Face to Face

Technology in education The Houston Methodist Academic Institute has been training Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery residents for over 70 years, but the launch of our new program gives us a clean slate to develop an innovative curriculum and refine the training program utilizing both traditional and validated alternative learning techniques. Here’s a look at some of the ways we’re changing educational modules with support from the Houston Methodist Institute of Robotics, Imaging and Navigation:

• Implementing new ways to improve telemedicine
• Using 3D surround videos for OR procedure recordings
• Adapting the Oculus system for virtual reality anatomical dissection
• Using Microsoft HoloLens for augmented reality surgical procedure education
• Optimizing videoconferencing platforms to teach from the OR in real time
• Incorporating artificial intelligence to teach the basics of reading CT scans
• Developing a virtual platform for residency and faculty recruitment

Tech-driven research It’s a fascinating time to be a physician and a learner, with so many dramatic digital changes happening in our world. With the volume of medical literature being produced, it’s impossible for a single person to comb through all the data and apply that knowledge to patient care. The next generation of doctors needs to understand how to interface with artificial intelligence (AI) so learning is improved, which results in better patient care. To date, the application of AI in our field has been minimal. To improve upon this, we have partnered with three different AI companies to bring AI into our specialty. We’re focused on opportunities for innovation and our residents and trainees benefit from exposure to new technology. A few examples:

• FDA IDE trials of the next-generation hypoglossal nerve stimulator
• Interfacing with industry to vet new technologies
• Analyzing new medical devices and therapeutic approvals for our specialty granted by the FDA in the State-of-the-Art Review 2020.

High-tech facilities and equipment The flagship Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center has more than 85 operating rooms, 900+ inpatient beds, seven ICUs, and a quality and safety record that is among the best in the nation — all characteristics critical to housing an exceptional training program. We’re one of a few hospitals in Texas with a Da Vinci single port robot, the only robotic surgical system approved for use in Otolaryngology. Only a handful of institutions around the country have the Olympus ORBYE, a 3D exoscope that allows for better surgical positioning for our surgeons. We also completed a revamp of our OR with 4K imaging and streaming. This allows us to utilize cameras throughout the OR that feed straight into an interactive live training environment. We have bold plans for a residency program driven by innovation and technology with opportunities for research in our state-of-the-art facilities. We invite you to view our residency program flyer for more information and share it with your students and colleagues. As always, we appreciate your continued collaboration with us. Mas Takashima, MD, FACS Professor and Chair Department of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery Houston Methodist Academic Institute