Information for Medical Students

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Welcome  

Thank you for your interest in the Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery Rotation/Sub-Internship in the Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Cooper University Hospital! 

The Rotation is a two- or four-week elective, designed for medical students in their 3rd or 4th year, who are either pursuing a career in Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery or seeking advanced clinical and surgical exposure to diseases of the head and neck. 

The Sub-Internship is a more formal four-week rotation for 4th year medical students which offers a rigorous, hands-on experience, closely mirroring the responsibilities of a first-year Otolaryngology resident. Students become integral members of the clinical team, participate in patient care in the clinic and OR setting, attend multidisciplinary conferences, and receive close mentorship from faculty and residents.  

We also offer two- or four-week Observerships for International Students/Graduates (IMGs), with limited availability per year. 

 

Rotation/Sub-Internship Overview 

Clinical Sites 

  • Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 

  • MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Camden, NJ  

  • Cooper Specialty Care at Voorhees, Voorhees NJ 

  • Voorhees Ambulatory Surgery Center, Voorhees, NJ  

 

Educational Objectives  

  • Perform focused otolaryngologic histories and physical examinations  

  • Develop differential diagnoses/treatment plans for common ENT pathologies 

  • Demonstrate knowledge of head and neck anatomy and physiology  

  • Participate effectively in perioperative patient care  

  • Present patients clearly and efficiently  

  • Apply evidence-based medicine to clinical decision-making  

  • Function as a productive member of the healthcare team  

  • Demonstrate professionalism and effective communication skills  

  

Clinical Experience  

Inpatient Service  

Students participate in all aspects of inpatient care, including:  

  • Daily AM and PM rounds  

  • Postoperative patient management  

  • Inpatient consultations  

  • Review of imaging and laboratory studies  

  • Patient presentations  

  • Care coordination and discharge planning  

 

Outpatient Clinics  

Students work directly with attending physicians, including experience with: 

  • Focused history-taking and physical examination 

  • Diagnostic workup and treatment planning  

  • Procedures: scope exams, etc 

  • Office-based procedures  

  • Longitudinal patient care  

  

Operative Setting  

Students spend substantial time in the OR and are expected to prepare for cases in advance.  

  • Head & Neck Cancer Resection  

  • Microvascular Free Flap Reconstruction  

  • Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy  

  • Airway Surgery  

  • Microdirect Laryngoscopy  

  • Endoscopic Sinus Surgery  

  • Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgery  

  • Middle Ear Surgery 

  • Cochlear Implantation  

  • Lateral Skull Base Surgery  

  • Functional Nasal Surgery  

  • Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery  

Students are expected to understand indications, anatomy, surgical principles relevant to each case.  

 

Conferences & Didactics  

Students are expected to attend all departmental educational activities.

Grand Rounds
Tuesday, 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Head & Neck Tumor Board
Thursday, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Journal Club
Quarterly

 

Student Presentations  

Each student will present a 10–15-minute evidence-based power-point presentation on an Otolaryngology topic during their final week of the rotation.  

The presentation should select and demonstrate:  

  • Topic related to their experience on the service 

  • Understanding of the relevant medical literature  

  • Clinical relevance  

  • Educational value  

  • Effective communication skills  

  

Expectations for Success  

Students who excel on the rotation/Sub-I consistently demonstrate: 

Preparation  

  • Arrive on time and being prepared  

  • Read about assigned patients and procedures  

  • Understand relevant anatomy and pathology 

Initiative  

  • Seek opportunities to participate  

  • Volunteer for patient presentations  

  • Engage actively in discussions

Professionalism  

  • Demonstrate reliability and integrity  

  • Treat all members of the healthcare team with respect  

  • Respond constructively to feedback  

Teamwork  

  • Communicate effectively  

  • Support fellow learners and team members  

  • Contribute positively to the clinical environment  

Continuous Growth  

  • Seek feedback frequently  

  • Apply feedback to daily practice  

  • Demonstrate meaningful progression throughout the rotation  

     

Evaluation  

Students are evaluated through direct observation by faculty and residents throughout the rotation.  

Assessment domains include:  

  • Medical Knowledge  

  • Patient Care  

  • Professionalism  

  • Communication Skills  

  • Practice-Based Learning  

  • Systems-Based Practice  

  • Scholarly Inquiry  

  • Teamwork  

     

Grading/Scores:

 Grades are assigned according to CMSRU policies  

  • Honors  

  • High Pass  

  • Pass  

  • Unsatisfactory Remediable  

  

Considering Cooper for Residency?  

The Otolaryngology Residency Program at Cooper University Hospital combines the case volume and complexity of a major academic referral center with a highly resident-focused educational model.  

Program strengths include:  

  • Fellowship-trained faculty across major subspecialties  

  • No fellows competing for operative experience  

  • High operative volume  

  • Strong resident-faculty mentorship  

  • Exposure to complex tertiary-care pathology  

  • Progressive autonomy  

  • Collaborative educational culture  

 

Residents gain extensive experience in head and neck oncology, microvascular reconstruction, laryngology, airway surgery, rhinology, skull base surgery, neurotology, cochlear implantation, pediatric otolaryngology, and facial plastic surgery through direct collaboration with faculty experts.  

 

Observerships for IMGs 

Please email Eileen Bapiste and Yeimy Bisono in the Cooper Volunteer Office for inquiries about the availability and requirements for Observerships. 

Baptiste-Eileen@Cooperhealth.edu, 
Bisono-Yeimy@Cooperhealth.edu

 

Contact Information  

Clerkship Director
Lucía Díaz Garcia, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, CMSRU
diaz-garcia-lucia@cooperhealth.edu 

Clerkship Coordinator
Melinda Grant
grant-melinda@cooperhealth.edu 

Applications and visiting student information are available through the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Visiting Student Program. Clinical training is provided through Cooper University Hospital, the flagship academic medical center of Cooper Norcross Health.