A Laryngology Fellowship is a highly specialized, advanced training program for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors (otolaryngologists) who want to become experts in the medical and surgical care of the voice, airway, and swallowing mechanism.
This intensive, typically one-to-two-year program provides deep, focused training beyond standard ENT residency, preparing surgeons to manage the most complex and delicate disorders of the larynx (voice box).
Fellows develop expert-level skills in diagnosing and treating a wide array of conditions, including:
Voice Disorders: Vocal cord nodules, polyps, paralysis, and spasms.
Airway Disorders: Narrowing (stenosis), scarring, and obstruction.
Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia): Difficulty moving food from the mouth to the stomach.
Throat Cancers: Both benign and malignant tumors of the larynx.
The fellowship provides extensive hands-on experience in a range of sophisticated procedures, such as:
Phono-Microsurgery: Precise surgery on the vocal cords using a microscope and micro-instruments.
Laryngeal Framework Surgery (e.g., Thyroplasty): Surgeries that reposition or change the shape of the voice box to improve voice.
Airway Reconstruction: Both endoscopic (through the mouth) and open procedures to repair a narrowed or damaged airway.
Office-Based Procedures: Treatments done in the clinic without general anesthesia, like vocal cord injections (injection laryngoplasty) and laser therapy.
A key part of the training is learning to work collaboratively with speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to create comprehensive, personalized treatment plans that combine surgical and behavioral therapies for the best possible patient outcomes.
Fellows are actively involved in research, contributing to new discoveries and innovations in the field. They are expected to present their work at major conferences and publish in scientific journals, helping to advance the future of laryngology.
Completion of this fellowship prepares surgeons for leadership careers as top specialists in:
Academic Medical Centers: Teaching the next generation of surgeons and conducting research.
High-Volume Specialized Practices: Focusing exclusively on voice, airway, and swallowing disorders.
Multidisciplinary Clinics: Working in teams to provide holistic care for complex patients.
This elite training ensures that laryngology fellows are equipped to provide exceptional, state-of-the-art care that can truly transform their patients’ ability to communicate, breathe, and swallow.
Dr. Shahram Ghasem Baglou is a distinguished otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon based in Tabriz, Iran, with over two […]
Dr. Samane Abdi Sofi Omleshi is a board-certified otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) in Karaj, Iran, with advanced training in laryngology and nasal plastic surgery. […]