Surgical residencies are demanding, requiring years of dedication to master complex clinical and surgical skills. Yet, at The Ohio State University College of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, we know that shaping a well-rounded physician requires more than just rigorous technical training. Today’s healthcare environment asks our doctors to be empathetic communicators, collaborative team-builders and resilient guides through times of crisis.
To help our trainees meet these profound responsibilities, our department has launched a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind leadership curriculum specifically designed for our resident physicians in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery/ENT.
“We have made plans to begin a leadership course for our resident physicians,” explains Brad deSilva, MD, clinical professor in the College of Medicine, vice chair of Clinical Operations and Education, and the residency program director. “By partnering with clinical leaders across the university, we are building a foundation that will serve our trainees throughout their careers.”
Developed by deSilva alongside Catherine Haring, MD, the faculty lead, this innovative pilot program is unique because of its grassroots origins. Rather than coming from a top-down mandate, this initiative was championed by the trainees themselves. Recognizing the need to bridge the gap between their daily clinical duties and broader executive skills, resident leads Graham Pingree, MD, and Aaron Craft, MD, were instrumental in designing a curriculum that speaks directly to the lived experience of a modern surgical resident in the ENT specialties.
The program runs from August through January and includes interactive sessions every two weeks. Before each session, resident physicians complete focused self-assessments to identify their strengths and opportunities for growth.
Clinical faculty members facilitate the sessions, connecting core leadership topics – including conflict resolution, effective communication and strategic decision-making – to situations that resident physicians encounter in the clinic and in the operating room.
The curriculum helps prepare our resident physicians to graduate not only as exceptional, technically gifted otolaryngologists, but as visionary leaders who are ready to elevate the standard of care for their patients and communities.
2026-2027 course schedule and faculty facilitators
- Aug. 17: Brad deSilva, MD
- Aug. 31: Catherine Haring, MD
- Sept. 14: Lauren Miller, MD, MBA
- Sept. 28: Catherine Haring, MD
- Oct. 12: Brad deSilva, MD
- Oct. 26: Arick Forrest, MD, MBA
- Nov. 9: Lauren Miller, MD, MBA
- Nov. 30: Nolan Seim, MD
- Dec. 14: Stephen Kang, MD, MBA, FACS
- Jan. 4: Nolan Seim, MD
- Jan. 18: Stephen Kang, MD, MBA, FACS