Welcome to Albany Medical College's Otolaryngology Residency Program.
As the program director of the Otolaryngology Residency, I am extremely proud of our program and residents. I welcome you to our webpage and encourage you to learn as much as you can about our program.
Some important information for applicants:
- We take two residents per year
- Five-year program
- PGY-1 year involves six months of otolaryngology as well as general surgery, SICU, anesthesia, pediatric surgery, oculoplastic surgery, neurosurgery
- Six months of protected research time
- Rotations on all subspecialties: head and neck, rhinology, laryngology, pediatric otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery
- Six months of protected time in private practice rotation, four months as PGY-4, and two months as PGY-2
We are most proud of our very active full-time faculty who represent all subspecialties in addition to general otolaryngology. Additionally, our unique geographic location allows for an incredible diversity of pathology and high volume of clinical cases. Research is supported throughout each year of residency and is mandated with a research-blocked time in the third year.
The faculty are deeply invested and engaged in the education of our residents. To make sure we have prepared residents for an otolaryngology career, it is our responsibility to assure that each resident is supervised appropriately in their patient care responsibilities. The clinical responsibilities for each resident are based on PGY-level, patient safety, resident education, severity and complexity of patient illness/condition, and available support services. As the resident matures in the program, there is a progressive authority and responsibility in the clinic and OR and conditional independence in accordance with the Otolaryngology RRC and American Board of Otolaryngology requirements.
We want each resident to pursue a career in which they will be happy, stimulated, challenged, and gratified. Whether the resident chooses private practice or academic otolaryngology, we hope to instill a sense of giving back and being a leader.
One thing I think our residency program does extremely well is set the resident up for success, whether that entails private practice, fellowship, or academic medicine. Our residents have been accepted to some of the best fellowships in the country at Vanderbilt Health, the Mayo Clinic , University of Michigan, and University of Washington, among others.
Our institution participates in Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and match two residents per year through the National Resident Matching Program. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Melissa Mortensen-Welch, MD
Director, Otolaryngology Residency Program
Associate Professor
