Careers in Medicine: Specialty Information

Otolaryngology

Nature of the work

An otolaryngologist - head and neck surgeon provides comprehensive medical and surgical care for patients with diseases and disorders that affect the ears, nose, throat, the respiratory and upper alimentary systems, and related structures of the head and neck.The otolaryngologist diagnoses and provides medical and/or surgical therapy or prevention of diseases, allergies, neoplasms, deformities, disorders and/or injuries of the ears, nose, sinuses, throat, respiratory and upper alimentary systems, face, jaws and the other head and neck systems. Head and neck oncology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and treatment of disorders of hearing and voice are fundamental areas of expertise.¹

Otolaryngologists can receive training in the following subspecialties:

• Neurotology - treats diseases of the ear and temporal bone, including disorders of hearing and balance.
• Pediatric Otolaryngology - diagnosis and treatment of children with diseases of the ear, nose and throat including disorders of voice, speech, language and hearing.
• Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck - trained in plastic and reconstructive procedures within the head, face, neck and associated structures, including cutaneous head and neck oncology and reconstrution, management of maxillofacial trauma, soft tissue repair and neural surgery.
• Sleep Medicine -diagnoses and manages of clinical conditions that occur during sleep, that disturb sleep or that are affected by disturbances in the wake-sleep cycle.

Training/residency information

Residency in otolaryngology consists of one year of general surgery, emergency, critical care and anesthesia training followed by four years of otolaryngology training. Up to two years of additional training is required to practice in one of the subspecialty areas.

Salary information

The annual salary for otolaryngologists ranges from $191,000 to $393,000 for full-time medical school faculty.²

For more information

• American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
• American Board of Otolaryngology
• Association for Research in Otolaryngology

References
1 The American Board of Medical Specialties. Guide to Physician Specialties. Evanston, IL: American Board of Medical Specialties; February 2008.
2 Association of American Medical Colleges. Report on Medical School Faculty Salaries 2007-2008. Washington, DC: AAMC; January 2009.

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