Mentored Operative and Research Experience in Otolaryngology (MORE-Oto) Program

About This Grant

Surgeon-scientists play an essential role in driving translational innovation by uniquely bridging the gap between surgical care and research. Despite their crucial contributions, including breakthroughs in organ transplantation and cancer therapies, their numbers are rapidly declining due to the increasing demands of surgical practice and a lack of structured research training programs. To sustain this vital workforce, there is an urgent need to support programs that cultivate the next generation of surgeon-scientists, providing them with the training and mentorship necessary to balance surgical and research careers. Therefore, we have developed the Mentored Operative and Research Experience in Otolaryngology (MORE-Oto) to address the critical shortage of surgeon-scientists dedicated to advancing research in communication disorders. This comprehensive NIDCD R25 program integrates operative and translational scientific experiences tailored to both medical students and Otolaryngology residents at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). The program is designed to bridge the gap between surgical training and translational research by leveraging MCW’s robust scientific resources. The MORE-Oto curriculum offers two distinct components: (1) an 8-week summer research experience for medical students and (2) a dedicated research year for Otolaryngology residents. Medical students will be recruited both locally and nationally and will be matched to one of three research tracks: Hearing & Communication, Head & Neck Cancer, or Airway Health & Olfaction. They will gain exposure to both clinical and research settings under the mentorship of experienced surgeon-scientists. Residents participating in the dedicated research year will engage in intensive research training and clinical mentorship, with operative experience aligned to complement their research focus. The MORE-Oto program capitalizes on MCW’s existing infrastructure, including the Clinical & Translational Science Institute, MCW Graduate School, and the OTOClinomics clinical informatics platform housed within the Department of Otolaryngology. Through these resources, and a broad teaching faculty, MORE-Oto will provide comprehensive training that merges surgical practice with clinical and translational research. The program aims to cultivate a cohort of surgeon-scientists to address critical gaps in Otolaryngology by linking clinical challenges observed in surgical practice to testable research questions and evidence-based solutions. Success will be measured through continuous evaluation of academic productivity, participant acquisition of critical research skills, and long-term career outcomes, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to sustain dual careers as surgeon-scientists. By integrating these structured research and operative experiences, MORE-Oto aims to revitalize the field of surgeon-scientists in Otolaryngology, fostering innovation and improving outcomes for patients with communication disorders in alignment with NIDCD’s core mission.