The first-year resident admits, examines and writes orders under the supervision of the senior resident and staff when treating hospitalized patients. The outpatient experience is under the supervision of the senior resident and the full-time clinical faculty.

The resident is responsible for assisting most major surgery done on his or her service. All tonsillectomies, myringotomies and minor nasal and otologic surgical procedures are done by the first-year resident with staff supervision. In addition, soft tissue surgery experience in both facial plastic and head and neck cancer is gained under the direction of staff and senior residents.

The first-year resident is assigned a series of didactic lectures presented to medical students, as well as supervising assigned elective students.

The resident will develop a research topic and attend local and regional specialty meetings. During the first year, residents attend an advanced soft-tissue workshop, learn soft-tissue and craniofacial techniques, and are given an introduction to alloplastic filler. First-year residents also attend and teach, as a demonstrator, the First Year Anatomy Course. This four-week course encompasses cadaver dissection, as well as lectures.