2009-2010 residency training manual
October 2009
Resident Enrichment-year in Otolaryngology
The enrichment year encompasses the last 6 months of the R3 year and the first 6 months of the
R4 year. Activities during this year of training include 6 months of supervised intensive research,
3 months of clinical rotations, and 3 months of Otolaryngology electives.
Goals and objectives
The main objective of the research components of this program is to show residents the
principles of good basic research and to promote high quality research in otolaryngology. This
will be done by implementing, in part, the following:
 Selecting an appropriate new research area for personal-professional development
 Reviewing research literature to identify knowledge gaps, both in the field and personal
 Preparing research grant proposals, including associated research ethics elements
 Understanding the communication, time-management and collaboration needs of successful
research
 Implementing a research study (self-organization; responding to, and doing, supervision;
improving collaboration, communication and time management of self and others)
 Improving research communication skills (oral/written reports; PowerPoint presentations;
conference and journal papers; posters)
 Extending and applying research results to future research, clinical applications, and public
health issues
In addition to the research involvement, the resident will maintain certain clinical exposure and
obligations. This will include mandatory duties, as well as elective opportunities. The resident
must be present at grand rounds, hospital rounds, academic half days, journal clubs, and special
seminars. The resident on-call schedule will be part of the enrichment year. Residents may also
be required to substitute for clinical rotations of other residents on vacation.
Residents will avail themselves to certain mandatory pedagogical experiences. These will
include anatomy (as a demonstrator) during the head and neck portion, as well as epidemiology
and biostatistics.
The Enrichment year offers residents an exceptional opportunity to refine, and to begin to teach
all of the CanMEDS competencies. In particular, residents are integrated into a year of scholarly
activities, which almost always require extensive collaboration with colleagues, basic scientists,
epidemiologists, clinicians, and support staff. Their interactions throughout the year require
skilful professional behaviour and good communicator skills. Attendance at academic activities
and following a reading plan further enhance Enrichment-year residents as medical experts.
Residents with a strong academic background, and who are strongly motivated, may request to
enter the Double-Program Master of Science in Otolaryngology Degree in their Enrichment year.
This is contingent on producing a strong research proposal during the preceding year, following
the McGill guidelines for a Master’s degree, and completion of a thesis. Requests for entry into
the Master’s Double-program degree are considered on a individual basis by the Research
Committee and decided during the year prior to the start of the Enrichment year.
2009-2010 residency training manual
October 2009
Program outline
Selection of projects and supervisors
Projects may be selected from laboratories listed in the residency-training manual, or from
projects described in an annual Grand Rounds session, “On-going research”. Joint supervision
by both a basic scientist and a clinician is required.
Enrichment-year activities
The sequence of activities during the Enrichment year will be as follows:
January-June:
6 months of intensive research activities
July-September:
3 months of clinical rotations & initial research activities
October-December: 3 months of electives (designated rotations in:
1 month of facial cosmetics;
1 month of audiology/vestibular;
1 month of Community Practice. )
Research activities will include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6 months of supervised intensive clinical or basic-science research
Attendance at Research Topics seminars with Dr Segal
An epidemiology or Statistics course, approved by Research Committee
A Progress seminar near the end of the 6-month block of research activities
Presentation at Resident Research Day and/or at a national or international Scientific Meeting
during the R4 year following the Enrichment year
Year-round activities include:





All departmental academic activities (lectures, rounds, Journal Club, exams, etc.)
On-call rotations
Covering for vacationing residents, if required when no other residents are available
Continuation of research activities, as appropriate
One session of Head & Neck Demonstration
2009-2010 residency training manual
October 2009
Summary of Research Activities of Enrichment-year Residents
May-Jun**
Jun-Aug
Oct 30*
Oct
Nov-Dec
Oct-Dec
Year preceding start of the Enrichment year
Attendance at May-June “On-going research” Rounds & May-June Research
Topics lecture, “Planning your next clinical project”
Find research project and two supervisors (Basic & Clinical).
Submit Preliminary version of Research Proposal Form (see Dr Segal) to
Research Committee
Submit timetable for activities and courses to Research Committee
Present proposed research activities at Research Committee Meeting
Following project approval, obtain ethics approval, if required
Jul 30
Jul
Aug
Oct 1
Dec 15*
Dec 15*
Dec 30*
Enrichment year starts
Progress tracking starts, using 6-month cycle (Jan-Jun; July-Dec)
6-month intensive research block starts
Submit Progress Tracking Forms (resident & supervisors: Form 1, Jan-Jun)
Review literature & submit Initial version of Research Proposal Form
Deadline for submission of Final version of Research Proposal Form
Submit Progress Tracking Form (resident: Form 2, Jan-Jun)
Submit Progress Tracking Forms (supervisors: Form 3, Jan-Jun)
resident & supervisors: Form 1, Jul-Dec)
6-month intensive research block ends
Informal progress report to Research Committee
Start paper writing
Analysis & writing continues during clinical rotations
Submit Progress tracking Form (resident Form 2, Jul-Dec)
Submit Final Report
Submit Progress Tracking (Supervisors: Form 3, Jul-Dec)
May
Jan-
Enrichment year ends
Presentation at Departmental Research Day and/or at National meeting
Keep Research Committee informed of presentations, publications, awards, etc
Jan
Jan 1
Jan 15*
Jan
Jun 30*
Jul 5*
Jul 15*
* denotes deadlines
** Not held in 2008