Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist (Otolaryngologist)

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking an experienced Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist (Otolaryngologist) who delivers comprehensive clinical care across adult and pediatric populations, diagnoses and manages complex disorders of the ear, nose, throat, head and neck, performs advanced surgical interventions (including endoscopic sinus surgery, tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, laryngoplasty, and head & neck oncologic resections), collaborates in multidisciplinary teams (audiology, speech-language pathology, oncology, radiology), and contributes to continuous quality improvement, education, and research initiatives. Ideal candidates combine strong procedural expertise, evidence-based clinical judgment, and excellent patient communication skills.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Completed Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery residency (MD/DO) with board eligibility or certification
Fellowship training in subspecialty areas (Rhinology, Laryngology, Otology/Neurotology, Head & Neck Oncology)
Junior faculty position in academic medical center or associate group practice in private/community hospital

Advancement To:

Section Chief / Division Director of Otolaryngology
Department Chair, Medical Director of ENT Service line
Head & Neck Oncology Program Director or Rhinology Clinic Lead
Private Practice Partner / Clinic Owner

Lateral Moves:

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Sleep Medicine or Sleep Surgery Specialist
Pediatric Otolaryngology subspecialist
Clinical Research Lead in ENT device or therapeutic trials

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive outpatient consultations and follow-up visits for ENT conditions, including history-taking, focused head and neck examinations, diagnostic reasoning, development of differential diagnoses, and evidence-based treatment planning for adults and children.
Perform diagnostic flexible and rigid nasoendoscopy, laryngoscopy, and operative endoscopy to assess airway, vocal folds, sinonasal disease, and laryngeal pathology and document findings in the electronic medical record (EMR).
Evaluate and manage chronic and acute sinusitis, perform balloon sinuplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) planning and execution, and coordinate postoperative care and imaging follow-up.
Diagnose and manage otologic disorders including chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, tympanic membrane perforations, and perform tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, ossiculoplasty, and stapedectomy when indicated.
Provide advanced airway management including tracheostomy placement and care, airway endoscopy, bronchoscopy collaboration as needed for airway stenosis and tumors, and emergency airway interventions.
Treat laryngeal and voice disorders with in-office and operating room procedures such as microlaryngoscopy, vocal fold medialization, injection augmentation, and collaborate with speech-language pathology for voice rehabilitation.
Evaluate and manage hearing loss and balance disorders through interpretation of audiometry, ABR, VNG/ENG, vestibular testing, and coordinate cochlear implant candidacy, implantation, mapping, and long-term follow-up with audiology.
Lead and perform head & neck oncology assessments including biopsy, wide local excision, neck dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy coordination, perioperative oncologic planning, and participation in multidisciplinary tumor boards.
Manage pediatric ENT issues such as recurrent otitis media, tonsillitis, adenotonsillar hypertrophy, stridor evaluations, and perform pediatric procedures including myringotomy with tympanostomy tube insertion and tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy.
Diagnose and treat allergic rhinitis and sinonasal inflammatory disease with immunotherapy management, allergy testing coordination, and integrated medical-surgical plans.
Provide evaluation and surgical management for nasal obstruction and cosmetic/functional septorhinoplasty, including preoperative planning, conservative medical therapy, and postoperative follow-up.
Diagnose and manage sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea patients including upper airway evaluation, surgical planning for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), tongue base reduction, hypoglossal nerve stimulator referrals, and CPAP intolerance strategies.
Perform microvascular and reconstructive techniques for complex head and neck defects in collaboration with plastic surgery, including free flap planning and postoperative flap monitoring.
Interpret head and neck imaging (CT, MRI, PET/CT) in collaboration with radiology, correlate imaging with endoscopic findings, and integrate imaging into surgical and non-surgical care plans.
Provide inpatient consultative ENT services in hospital and emergency department settings for acute epistaxis, facial trauma, neck infections, airway compromise, and postoperative surgical care.
Maintain accurate, timely documentation in EMR systems, complete operative reports, preoperative and postoperative notes, discharge summaries, and ensure compliance with coding (CPT/ICD-10) and billing requirements.
Participate in quality assurance, morbidity and mortality (M&M) reviews, protocol development, infection control practices, and implement safety improvements in perioperative and clinic workflows.
Supervise, mentor, and teach residents, fellows, medical students and allied health staff, lead educational conferences, and maintain continuing medical education (CME) credits and clinical competencies.
Lead or contribute to clinical research projects, registry entries, and clinical trials in ENT, including patient recruitment, protocol adherence, data collection, and dissemination of findings through publications and presentations.
Coordinate multidisciplinary care pathways with oncology, radiation therapy, medical oncology, pulmonology, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, and pediatric subspecialties to ensure comprehensive patient care.
Manage clinic scheduling, preoperative assessment coordination (anesthesia clearance, labs, imaging), and optimize patient throughput while maintaining high patient satisfaction and access metrics.
Provide telemedicine and virtual care visits for triage, postoperative follow-up, chronic disease management, and remote patient counseling while ensuring privacy and regulatory compliance.
Oversee procurement and proper use of surgical instruments, endoscopes, implants, and devices; evaluate new technologies and make recommendations for adoption that improve clinical outcomes.
Participate in community outreach, patient education initiatives, and referral network development to promote ENT services and enhance population health outcomes.

Secondary Functions

Serve on hospital committees (surgical services, credentialing, quality improvement) and contribute to policy development and clinical guideline implementation.
Assist with coding reviews, utilization management appeals, prior authorization documentation, and payer communications to support revenue cycle integrity.
Develop and maintain clinical pathways, order sets, and standardized care bundles for common ENT diagnoses to reduce variability and improve outcomes.
Provide mentorship and career development support for junior faculty, advanced practice providers (NP/PA), and clinic staff to strengthen the ENT team.
Engage with device vendors for training, provide feedback on new instruments and implants, and participate in equipment evaluation trials when appropriate.
Maintain credentialing, licensure, DEA registration, and hospital privileges; complete required institutional training and compliance modules.
Lead or support community-facing education events (hearing screenings, sinus health workshops, athlete concussion education) to increase public awareness of ENT health.
Participate in departmental budgeting discussions, resource allocation planning, and operational decision-making to support efficient clinic and OR utilization.
Provide expert witness testimony, medico-legal consultation, and clinical peer review when requested by institutional legal or risk management teams.
Pursue professional development through conferences, advanced training courses, and performance improvement initiatives to stay current in evolving ENT techniques and evidence-based care.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), functional endoscopic sinus surgery and balloon sinuplasty
Microlaryngoscopy, flexible/rigid laryngoscopy, and in-office laryngeal procedures
Tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, ossiculoplasty, and advanced otologic surgical techniques
Cochlear implant evaluation, implantation, and follow-up, including mapping collaboration with audiology
Head & neck oncologic surgery (biopsy, resection, neck dissection) and reconstructive flap coordination
Septoplasty, rhinoplasty (functional and reconstructive) and nasal airway surgery
Tracheostomy placement and management, advanced airway assessment and emergency airway procedures
Vestibular testing interpretation (VNG/ENG, vHIT, calorics) and management of balance disorders
Audiology interpretation (pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination, ABR) and hearing rehabilitation planning
Sleep surgery procedures and evaluation of sleep-disordered breathing including PSG interpretation basics
Precision in operative documentation, CPT/ICD-10 coding familiarity, and EMR proficiency (Epic, Cerner or similar)
Diagnostic imaging correlation (CT, MRI, PET) for ENT pathology and surgical planning
Office-based procedures (injections, nasal cautery, foreign body removal) and procedural sedation skills
Clinical research methodology, IRB processes, and experience with prospective or retrospective studies

Soft Skills

Strong patient-centered communication and counseling for complex surgical consent and shared decision-making
Collaborative team leadership and multidisciplinary coordination with oncology, radiology, speech pathology and audiology
Clinical judgement and problem-solving under time-sensitive or emergent conditions
Teaching and mentorship skills for trainees and allied health professionals
Time management and organizational skills to balance clinic, OR, administrative and academic responsibilities
Cultural competency and empathy in care of diverse populations, including pediatric and geriatric patients
Professionalism, ethical practice, and commitment to continuous improvement and lifelong learning
Resilience and adaptability in high-volume clinical environments and during on-call duties

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

MD or DO degree with completed Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery residency and board eligibility or certification.

Preferred Education:

Fellowship training in subspecialty areas such as Rhinology, Laryngology, Otology/Neurotology, Pediatric Otolaryngology, or Head & Neck Oncology.
Additional qualifications in clinical research, healthcare leadership (e.g., MPH, MBA), or advanced surgical fellowships are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery (MD/DO)
Head & Neck Oncology / Skull Base Surgery (fellowship)
Pediatric Otolaryngology (fellowship)
Otology/Neurotology or Rhinology fellowships
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology collaboration experience

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–10+ years of post-training clinical experience; new graduates with strong fellowship training will be considered for junior faculty roles.

Preferred: 3–7+ years demonstrating independent surgical practice across outpatient and inpatient settings, leadership in multidisciplinary programs (tumor board, cochlear implant), proven track record of quality improvement initiatives, teaching experience with residents/fellows, and involvement in clinical research or publications.