The Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Department of Otolaryngology at Augusta University (AU) has a great history and tradition in Rhinology. Under the direction of Dr. Frederick Kuhn in the early 1990s, the Rhinology fellowship achieved national and international recognition. It was during this time that the diagnostic criteria for Allergic Fungal Sinusitis were formulated and published. Since its inception in 1992, and until Dr. Kuhn left GRU (now AU) for private practice in 1996, four fellows were trained in the program. One of them, Dr. Martin Cidarti, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
The program became quiescent after Dr. Kuhn’s departure until Dr. Stil Kountakis was recruited in 2003 to revive the division of Rhinology and the Rhinology Fellowship. Dr. Kountakis was an Associate Professor and Director of Rhinology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. With his arrival as Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology and the Director of Rhinology at Wellstar MCG Health, the Rhinology division and fellowship program were revived. Dr. Kountakis was promoted in 2014 to Professor and Chair of the department and serves as the Director of the Division of Rhinology and Sinus/Skull Base Surgery.
We now feel that the surgical experience of our fellows is second to none and is accomplished in an ideal atmosphere with primary fellow involvement under faculty supervision. The great Rhinology tradition at Augusta University is thriving again.
706-721-6100
706-721-6387
The objective of this one-year fellowship is to provide a broad experience in the
clinical and basic science aspects of Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery to interested
and qualified applicants. Through our fellowship training we will help establish leaders
in the field who will help to improve current standards of patient care, educate others,
and perform research.
Our program consists of 3 fellowship trained faculty members who practice all aspects
of rhinology, neurorhinology and skull bases surgery techniques. The fellowship is
designed to provide excellent training in chronic rhinosinusitis, functional endoscopic
sinus surgery, revision endoscopic sinus surgery, frontal sinus surgery including
the endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure, image guided sinus surgery, endoscopic
transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, allergic fungal rhinosinusitis, ostial balloon dilation,
and endoscopic management of skull base defects and tumors. Our skull base surgery
training includes all aspects of endoscopic neurorhinology and skull base surgery
techniques. Fellows are appointed as junior faculty when appropriate with full hospital
privileges.
Clinical Rotations: The fellow receives clinical training during 3 rhinology half-day
clinics per week and in the operating room twice per week. Skull base cases are prioritized
and the fellow is given time to participate in these surgeries. The fellow partners
with 2 rhinologists-skull base surgeons, one Pittsburgh trained skull based surgeon
and pediatric otolaryngologists and is given the leverage and the time to manage his/her
own schedule to maximize exposure to critical patient encounters and surgeries. Additional
clinical teaching takes place during hospital rounds, clinical activities of the Skull
Base Center, and pediatric rhinology cases. The fellow may see rhinology patients
and staff sinus surgery procedures at the VA hospital.
*Subject to change.
Fellow is free to choose and participate in skull base surgery anytime it is scheduled.
Research Responsibilities: Fellows are encouraged to develop research proposals under the direction of the fellowship
directors with full Department funding available to support travel to present work
at the major meetings of the American Rhinologic Society, the American Academy of
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Triological Society.
Diversity of Cases: The fellow may spend time in 3 hospitals: Wellstar MCG Health, VA, and the Children's
Hospital of Georgia in addition to working at the Augusta State Medical Prison. The
fellows obtains experience in all aspects of approaches for skull base surgery, resection
of sinonasal tumors, skull base reconstruction and advanced Rhinologic surgery.
Call Schedule: The fellow is appointed as a fully credentialed attending physician and will take
faculty call, approximately 1 week every 2 months.
2022-2023 | Kareem Haroun | Houston ENT, Houston, TX |
2020-2021 | Lindsey Ryan | USF Health Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tampa, Florida |
2019-2020 | Chadi Makary | West Virgina University, Morgantown, West Virginia |
2018-2019 | Ike Unsal | Jefferson Otolaryngology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
2017-2018 | Mingsi Li | Cleveland Clinic Foundation |
2016-2017 | Chris Ito | University of Massachusetts |
2015-2016 | Camilo Reyes | Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University |
2014-2015 | Joshua Yelverton | Private practice, Charlotte, North Carolina |
2013-2014 | Jose Gurrola | University of Virgina |
2012-2013 | David Jang | Duke University |
2011-2012 | Brett Comer | University of Kentucky |
2010-2011 | Eyad Khabbaz | University of Pittsburgh |
2009-2010 | Jastin Antisdel | Saint Luis University |
2008-2009 | Troy Woodard | Cleveland Clinic Foundation |
2007-2008 | Patricia Maeso | University of Texas - Galveston |
2006-2007 | Subinoy Das | Ohio State University |
2005-2006 | Francis Ling | University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada |
2004-2005 | Christopher McMains | Uniformed Forces University, San Antonio, Texas |
2003-2004 | Firas Farhat | Clemenceau Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon |
Applicants with one of the following qualifications are eligible for appointment to the Medical College of Georgia- Augusta University Rhinology Fellowship:
All applications received by MCG-Augusta University are independently reviewed by
at least two faculty members, and decisions regarding interviews are made by consensus.
May 1
Stil Kountakis, MD, PhD
email: skountakis@augusta.edu
Porubsky Distinguished Professor and Chairman
Director, Rhinology-Skull Base Surgery Fellowship
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Medical College of Georgia – Augusta University
1120 Fifteenth Street, BP-4109
Augusta, Georgia 30912-4060
Phone: (706) 721-6100
Fax: (706) 721-0112