International Programs

2021 Nikhil J. Bhatt, MD International Humanitarian Award

The Nikhil J. Bhatt, MD International Humanitarian Award honors a non-U.S. otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon who has selflessly treated persons for whom access to care would have been financially or physically prohibitive.

This year’s awardee is Niels van Heerbeek, MD, PhD, who has contributed significantly to  otolaryngology in Tanzania Dr. van Heerbeek is the owner of and surgeon at Enface Clinique and De Neuscorrectiespecialist, as well as an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon at Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He is also the founder and chair of AfriKNO Foundation, which supports otolaryngology training and care in Tanzania.

Dr. van Heerbeek approaches his humanitarian work with a long-term vision. For nearly 10 years, he has served in the Otolaryngology Department at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Tanzania where he teaches medical students and otolaryngology residents.

Dr. van Heerbeek helped reestablish the otolaryngology residency training program there since only a few otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons practiced in Tanzania at that time. This residency program has led to a number of new otolaryngologists working within the country.

In addition to providing hands-on training at the medical center and supporting future otolaryngologists in Tanzania, he works through the AfriKNO Foundation to provide donations of equipment and funds for the facilities at KCMC.

Dr. van Heerbeek also developed a course for non-otolaryngologists who work in smaller regional hospitals in Tanzania. The course covers management of common ENT problems as well as what to do for more complex problems.

2021 Nikhil J. Bhatt, MD International Public Service Award

The Nikhil J. Bhatt, MD International Public Service Award honors a non-U.S. otolaryngology-head and neck surgeon whose achievements have advanced the specialty.

This year’s awardee is Wakisa Mulwafu, MD, PhD, who has contributed to otolaryngology in Eastern and Central Africa and made scientific contributions to delivering healthcare in resource-restrained settings.   Dr. Mulwafu is an associate professor of otolaryngology at the College of Medicine, University of Malawi. He also is an executive member of the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), where he also serves as the chair of the Finance and General Purpose Committee.

When faced with being the only otolaryngologist in Malawi, Dr. Mulwafu worked tirelessly to expand otolaryngology access in his home country of 18 million people. He partnered with the Malawi government to develop a policy for otolaryngology services and instituting an otolaryngology training and certification program for clinical officers. His model can be employed in other low resource settings.

Dr. Mulwafu spearheaded having the specialty of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery included in COSECSA, allowing many smaller clinics that ordinarily would not have the capacity to offer ENT specialist training to do so.

Ever the scientist, Dr. Mulwafu applied a scientific approach to solving this problem within the healthcare system of Malawi. His academic work, as well, is driven by his desire to use research to improve services for people in Malawi and other low resource countries. Through his work, he has contributed to the specialty at home and abroad while underscoring his commitment to public health to improve the lives of millions of people.

Since its inception, the AAO-HNSF has cultivated ties to national otolaryngology societies and similar organizations around the world. AAO-HNSF assigns great importance to these relationships, which collectively advance the otolaryngology specialty in ways no one society can achieve alone. Learn more.

Since its inception, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has cultivated ties to national otolaryngology societies and similar organizations around the world. The AAO-HNSF assigns great importance to these relationships ,which collectively advance the otolaryngology specialty in ways no one society can achieve alone.

One important means of building global relationships is through Joint Meetings, i.e., conferences or meetings jointly organized or endorsed by the AAO-HNSF and a counterpart otolaryngology entity.

We are accepting applications for volunteer faculty to present at AAO-HNSF International Joint Meetings in 2021. For more information, contact [email protected].

Below is a listing of U.S. otolaryngology organizations or departments that offer international observerships. International observerships allow eligible international physicians the ability to shadow U.S. physicians and learn more about the specialty of their choice. Please note, each institution has different eligibility requirements. For further information regarding individual international observerships, please contact each institution directly according to their below information.

If you have any questions about the database or would like your U.S. otolaryngology institution to be added to our directory, please contact [email protected].

Boston University School of Medicine
Program Contact: Gregory A. Grillone [email protected]
Website: https://www.bmc.org/otolaryngology-ear-nose-and-throat-surgery/team
Subspecialty Offered: General Otolaryngology and Laryngology. Currently not accepting observers, due to COVID-19.

Cooper University Hospital
Program Coordinator: Nadir Ahmad
Website: https://www.cooperhealth.org
Subspecialty Offered: General Otolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery
Program Requirements: Contact Eileen Baptiste [email protected] for information. She will provide details of requirements. No deadline for applications. Available year round. Currently not accepting observers, due to COVID-19.

Eastern Virginia Medical School
Program Contact: Joseph K. Han [email protected]
Website: www.evms.edu
Subspecialty Offered: Allergy and Rhinology Currently not accepting observers, due to COVID-19.

Emory University
Program Contact: Please see website for information.
Website: http://otolaryngology.emory.edu/ed_and_train/fellowship/index.html
Subspecialty Offered: Endocrine Surgery, General Otolaryngology, Head Neck Surgery, Laryngology, Otology Audiology, Neurotology, Pediatric Otolaryngology, and Rhinology
Program Requirements: During COVID-19 pandemic times, Emory Otolaryngology cannot accept outside observers. We will update this site with requirements once new observer policies are available.

Emory University – Winship Oncology Observational Fellowship
Program Contact: Barbara Powley [email protected]
Website: http://otolaryngology.emory.edu/ed_and_train/fellowship/index.html
Subspecialty Offered: Endocrine Surgery and Head Neck Surgery
Program Requirements: The application process is not open at this time. Once the application process opens, it will be announced here.

Johns Hopkins
Program Contact: Jon Russell [email protected]
Website: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology
Subspecialty Offered: Endocrine Surgery
Program Requirements: Minimal requirements for an observership of less than two weeks. May be constrained due to COVID or high volume of observers.

Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Program Contact: Daniel Faden [email protected]
Website: https://oto.hms.harvard.edu/
Subspecialty Offered: Head Neck Surgery

Rush University Medical Center: Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Program Contact: Sofia Gardanova [email protected]
Website: https://www.rush.edu/services/ear-nose-and-throat
Subspecialty Offered: Endocrine Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, General Otolaryngology, Head Neck Surgery, Laryngology, Neurotology, Otology Audiology, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Rhinology, and Sleep Medicine. Currently not accepting observers, due to COVID-19.
Program Requirements:

1. Education: MD or equivalent
2. Training: Completed a Residency in ENT
3. Two letters of reference of mentors
4. Fluent in English
5. Willingness to lead/contribute to a clinic research project if present in the department for time period of two months or more

Seattle Children’s Hospital/University of Washington
Program Contact: Breanne Buckley, [email protected]
Website: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/clinics/otolaryngology/
Subspecialty Offered: Pediatric Otolaryngology
Program Requirements: Full breadth pediatric otolaryngology experience: Cleft/Craniofacial, Vascular Anomalies, Microtia, Hearing Loss, Cochlear Implant, Velopharyngeal Insufficiency, Voice, Airway, Aerodigestive, Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), Complex Sleep, Thyroid, Pediatric Head and Neck, Sinus and Cranial Base Surgery. Currently not accepting observers, due to COVID-19.
Requirements:

1. Application form
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV),
3. A current photograph
4. Letter of recommendation
5. Copy of the information page of their current Passport

Southern Illinois University
Program Contact: Denean Vreeland [email protected]
Website: https://www.siumed.edu/ent
Subspecialty Offered: Endocrine Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, General Otolaryngology, Head Neck Surgery, Laryngology, Pediatric Otolaryngology
Program Requirements: SIU Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery gladly welcomes international observers. Requests are taken on a rolling basis with no application deadline. We request that you submit your CV along with an email requesting an observership. Further institutional requirements will follow. Currently not accepting observers, due to COVID-19.

University of Virginia
Program Contact: Jose Mattos [email protected]
Website: https://med.virginia.edu/otolaryngology/
Subspecialty Offered: Rhinology Currently not accepting observers, due to COVID-19.

West Virginia University
Program Contact: Hassan H. Ramadan [email protected]
Website: https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/otolaryngology/
Subspecialty Offered: Rhinology
Program Requirements: Deadline for applications are four months ahead of start date. Currently not accepting observers, due to COVID-19.

The AAO-HNSF International Symposium is an Annual Meeting forum designed to showcase cutting-edge content presented by international physicians.

Providing a global perspective of popular topics in otolaryngology, this CME program will enlighten the entire community and offer high visibility to international presenters. As an additional component of the Annual Meeting program, the AAO-HNSF International Symposium is promoted in conjunction with regular programming and as part of an International scheduling track. It will not preclude attendees from participating in the other program sessions and activities, and previously planned sessions in Spanish will continue.

Please join us for the International Symposium to be held during the AAO-HNSF 2021 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience in Los Angeles, California, USA, October 3-6.