Advancing Surgeon-Scientists through Career Education and Networked Training in Otolaryngology (ASCENT-Oto)

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY Surgeon-scientists are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between clinical care and research by translating surgical challenges into testable research questions and applying scientific discoveries to improve patient outcomes. Their unique position, combining surgical expertise, access to human biospecimens, and real-time exposure to disease processes, allows them to identify pressing clinical challenges and pursue solutions that are immediately relevant to human health. The contributions of surgeon-scientists have led to transformative innovations in fields such as organ transplantation, cochlear implantation, and cancer therapy. However, the surgeon-scientist workforce is rapidly declining due to limited access to structured training, increasing clinical demands, and a lack of protected time for research. This decline threatens continued innovation in Otolaryngology and communication sciences. The proposed program, Advancing Surgeon-Scientists through Career Education and Networked Training in Otolaryngology (ASCENT-Oto), aims to address this critical gap by providing structured research training, operative experience, and long-term mentorship to aspiring surgeon-scientists. ASCENT-Oto is designed for two target groups: post-residency Otolaryngology graduates who have not yet begun faculty careers, and early-career Otolaryngology faculty within two to five years of appointment. The program will offer a one-year mentored research experience for post-graduates and a 2.5-year K-equivalent training curriculum for early- career faculty. Participants will be matched to one of three sub-specialty research tracks aligned with NIDCD priorities: Hearing and Communication, Head and Neck Cancer, or Airway Health and Olfaction. Each track will integrate clinical and translational research with mentored surgical practice. Training will be supported by existing infrastructure at the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the MCW Graduate School, and OTO Clinomics, a department-wide clinical informatics platform. The program will feature individualized development plans, targeted didactic coursework, mentored research projects, and structured wellness programming to support professional growth and mitigate burnout. Each participant will be paired with one or more of twelve experienced mentors whose expertise spans basic and translational science, clinical trials, and outcomes research. Training will emphasize core research competencies, including hypothesis generation, study design, data analysis, scientific communication, and grant development. ASCENT-Oto is intended to build a pipeline of surgeon-scientists capable of sustaining dual careers in surgery and research. Program success will be evaluated through participant skill development, academic productivity, and long-term career outcomes. By preparing the next generation of clinician-investigators, ASCENT-Oto seeks to advance the mission of the NIDCD and improve the lives of individuals affected by disorders of hearing, voice, speech, and communication.