(514) Rural and Private Practice Otolaryngology Residency Training Opportunities

Introduction: Exposure to rural and private practice settings during otolaryngology residency remains limited. Increasing these opportunities may enhance understanding of rural healthcare delivery, foster interest in underserved populations, and broaden clinical experience.

Methods: Study

Design: Cross-sectional survey study.
Setting: ACGME-accredited otolaryngology residency programs.

Methods: A four-question survey was distributed to program coordinators and directors at all 132 ACGME-accredited programs. Non-responding programs were reviewed through official websites and the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access (FREIDA). Resident numbers per program (June 2025) were obtained from public data sources. Programs were categorized using Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes to determine rural designation.

Results: Of 132 programs, 93 responded via survey responses and 39 through online review. Most were university-based (74%). Only one program was classified as rural by RUCA code. Seven programs (5.3%) offered rural rotations, typically elective and averaging 8 weeks in duration. Forty-four programs (33.3%) provided private practice rotations, roughly half of which were mandatory. As of June 2025, only 6.2% of 1,929 otolaryngology residents had access to rural training, while 31.9% had potential exposure to private practice. Twenty programs reported plans to provide these opportunities, primarily in private practice settings.

Conclusions: Rural and private practice experiences remain scarce in otolaryngology training, with 5% of programs offering rural rotations. Expanding these opportunities may support workforce distribution, enhance resident training, and improve care access in underserved communities.