulted in therapies,
including phonosurgery, that can be conducted simply and safely on an outpatient basis.
Center staff conduct both basic science and clinical research that is directed at improving
assessment and treatment approaches for voice disorders.
Clinical studies are focused on (1) investigation into new methods of evaluating vocal quality,
(2) research into the efficacy of vocal fold collagen injections to augment the vocal folds in patients
with weak voice, and (3) evaluation of surgical treatment for spasmodic dysphonia.
Basic science research is being conducted to study fundamental aspects of laryngeal biomechanics,
aerodynamics, acoustics, new methods of laryngeal reconstruction and laryngeal transplantation.
A one- or two-year fellowship is available in this subspecialty.
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Head and Neck Oncology
The UCLA Head and Neck Oncology Program offers comprehensive, specialized care for patients
with benign and malignant tumors located between the brain and the clavicle, anterior to the spine,
including tumors of the pharynx, larynx, jaw, tongue, thyroid and carotids.
The Head and Neck Oncology Program has sustained a national reputation throughout the 30
years since its inception, particularly with regard to partial laryngeal surgery and mandible-sparing
procedures for oral cavity tumors. This program has expanded with the advent of newer techniques
in reconstructive surgery and approaches to tumors of the anterior skull base.
The Division of Head and Neck Surgery team members offer interdisciplinary specialization in
head and neck oncology, reconstructive surgery and laser surgery as well laryngeal physiology and
speech therapy. Neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, maxillofacial experts, and radiation oncologists
are incorporated into care, as indicated.
The program specializes in treating complex anatomical as well as physiological problems, and
excels in reconstructive rehabilitation of patients with functional and cosmetic defects as a result
of ablative surgery. Microvascular free flaps and osseointegrated implants are routinely utilized,
along with prostheses, to restore patients’ ability to swallow, speak and chew normally, and to
maintain normal appearance.
Program research focuses on strategies for developing new therapies based on understanding
the molecular biology of head and neck tumors. Basic research is enhanced by the expanding
collaboration we have developed with various basic science laboratories in the schools of medicine
and dentistry. From a clinical standpoint, the faculty has been instrumental in developing innovative
surgical techniques, which are nationally recognized.
Through research, the discipline has made great strides in surgical techniques that have enabled
definitive treatment for previously inoperable tumors. Program research in early diagnosis of head
and neck tumors and laryngeal physiology is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Current research directions are as follows:
• Laser phototherapy for ablation of tumors not amenable to surgical removal
• Laryngeal physiology to facilitate emerging surgical techniques
• Using microarray technology to better understand the early changes
in head and neck tumor cells
• Developing improved tissue banking techniques for use of tumor specimens
• Understanding the role of oncogenes and their products in promoting
tumor progression
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Neuro-otology Program
The UCLA Neuro-otology Program provides comprehensive management of temporal bone
disorders. Faculty in the UCLA Division of Head and Neck Surgery and the Department of Neurology
comprise an interdisciplinary team for the evaluation and treatment of neuro-otology disorders,
including benign and malignant tumors, recurrent infections, and disabling conditions resulting in
loss of hearing and balance.
The UCLA Neuro-otology Program has been recognized as an NIH “center of excellence” in neurootology in the United States. Over 30 years of experience in clinical care, research, and education
provides patients with the most advanced medical and surgical therapies available anywhere.
The program’s Vestibular Function Testing Laboratory, established in 1961, developed computerized
analysis and rotary testing that still serves as the gold standard for testing of vestibular function.
A modern audiometric testing facility tests the newest hearing aid devices, including cochlear
implants, making them available to patients as emerging technologies.
Clinical and basic science research in neuro-otology, conducted by program faculty, involves
the following:
• Vestibular function
• Inner ear physiology
• Meniere’s disease
• Tinnitus
• Balance, including geriatric balance problems
• Intra-operative monitoring
• Tumors of the temporal bone
• Neonatal hearing impairment
• Auditory neuropathy in infants and children
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Head and Neck Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
The Division of Head and Neck Surgery offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art reconstructive and
aesthetic surgery for congenital, post-traumatic, and cancer-treatment-related problems of the head
and neck. Exposure to a full range of surgical procedures is offered for residents, including problems
affecting all aspects of the face, head, nose, ears, jaws, mouth, and throat that result in functional
disabilities and aesthetic concerns.
Residents are exposed to the full spectrum of facial reconstruction, from local flap reconstruction
for skin cancer defects and facial reanimation to traumatic facial reconstruction and nasal
reconstruction. Microvascular reconstruction for head and neck cancer is a major part of the
residency program. In addition, the full-time faculty perform the full range of aesthetic surgeries
of the face, expanding the resident experience.
The Division of Head and Neck Surgery offers a one-year fellowship in Facial Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery, which incorporates all aspects of the specialty. The fellow helps offer an
enhanced experience for our residents in facial plastic surgery by stimulating research, educating
residents and attending surgeries at all of the five UCLA hospitals.
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Research
The division hosts several laboratories through which residents and other research trainees can
become engaged in contemporary investigations within disciplines closely associated with otolaryngology
and head and neck surgery. Each of these laboratories is extramurally funded through federal and
private foundation sources, ensuring that each resident has ample opportunity for research in a
broad selection of topics.
The Voice and Laryngeal Physiology Laboratory is currently engaged in studies of the effects of
disease on vocal function and voice quality and on the development of objective and subjective
protocols for measuring vocal quality. Other studies utilize in vivo and in vitro canine models of
phonation to study laryngeal physiology and biomechanics (i.e., mechanisms of vocal fold vibration
and the relationship between vibration and voice quality).
The Human Vestibular Laboratory is dedicated to the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment
of patients with otoneurologic disorders through studies of quantitative neurophysiologic assessment
as well as studies of the cellular and molecular biology of disequilibrium.
The Vestibular Hair Cell Biology Laboratory is focused upon the neurobiology of regenerating hair
cells and their contribution to the recovery from aminoglycoide ototoxicity.
The Vestibular Neuroscience Laboratory is investigating the physiology, morphology, and cell
biology of primary afferent and efferent neurons projecting from vestibular sensory end organs.
The Molecular Biology Laboratory harbors investigations of head and neck development and the
genetic basis of hearing disorders.
The Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory is investigating mechanisms of normal and abnormal auditory
physiology and function and the developmental and behavioral implications for communication.
The Tumor Biology Laboratory is engaged in investigations of the molecular genetics of head
and neck carcinomas.
The Laser Chemotherapy Laboratory is dedicated to the development of novel cancer treatments
utilizing laser-guided chemotherapies.
In addition to the division’s laboratories, residents have the opportunity to participate in research
activities in other research laboratories, including the Laboratory for Neuroendocrinology
(Department of Neurobiology) and various laboratories within the Reed Neurological Institute
(Department of Neurology).
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UCLA & Los Angeles
The UCLA Campus
UCLA offers all the facilities associated with a major university, including excellent libraries,
a large and renowned faculty, and extensive recreational programs all set on a beautiful campus
located in Los Angeles’ coveted Westside. The university offers a vast variety of cultural opportunities,
including concerts, theater, dance, museums, film festivals, and UCLA Bruin athletics.
UCLA, the only top American university founded in the 20th century, is a thriving city within
Los Angeles, populated with a diverse citizenry that boasts Nobel laureates, National Medal of
Science honorees, Guggenheim fellows, and a host of others recognized for their leadership and
accomplishments among its numbers. UCLA ranks in the top five universities in total research
funding and was recognized by the National Science Foundation with it’s Award for the Integration
of Research and Education.
Living in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is an international crossroads that has been called the world capital of the 21st
Century. Known for being a dynamic and trend-setting city, Los Angeles’ ethnic and social diversity
make it a particularly interesting and rewarding place to live and learn. In addition to its wide
panorama of cultural offerings, the area boasts a range of recreational activities in its nearby ocean,
mountains, and deserts that include water sports, snow sports, hiking, climbing, and hundreds
of other ways of enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of being in one of the world’s economic and
cultural centers.
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Faculty List
Gerald S. Berke, M.D., Professor and Chief
Residency Program Director
Primary Interest: Laryngology and Voice Disorders
Elliot Abemayor, M.D., Ph.D.,
Professor in Residence and Vice Chief
Primary Interest: Head and Neck Oncology
Daniel Bachiller, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Molecular Genetics
of Ear Development
Robert Baloh, M.D.,
Professor, Dept. of Neurology
Primary Interest: Neurology
David A. Berry, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Laryngeal Dynamics
and High-speed Imaging
Vicente Honrubia, M.D., D.M.Sc.,
Professor Emeritus and Director,
Victor Goodhill Ear Center
Primary Interest: Vestibular Medicine
Akira Ishiyama, M.D.,
Associate Professor
Primary Interest: Neuro-otology
Paul A. Kedeshian, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor
Primary Interest: Head and Neck Oncology
Jody Kreiman, Ph.D., Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Perception and Production of Voice
Ivan Lopez, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor
Primary Interest: Molecular Anatomy of Inner Ear
Marcos Paiva, M.D., Ph.D.,
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Primary Interest: Head and Neck Oncology
and Laser Research
Keith Blackwell, M.D.,
Associate Professor and Residency Co-Director
Primary Interest: Microvascular and
Reconstructive Surgery
Jeffrey D. Rawnsley, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor
Primary Interest: Facial Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery
Rinaldo F. Canalis, M.D., Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Neuro-otology
and Skull Base Surgery
Joel A. Sercarz, M.D.,
Associate Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Head and Neck Oncology,
Thyroid and Parathyroid
Dinesh Chhetri, M.D.,
Assistant Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Laryngology and Voice Disorders
Nina L. Shapiro, M.D., Associate Professor
Primary Interest: Pediatric Otolaryngology
Bruce Gerratt, Ph.D., Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Voice and Motor Speech Disorders
Christian Head, M.D.,
Assistant Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Head and Neck Oncology
Larry F. Hoffman, Ph.D.,
Adjunct Associate Professor
Primary Interest: Vestibular and Neuroscience
Research
Yvonne S. Sininger, Ph.D., Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Audiology and Hearing Sciences
Maie St. John, M.D., Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: General Otolaryngology,
Head and Neck Oncology
Marilene B. Wang, M.D.,
Associate Professor in Residence
Primary Interest: Head and Neck Oncology,
Nasal and Sinus Disease
University-based Clinical Faculty
Roger Dafter, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor
Primary Interest: Health Psychology
Irwin Harris, M.D., Clinical Professor
Primary Interest: Otology and General Otolaryngology
Gregory Keller, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor
Primary Interest: Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
David A. Rapkin, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor
Primary Interest: Health Psychology
Charlene Williams, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor
Primary Interest: Health Psychology