arent there any otolaryngologists??

**Creative Source** · 12-07-2009, 02:40 PM

I'm a ST5 (from August) in ORL and cannot recommend this field enough to anyone with an inclination for surgery with an interest in Head & Neck pathology. Indeed, if i could not get into ORL, I was considering leavig medicine entirely. We need keen and enthusiastic people in the field to fight to make it a strong surgical speciality like it is in the US.

CS

**elmiradoc2005** · 12-07-2009, 03:15 PM

Hi,
could you please explain, what does it involve? is it really competitive?How long it takes after F2?
Thanks and good luck with it.

**Creative Source** · 13-07-2009, 03:49 AM

Hi there

well, it is competitive. But anyone who really wants to do and goes for it will eventually get in. From F2 you have to get onto core training (ST1 to ST2), which ideally should have some ORL in it and preferentially some plastics or neurosurgery. During that time, you should get your MRCS -DOHNS, have a national (like RSM) or international presentation, complete and audit, publish a case report and another paper, and be able to do a tonsillectomy, a grommet and adenoidectomy. In addition, enrol on a temporal bone course, a small managment course, a teach the trainer course and possibly a FESS course if you can squeeze it in.

This sounds like a lot and in the past we had more time to sort it all out. It will take meticulous organisation. One option would be to do an additional year doing something like a MSc to give you time to get it all done ( papers take time to get published). The other option that some are doing are MDs while doing some clinical stuff on the side to earn a little salary and say you are not completley away from patient contact. Once you get a St3 number then they won;t hassle a StR for research once they have an MD. This strategy is not for all as a MD is a big undertaking. Hope this helps.

CS

**Frank E** · 13-07-2009, 04:27 AM

There are ENT specialists in the UK. I wouldn't be here otherwise.

**Trauma** · 13-07-2009, 05:17 AM

not to forget too many mastoid cavities and wax cleaning.
balance patients with vague histories..
90% of patients are elderly with SNHL for hearing aids or childern with chronic otitis media for grommets and adenoidectomy.

seriously watching a grommet being put one day was so pathetic i think they may train nurses to do it one day!

**pistol_offire** · 07-10-2009, 02:34 AM

i shadowed an otolaryngologist today, he was a bit of a d**k

**dudey** · 07-10-2009, 03:30 AM

ORL FTW

Creative source, I am a 5th year medical student, and hope (fingers crossed) to have one ORL audit and publication done before graduating. Will that put me in good stead to get into ENT CT1? Or is there anything else in particular I need to do?

Also, in STFS there are only 9 posts with ENT as a rotation...and obviously that lowers the probability of getting one of these posts. Will this disadvantage me if I have no ENT experience by the time I apply for CT1?

One of the doctors, laughed at me when I was in the 3rd year and said I wanted to do ORL..as if to say, "yeah good luck with that". Is it really that hard to get into? Or do you stand a good chance if you put your mind to it?

Cheers