USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
Training & Education

Research & Education

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Resident Research

Research training is an integral component of the USC Caruso Otolaryngology residency program, equipping residents with the skills to critically evaluate medical literature and develop their own research interests. Beginning in the PGY2 year, residents engage in hypothesis-driven scientific investigation, with research rigor increasing throughout their training. Dedicated research time in PGY3 and PGY4 allows residents to refine their projects with faculty mentorship and guidance. The program supports both clinical and basic research endeavors, offering coursework in study design and funding opportunities for national conference presentations. Residents culminate their research experience by presenting their projects at the annual Resident Research Symposium.

Residents and Dr. Lori Eisenberg, Ph.D. at the annual resident research symposium.

Laurie Eisenberg, PhD

Assistant Director of Resident Research –
USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

Laurie Eisenberg, Ph.D.

Educational Meetings

Residents are exposed to a variety of topics through regularly scheduled lectures and conferences. Several multidisciplinary conferences allow residents to work in an inter-professional capacity.

Our robust educational program includes the following:
Daily: Pass-on Rounds

John K. Niparko Temporal Bone Lab: available for use at all times (dedicated to resident education)

Faculty, resident, and patient at the facial injection workshop.

    • Endocrine Conference
    • Grand Rounds
    • Tumor Board
    • Radiology Conference
    • Skull Base Conference
    • Otology Conference
    • Cadaver Dissection Course
    • Strobe Rounds
    • Dysphagia Rounds
    • Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Conference
    • Journal Club
    • Facial Plating Workshops
    • Facial Injection Workshops
    • Temporal Bone Course
    • Resident-Modified LEAN Academy
    • Laryngeal Conservation & Sinus Course (Loma Linda)
    • Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Meeting (AAO-HNSF)
    • Annual Quality Improvement Conference
    • Resident Research Symposium
    • Mock Oral Boards
    • Foundations in Clinical Otolaryngology
    • Sinus Conference
    • Advances in Facial Reconstruction Course

Mentorship Program

The Mentorship Program assists residents in their individualized professional development. Upon starting residency, each resident is paired with a faculty mentor. Faculty mentors meet with their resident mentee once a quarter to discuss their current and future career plans, assisting with their overall professional development. Additionally, every resident receives close one-on-one mentorship from the Program Director and Associate Program Director during training through frequent individual meetings focusing on the trainee’s personal and professional goals.

Research advisors also meet regularly with residents to institute and review research projects.

Faculty mentoring resident.