Medical students lead exploration of ENT
The Otolaryngology Interest Group, a NEOMED student organization, recently organized an event to introduce NEOMED students to the field of ear, nose and throat medicine.
During the program, the group’s faculty advisor, Dr. Anita Jeyakumar, gave an overview of the breadth of ENT and its various subspecialties. This was followed by a Q&A session led by Dr. Julie Wei, director of ENT at Akron Children’s Hospital, featuring Dr. Vincent Callanan of Akron Children's, Dr. Eric Freeman (PGY-4) of Western Reserve Health, and Dr. Hannah Christensen (PGY-1) of Mercy Health in Boardman. The discussion focused on how to approach matching into ENT, helpful resources for students, and strategies for applying from a school without a home program. Afterward, students broke into small groups to speak directly with the physicians, creating a more personal and interactive experience.
The event grew out of a presentation by Dr. Jeyakumar during the ENT-IG introductory meeting last year on otolaryngology and how to match. This year, the interest group’s executive team collaborated with Dr. Jeyakumar and Dr. Wei, who helped the students expand their network of otolaryngologists and provide greater exposure for NEOMED students.
“Because many of our classmates have limited opportunities to learn about ENT, we wanted to create an event that could spark curiosity and mentorship within the field,” explained interest group president Sanjana Nallapaneni, M2. “Personally, hearing from residents about their day-to-day experiences in ENT strongly affirmed my interest in the field, and I wanted other students to have that same opportunity for discovery and inspiration.”
Key Takeaways
Nallapaneni shared that students left the program with a clearer understanding of what otolaryngology encompasses—from otology to head and neck surgery to rhinology and skull base surgery to facial plastic surgery—and how rewarding and diverse the field can be. Many also appreciated the advice on matching into a competitive specialty from a program without a home department.
“Most importantly, the event fostered meaningful connections between students and physicians, making ENT feel (hopefully) more accessible and achievable for those interested in pursuing it,” she said.
Student Leaders
The ENT-IG is led by second-year students in the College of Medicine, including president: Sanjana Nallapaneni, vice president: Megan Li, secretary: Elias Asmar, treasurer: Andrea Varghese, event chair: Naveen Raj, and service chair: Jillian Wilkerson.