UK Otolaryngology Residents Win National Academic Quiz Bowl

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Dr. Kristan Alfonso, Dr. Mitch Dobberpuhl, Dr. Michael Kaufman

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2017) – Medical residents from the University of Kentucky Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery recently won the 2017 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Academic Quiz Bowl at the AAO-HNS Annual Meeting held in Chicago Sept.10 to 13.

UK residents Dr. Kristan Alfonso, Dr. Mitch Dobberpuhl and Dr. Michael Kaufman competed against teams from Stanford University, the University of Maryland and Yale University. Approximately 111 otolaryngology residency training programs across the country take part in a home study course designed to enhance professional development in the specialty, according to the AAO-HNS. The participating teams in the Academic Quiz Bowl are chosen based on having among the highest scores on the home study course.

“The UK Department of Otolaryngology is proud of all of our residents," said Dr. Brett Comer, assistant professor and Residency Program Director in the Department of Otolaryngology-HNS. "The entire complement of residents put in significant time and effort on the Home Study Course to qualify for the Quiz Bowl. Dr. Alfonso, Dr. Dobberpuhl, and Dr. Kaufman subsequently performed quite well in the clutch against residents from several outstanding institutions.”

The UK Otolaryngology residency program has grown substantially since its inception in 1990. The residency program is very competitive and only accepts three into the program each year. Throughout the residency program, all clinical areas of otolaryngology are covered to ensure residents leave with the tools needed to successfully pass their board exams with a full understanding of the full scope of otolaryngology. Additionally, UK Otolaryngology maintains a robust NIH funded research agenda. The program’s greatest strength; however, is the operative experience. Residents operate one-on-one with a faculty member in virtually every case. Graduating case volumes for UK residents are regularly well-above national averages. Additionally, 100 percent of graduating residents are board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABO).