Otolaryngology (ENT)
Contacts
Specialty Advisor, Surgical Subspecialty Acting Internship Faculty Lead and Specialty Interest Goup Faculty Advisor
Residency Program Director
Specialty Interest Group Email
APEX Champion
Specialty Overview
An otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon 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 the treatment of disorders of hearing and voice are fundamental areas of expertise.
The practice of otolaryngologist–head and neck surgery overlaps to varying degrees with other specialties, such as general surgery, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology, neurosurgery, neurology, thoracic surgery, pediatrics, endocrinology, pulmonary medicine, and allergy/immunology. Specialists in otolaryngologist–head and neck surgery frequently collaborate with specialists in these other areas to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. Because of their intensive training in both medical and surgical aspects of disease evaluation and management, and focus only on the head and neck region, otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeons are frequently consulted by peer physicians from other specialties for providing assistance with patient care.
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery | Careers in Medicine (AAMC CiM log in required)
How long is this specialty's residency?
Residency training for this specialty is five years total, with the intern year integrated into these five years resulting in only one match.
Websites for Reference
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
Medical Student Resources - American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
Away Electives
Away Electives
Yes
How many aways should I do?
1-2
Order of Away vs Home
Whatever order student chooses
Programs where ISMMS students have completed away electives.
CA
Cedar Sinai
1
CA
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals-Northern CA-Oakland
1
CA
Stanford University
1
CA
UCSD
1
CA
UCSF
4
CA
USC/Keck School of Medicine
2
FL
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
2
GA
Emory School of Medicine
2
MA
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
1
MA
Harvard Medical School
2
MA
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
2
MD
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
3
MI
University of Michigan
1
MN
Mayo Clinic
1
NY
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
1
NY
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
5
NY
Weill Cornell Medicine
1
OH
Cleveland Clinic
4
OH
The Ohio State University
1
PA
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
1
PA
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
2
TN
Vanderbilt School of Medicine
3
VA
Eastern Virginia Medical School
1
WA
University of Washington School of Medicine
3
Match Statistics
Information provided by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Charting Outcomes in the Match, last updated August 2024 and 2025 ERAS Data
Mean Number of Contiguous Ranks
13.6
Mean USMLE Step 2 CKScore
256
Mean Number of Research Experiences
7.1
Mean Number of Abstracts, Presentations and Publications
20.0
Competitiveness
Source: 2025 Match Advanced Data Tables
In the 2025 Match there were 394 positions in 139 programs, 89.1% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.
Application Information
Application System
ERAS
Match System
NRMP
Signaling
Source: ERAS Signaling and 2025 ERAS Data
How Many?
25
Signal Home Program?
Yes
Signal Away Program?
Check with individual programs
Average Number of Applications Submitted
46.69
Letters of Recommendation
Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)?
No
Departmental/Chair Letter?
Yes, anyone who completes the ENT Surgical Subspecialty Acting Internship receives a letter
Who should other letters come from?
Faculty that know you well clinically or from a research standpoint. ENT is a small field so having 2-3 letters from ENT faculty that are also folks who you’ve worked closely with is the best option. If you do not have that many, having a strong letter from faculty in another specialty can also be beneficially if they are a close mentor and have worked with you clinically or in a research setting.
Interviewing and Post Interview Communication
Applications are downloaded by programs...
On the first date they are available- students should submit everything prior to that date.
This is guidance from the Otolaryngology Program Directors Association
Guidance from the ISMMS may differ.
This specialty’s MSH program interviews all ISMMS students who apply.
Yes
Interviews are sent out...
Thank You Emails
You can if you’d like, it's a nice thing to do but will not make or break your chances. Thank you note policy varies from program to program - if they explicitly ask that Thank You notes not be sent, do not send a thank you note. Otherwise, a thank you note is helpful.
Letters of Intent
Speak to the specialty advisor for guidance.
ISMMS Match Data 2020-2025
Barnes-Jewish Hosp-MO
0
1
1
0
1
0
3
Cleveland Clinic Fdn-OH
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Harvard Med School/Mass Eye and Ear
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Hosp of the Univ of PA
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
Indiana University SOM
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital-NY
4
2
0
1
0
2
9
Kirk Kerkorian SOM at UNLV-NV
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Mass General Brigham-MA
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Montefiore Med Ctr/Einstein-NY
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Naval Hospital-CA
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
NYU Grossman School Of Medicine-NY
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School
0
1
0
1
1
0
3
SUNY HSC Brooklyn-NY
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
U Michigan Hosps-Ann Arbor
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
U Washington Affil Hosps
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
UCLA Med Ctr-CA
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Vanderbilt Univ Med Ctr-TN
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Last updated