Clinical Fellowship in Rhinology
Advanced Training in Rhinology Surgery
Fellowship Description
Objectives
The objective of the Rhinology Fellowship at Western University is to develop leaders in the field of Rhinology. At the completion of the fellowship, the individual will have learned contemporary concepts in sinonasal surgery. In addition, academic development through independent clinical research and medical education will be provided.
Supervisors
|
Dr. Brian Rotenberg |
Dr. Leigh Sowerby |
Postgraduate Education Document
Clinical Fellowship in Rhinology, Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University.
1.1 Medical Expert
- Fellows are expected to develop and further grow their clinical expertise in Rhinology. At the end of the fellowship they should be able to function independently.
- In collaboration with their clinical supervisor, the fellow must develop a protocol for clinical research.
- Fellows will be required to develop effective leadership skills in a variety of ways including participation in multi-disciplinary conferences, generation of long-term patient management policies, working with community physicians and health care personnel.
- Clinical training of Fellows may occur in the operating room, clinic, on inpatient services or in community settings in keeping with the development of expertise and the needs of each Fellow’s program.
- Each Fellow may have a longitudinal clinic providing the opportunity to learn the skills needed for the management of patients over a prolonged period of time.
- Fellows will need to demonstrate insight into their personal limits of expertise by ongoing self- assessment.
1.2 Communicator
- Fellows are expected to develop further their communication skills during their fellowship training. This may occur in multi-disciplinary clinics and by sharing in the management of patients with other physicians who may be either specialists or family physicians.
- Fellows will demonstrate an appreciation of the role of nursing and other support services in the delivery of rhinology care at all stages of disease progression. Throughout their fellowship will be required to exhibit their skills in working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Fellows are expected to be involved in teaching medical students, residents, and other health care professionals either in the clinic or by giving seminars, talks or leading discussion groups.
- Trainees will be evaluated on their ability to establish therapeutic relationships with their patients including dealing with societal, cultural and end of life issues in a humane and understandable manner.
1.3 Collaborator
- Specialist physicians and especially those with subspecialty training must work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to be effective. Fellows are expected to develop their skills of working in a multi-disciplinary setting being often but not always in a leadership role in a multi- disciplinary team.
- Demonstrate proficiency in developing investigation, treatment and management plans and protocols for patients in the multi-disciplinary setting.
- Fellows are expected to participate in teaching of nurses and other health care professionals, to assist in development of patient care directives and guidelines with nurses and other health care workers.
- Fellows are expected to develop the skills of ensuring the presence of team-based patient care.
1.4 Manager
- Fellows are expected to learn to access and apply a broad base of information to the care of patients in hospital, in ambulatory care and other health care settings.
- Demonstrate an understanding of population-based approaches to health care services and their implications for medical practice.
- Develop an understanding of the planning and organization needed for effective and multi- disciplinary research whether laboratory based, population based or clinical research.
1.5 Health Advocate
- Fellows are required to recognize and respond to those issues, settings, circumstances, or situations in which advocacy on behalf of patients, the organization within which they work, or society as a whole is appropriate.
- Demonstrate knowledge of those determinants of health that affect a patient or a population of patients so as to be able to effectively contribute to improving individual and societal health.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical issues involved in health care delivery, clinical trials and clinical research.
1.6 Scholar
- By being responsible for the essential planning of their fellowship program Fellows will develop and refine the skills necessary for a personal continuing education strategy.
- Demonstrate skills in undergraduate teaching and teaching of other health care professionals.
- To further scholarly skills all Fellows will be encouraged to have a research project presented at a major meeting or published in a peer review journal.
- Participate in journal clubs, seminars and other learning activities of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. This will include presentations at multi-disciplinary rounds.
- To develop an inquiring approach and interest to their profession that can contribute to development of new knowledge.
1.7 Professional
- Demonstrate a commitment to the delivery of the highest quality care with integrity and compassion.
- Demonstrate at all times appropriate personal and interpersonal professional behaviour.
- To be knowledgeable of the ethical issues of medical practice and the obligations of physicians to uphold them.
Fellowship Description
Curriculum
This fellowship is designed to offer surgeons broad exposure to clinical and surgical rhinology, both for sinus disease and advanced work including skull base and orbital surgery. The expectation will be for 2-3 half day clinics and 2-3 half-day operative sessions weekly. The fellow will also attend all rhinology oriented resident teaching sessions and Journal Clubs. The fellow will attend all departmental rounds.
Service Expectations
There is no on-call requirement. The fellow may perform 1-2 half day ambulatory clinics per week on their own. Inpatient work is only to round on any such inpatients as either of the supervisors may have, which is infrequent.
Academic Expectations
The fellow will be required to undertake a minimum of two research projects, including design of project, taking them through the REB process, performance of project, write up, and publication. This will also include presentation at a meeting both in Canada and in their home country.
Assessment
Evaluations of all Fellows will be conducted at 3-month intervals throughout their Fellowship. The Fellowship Director will conduct the evaluation process involving the supervisor(s), other clinicians and staff with whom the Fellow has worked. Other personnel may be included as appropriate, such as, administration, nursing staff and technical staff. All evaluations will be reviewed with the Fellow who will sign off on them
Funding
To be discussed with applicants on an individual basis.
Fellows: Past and Present
List
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Dr. Boipelo Tselapedi-Sekeitto |
Dr. Ameen Biadsee
|
Dr. Ivanna Nebor |
||
|
Dr. Babak Pourmomen |
Dr. Rehab Simsim
|
|
Application Process
Interested applicants should send their curriculum vitae as well as three recent letters of reference from surgical mentors directly to Dr. Brian Rotenberg at Brian.Rotenberg@sjhc.london.on.ca
International applicants must have guaranteed salary support from their institutions or governments or through external grants and scholarships. Canadian fellows receive a guaranteed base salary and assistance applying for grants and scholarships, however a fellowship will only be offered to Canadians if sufficient funding is available within the program.
The fellowship begins July 1st and concludes June 30th the following year. The next available fellowship is for July 1, 2026 to June 30 2027. Fellowship applications should be submitted in November 2025, and selected applicants will be invited for an interview by video conference in early 2026.
Fellowship Director
Brian Rotenberg MD, MPH,FRCSC
Brian.Rotenberg@sjhc.london.on.ca
Professor and Residency Program Director
Chair, Medical Advisory Committee
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry Western University
St. Joseph's Hospital
268 Grosvernor St.
London, Ontario N6A-4V2 CANADA
Office Contact
Manager, Administration and Finance
Scott McKinnon
St. Joseph’s Health Care
268 Grosvenor Street, London ON N6A 4V2
Ph: 519-646-6100 x 58250
scott.mckinnon@sjhc.london.on.ca
Fellowship Faculty
Leigh Sowerby, MD, MHM, FRCSC
Leigh.Sowerby@sjhc.london.on.ca
Associate Professor
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry Western University
St. Joseph's Hospital
268 Grosvernor St.
London, Ontario N6A-4V2 CANADA
Mailing Address
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
DeptOfOtolaryngology@lhsc.on.ca
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
The University of Western Ontario
c/o London Health Sciences Centre – Victoria Hospital
800 Commissioners Road East
London, Ontario · N6A 5W9 · Canada
Telephone: (519) 685-8500 ext, 55415
Fax: (519) 685-8468
