About the
Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
Indiana University School of Medicine

The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery was organized as an independent department within the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) in 1909 by John Barnhill, M.D., an internationally recognized head and neck surgeon and anatomist. Since then the specialty has undergone tremendous expansion in managing disorders of the ear, nose, throat, head and neck.  A wide variety of specific fields of interest or subspecialties have emerged, all of which are well represented by our current full and part-time faculty.

Our department has the tri-partite mission of: 1) providing the highest quality patient care; 2) educating students, residents and physicians in the field of Otolaryngology and related disciplines; and 3) performing research regarding disorders within our specialty.  This includes the discovery and application of new technologies as they relate to direct patient care.

Providing the highest quality, state of the art, patient care is a top priority around which our teaching and research efforts revolve. Our 15 full-time and 1 part-time faculty and 15 residents provide direct patient care in a variety of settings. Patients are seen within private practice offices, resident clinics, and hospitals located on the Indiana University Medical Center campus, and in suburban offices and hospitals throughout the greater Indianapolis area.  Riley Hospital for Children is a nationally recognized center of excellence for the management of pediatric diseases. The IU Simon Cancer Cancer Center is a designated National Cancer Institute center of excellence.  The new Cancer Hospital greatly enhances the ability of our center to deliver excellent cancer care.  Our Cochlear Implant Program for the treatment of profound deafness in children and adults is internationally recognized both as a clinical center and research resource.

An equally important mission is the education and training of medical students and residents, and continuing medical education for practicing physicians.  We offer clinical and research experiences for medical students at all levels. Our residency program is highly respected nationally and our faculty is deeply committed to training tomorrow's otolaryngologists, many of whom will assume academic and leadership positions.  More than one half of the otolaryngologists who practice in Indiana have attended Indiana University School of Medicine and/or trained in our department. The department offers weekly conferences as well as frequent seminars and continuing medical education courses for residents and practicing physicians. Our "Annual Anatomy and Histopathology of the Head, Neck and Temporal Bone" course has been presented for over 90 years and is the longest continuously given postgraduate course in the nation.

A third mission involves research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases within our specialty, as well as finding new technologies that will benefit our patients. The department's research interests include all aspects of otolaryngology at sites such as The DeVault Otologic Research Laboratory, Infant Language Laboratory, Auditory Neuroscience Lab, Neurolaryngology Laboratory, NIH/NIDCD Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, and NIH Summer Research Traineeships for Medical Students. Our faculty conducts both basic research and ongoing clinical studies. Our residents are continually involved with research as part of their residency experience. Many of them spend 1-2 years in the research lab separate from their clinical years. Our residents are required to take part in a yearly research project of their choosing for presentation at the annual Manion-Lingeman Lecture and Research Seminar.

Lastly, we feel it is important for a university to provide a link between research and patient care. Research and new discoveries are of little importance if there is no link to improving patient care. Ongoing clinical trials and research regarding the application of new technologies toward direct patient care fulfills this important function.

As a department we are continually striving for excellence in all that we do. We are very thankful for the quality and commitment of our faculty, residents and support staff in achieving this goal. We look forward to the opportunity to serve our patients, contribute to the University, and train new physicians.