Otolaryngology Fellowship

Program Overview

The Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship program at the Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, in affiliation with Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, trains physicians in advanced skills in pediatric otolaryngology.

Our one-year program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), helps the fellow gain proficiency in diagnosing and treating infants and children with a wide array of otolaryngology issues. The fellow receives training from our 8 faculty members from the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology — board-certified pediatric specialists who treat inpatients and outpatients at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware and our satellite locations. Our graduates have pursued careers in academic and private practice settings.

The fellow develops clinical skill by participating in morning rounds, overseeing residents on inpatient and Emergency Department consultations, and taking part in outpatient office hours. Multidisciplinary meetings, such as our monthly radiology and aerodigestive conferences and cochlea implant candidacy meetings, give the fellow the opportunity to present and lead discussions regarding complex patients. In specialty clinics, including Voice Clinic, Vestibular Clinic and Complex Sleep Clinic, the fellow gains additional exposure to the multidisciplinary approach to complex patient care.

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Curriculum

With more than 5,000 surgical cases per year, the fellow receives a robust surgical experience. The surgical experience is broad and covers the areas of otology, airway, rhinology, and head and neck surgery. The fellow also has the opportunity to work with Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Nemours, to gain experience with cleft lip and palate, and facial trauma. 

Teaching experience is provided by oversight of 2nd and 3rd year residents from Thomas Jefferson University. Research is encouraged and supported.

Research

Nemours has excellent research facilities and labs with state-of-the-art equipment. Based on your skill level and inclination, you’ll be encouraged and supported in the use of these resources as you add to your knowledge base through research activities during your fellowship.

Our clinical faculty and research professionals can help you learn the processes and techniques related to clinical studies, basic science research, presentations and publications. 

The division of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Nemours has a variety of ongoing research projects. A sampling of current studies includes:

Dr. Patrick Barth, co-director of the airway program and the Voice Center, has an R01 research grant along with Katherine Verdolini PhD of the University of Delaware that is examining the cognitive and physical traits that enhance or diminish children’s response to voice therapy, with the aim of creating a developmental roadmap showing when children are most likely to benefit from voice therapy.

Dr. Jenna Briddell, who leads the tracheostomy care team at Nemours, has several research projects related to improving outcomes for children with tracheostomies. A current project includes examining factors associated with decannulation failure. She is investigating the impact of simulation-based tracheostomy training on home caregiver skills and tracheostomy-related complication rates, and is part of a multi-institutional study examining outcomes of tracheostomy in extremely premature infants. With a bioengineering background, Dr. Briddell is also working with Dr. Cathy Fromen at the University of Delaware Department of Chemical Engineering regarding 3D printing of pediatric airways for improved aerosol therapeutics. Additionally, Dr. Briddell is the creator and administrator of the tracheostomy and otology REDCap databases, which are excellent resources for current and future research projects. She is also a subcontractor for a multi-institutional CDC-funded grant studying juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Drs. Schmidt and Nardone, with an interest in airway and sleep, are examining the outcomes of transoral robotic surgery for lingual tonsillectomy for children with persistent obstructive sleep apnea after adenotonsillectomy. Several faculty members are examining the impact of Toradol on bleeding after adenotonsillectomy and the long-term outcomes of intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Health literacy and quality improvement projects have included Drs. Aaronson and Nardone examining the impact of using text messaging to relay postoperative information to families regarding commonly encountered symptoms after ear tube insertion and adenotonsillectomy. Dr. Aaronson is also looking at correlating airway findings on dynamic CT with bronchoscopy findings to see if dynamic CT can be used for surveillance in asymptomatic airway patients.

Dr. Parkes, who directs the cochlear implant team, has a focus on outcomes research in pediatric otology, including cholesteatoma surgery, auditory neuropathy and pediatric cochlear implantation. He and Thierry Morlet, PhD, are combining fNIRS and eye-tracking measures to examine dynamic changes in neuroplasticity and language skills in deaf and hard-of-hearing infants. He is also interested in the identification of CMV infection in neonates who fail the newborn hearing screen and CMV-related hearing loss.

Faculty PubMed Bibliography:

Learn More About Research at Nemours

Salary & Benefits

Salary

  • PGY 6: $86,212
  • PGY 7: $89,660

Benefits

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Malpractice insurance
  • Prescription drug coverage
  • Four weeks paid vacation
  • Travel stipend

About Our Hospital in Delaware

The Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware is a multispecialty, tertiary care teaching institution located on a 300-acre estate in the scenic Brandywine Valley in Wilmington, Del.

Among the hospital’s amenities for all staff are:

  • Free parking
  • Park-like setting
  • Gym/fitness center
  • On-site child care center for children of staff

Living in Delaware Valley

Because of our location in the tri-state area of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, we offer unique living/working opportunities. For example, you can choose to live in the downtown Philadelphia area and easily commute to our park-like hospital campus in Wilmington.

Explore Wilmington

Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware is located in Wilmington, Del., about 30 minutes from center city Philadelphia, and an easy drive to Baltimore, Lancaster County, Pa. (“Amish Country”), and the beaches in Atlantic City and Delaware. There is much to do in and around the city, including mansion and garden tours, museums, breweries, wineries, fine restaurants and numerous state parks.

Learn More About Delaware:

Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau

Delaware Tourism

Delaware’s Beaches

Explore Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the sixth largest metropolitan area in the United States and offers a wealth of historical, cultural and recreational opportunities. From world-class museums to its professional sports teams to the colorful, bustling districts of South Street, Chinatown and the Italian Market, Philadelphia has something for everyone.

Learn More About the Philadelphia Area:

New Jersey Beaches

Pennsylvania Mountains

Train With Recognized Leaders

If you’re looking for a rewarding program built on academic excellence and family-centered care, Nemours Children's offers outstanding medical, surgical, pharmacy, nursing, therapy and psychology programs. Train with faculty who are respected leaders in their fields, a patient care model that stands apart and access to groundbreaking research. 

Meet Our Leadership Team

Heather Nardone, MD, FAAP

Director, Otolaryngology Fellowship Program

MD – University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Residency – University of Pennsylvania Health System
Fellowship – Boston Children's Hospital

Clinical Focus: management of pediatric airway disorders, sleep disorders


Nina D. Tarabicos-Dowd, BS

Program Coordinator, Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship Program
 

Meet Our Program Faculty

Nicole Aaronson, MD, MBA, FACS, FAAP
Otolaryngologist

MD – New York University School of Medicine
Residency – Yale New Haven Hospital
Fellowship – Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

Clinical Focus: voice disorders, salivary disorders, cost containment 


Patrick C. Barth, MD, FACS
Co-Director, Airway Program

MD – Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann School of Medicine
Residency – Geisinger Medical Center
Fellowship – Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Clinical Focus: voice evaluation and treatment, management of pediatric airway disorders


Jenna Briddell, MD
Otolaryngologist

MD – Drexel University College of Medicine
Residency – Geisinger Medical Center
Fellowship – Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Clinical Focus: pediatric otology


William J. Parkes, IV, MD
Director, Otology

MD – Jefferson Medical College
Residency – Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Fellowship – The Hospital for Sick Children

Clinical Focus: pediatric cochlear implantation, cholesteoma surgery, vestibular disorders, thyroid surgery, skull base surgery


Richard J. Schmidt, MD, FACS
Co-Director, Airway Program

MD – University of Maryland School of Medicine
Residency – Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Fellowship – Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Clinical Focus: management of pediatric airway disorders


Udayan K. Shah, MD, MBA
Chief, Division of Otolaryngology

MD – Boston University School of Medicine
Residency – Boston Medical Center
Fellowship – The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Meet Our Participants

Current Fellow

Christopher E. Jabbour, MD


Alumni

2004-2005
Richard Schmidt, MD

2006-2007
Patrick Barth, MD

2007-2008
Swapna Chandran, MD

2008-2009
Alyssa Terk, MD

2009-2010
Sri Kiran Chennupati, MD

2010-2011
Chris Grindle, MD

2011-2012
Jessica Levi, MD

2012-2013
Estelle Yoo, MD

2013 – 2014
David Conrad, MD

2014-2015
Chris Goff, MD

2015-2016
Katie McKee-Cole, MD

2016-2017
Jenna W. Briddell, MD

2017-2018
Christopher Tsang, MD

2018-2019
Nathan Vandjelovic, DO

2019–2020
Caroline Kolb, MD

2020-2021
Conor H. Blanco, DO

2021-2022
Kathleen E. McClain, DO

2022-2023
Punam A. Patel, MD
 

Apply Today

Application Requirements

Currently Accepting Applications

Deadline: February 28, 2024

Training Begins: July 1, 2025

1. Submit application electronically using SF Match

2. Curriculum vitae

3. Personal statement

4. Medical school transcript

5. USMLE scores (all 3 levels)

5. Three letters of recommendation

Questions About Applying?

Heather Nardone, MD
Program Director
heather.nardone@nemours.org


Nina D. Tarabicos-Dowd, BS
Program Coordinator
(302) 651-5159
nina.dowd@nemours.org