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Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Newsletter


August 2025
A Letter from the Chair
Real Cases, Real Decisions: Redefining the Oral Exam in Otolaryngology – Head & Neck SurgeryMatch Day 2025
Starting this September, the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS) will launch a major advancement in the certification process with the introduction of a case-based oral examination—one grounded in each candidate’s real clinical experience. Candidates will submit cases from actual patients they have personally managed, and the oral exam will be centered around these cases. This shift marks a significant departure from traditional, standardized oral formats and reflects a deep commitment to assessing what matters most: clinical judgment, adaptability and professionalism in real-world patient care.
This change is important because it brings board certification in line with the way we actually practice medicine. When candidates are asked to defend and explain decisions they made for real patients, it offers a far more authentic and meaningful evaluation than scripted questions ever could. It emphasizes critical thinking over memorization and encourages a level of self-reflection that is essential for professional growth.
The move to this new format has taken years of careful planning. It has required the hard work of examiners and board leadership—creating new processes, reviewing submitted case lists and shifting how we engage with candidates during the exam. While this new approach does come with a greater time investment for examiners, the payoff is substantial. We gain a clearer, more complete picture of a candidate’s readiness for independent practice, while preserving the high standards and integrity that board certification represents.
As an educator, this transition is especially meaningful. Many of us devote years to mentoring medical students and residents—teaching them how to think critically, navigate clinical complexity, and care for patients with professionalism and empathy. While we do not examine our own trainees, having the opportunity to evaluate candidates who have come through similar rigorous training pathways is a profoundly gratifying, full-circle experience. It’s a rare and rewarding moment to witness the broader fruits of our collective efforts in education, as we help certify the next generation of otolaryngologists to become our future colleagues.
And, in the age of AI, this format serves another important purpose. As generative AI tools become more integrated into education and test preparation, the need for authentic, spontaneous assessment is greater than ever. It is much harder to “game” or artificially prepare for a case-based oral exam when the questions are rooted in patients you’ve actually treated. This preserves the credibility of the certification process and helps ensure that those who earn board certification have truly demonstrated competence.
Ultimately, this shift has taken a lot of time, effort, and adjustment—but it’s exactly the kind of thoughtful evolution that reflects the strength of our specialty. It’s built on trust—trust in our training programs to prepare candidates well, in our examiners to fairly assess them, and in our candidates to rise to the occasion. Most importantly, it’s a change that puts us in a stronger position to serve our patients, support our profession, and shape the future of our specialty.
I am looking forward to participating in this new and exciting process come September.

Mas Takashima, MD, FACS
Sylvia and James E. Norton
Distinguished New Century Chair
Professor and Chair
Department of Otolaryngology
– Head and Neck Surgery
Houston Methodist Academic Institute
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Accolades
Jeffrey T. Vrabec, MD, Professor of Otolaryngology, recently published “Iatrogenic Pulsatile Tinnitus Resulting from Dural Dehiscence” in The Laryngoscope. He also presented the winning poster, “Round Window Drill-Out in Advanced Otosclerosis,” at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings in New Orleans.
Houston Methodist Welcomes Residents from Texas and California
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