University of Tennessee

Name of Program:
Oral, Head & Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery

Address:
The University of Tennessee Medical Center
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
1930 Alcoa Highway, Ste 335
Knoxville, TN 37920

Areas of Focus:
Treatment of benign and malignant head and neck pathology
Complex head and neck reconstruction including microvascular free tissue transfer

Program Director:  Michael L. Winstead, DMD, MD, MBA

Program faculty:
Michael L. Winstead, DMD, MD, MBA
Eric R. Carlson, DMD, MD, EdM, FACS

Contact Email Address:
Desiree Jones
Fellowship Coordinator
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Medical Building A, Suite 335
1930 Alcoa Highway
Knoxville , TN 37920
Dejones2@utmck.edu
Phone: 865.305.9022  ext: 9113

Website:
https://gsm.utmck.edu/oral_surg/fellowship.cfm

Accreditation Status:
CODA Accredited

Enrollment:
1 per year

Duration of Fellowship:
12 months

Required Application Materials:

1. Curriculum Vitae

2. Three Letters of Recommendation (including one from residency program director)

Eligibility Requirements:

1. US citizenship is preferred, but not essential with proper visa.

2. The MD is preferred but not essential. No license is required.

3. The applicant must possess an MD and/or DDS/DMD degree and have completed a four- or six-year residency program in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

4. Applicants outside of the U.S. must be eligible for a valid visa per medical school requirements.

Summary of Program:
The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery offers a one-year CODA accredited fellowship in oral/head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery focusing on the surgical management of benign and malignant tumors and complex reconstructions.  During the program, the fellow gains significant experience in the preoperative workup and operative ablation of patients with oral/head and neck neoplasms, including cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (oral, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and laryngeal), benign and malignant tumors of the jaws, melanoma and non-melanoma head and neck skin cancer, salivary gland tumors as well as thyroid/parathyroid tumors. Surgical airway management is also emphasized as the department is the primary tracheotomy service for the institution’s intensive care units. The fellow is also expected to gain significant experience in the preoperative work-up and postoperative management of free flap patients.  Immediate and delayed reconstructive surgery techniques, including microvascular free flaps, pedicled regional flaps, local facial flaps and tissue engineering comprise the fellow’s clinical reconstructive experience. The fellow should expect to harvest at least 50-100 free and pedicled flaps, perform at least 75 neck dissections, and perform at least 35 salivary gland surgeries during their 12-month experience. Principles of radiation oncology, medical oncology, basic histopathologic interpretation, and critical care medicine are emphasized during the fellowship experience.  The fellow is expected to become involved in a research project during the year. Other activities include participation in head and neck tumor board and melanoma/soft tissue tumor board meetings.  At the conclusion of the one-year experience, the fellow will be properly equipped to accept a teaching/clinical position in an academic medical center or private practice depending on his or her career interests.