Interested residents can apply for admission to this track in the second half of their PGY-1 year. Rush sends an otolaryngology team on two global health trips per year to the Dominican Republic where Rush has a well-established presence and a strong relationship with the local community. Residents can participate in one of these week-long trips during their residency. Funding for the trip is provided by global health scholarships and the Department of Otolaryngology. The time spent on the global health trip does not count toward a resident’s vacation time.
The otolaryngology global health site director is Ashok Jagasia, MD, who has been actively engaged in global and community health for many years. In the Dominican Republic, where only six audiologists serve 10 million people, Dr. Jagasia has provided surgical services for over 11 years, performing around 400 procedures. Three years ago, he started a hearing program in Peralta, screening about 1,500 children. In collaboration with Rush University’s audiology team, local healthcare workers are trained to conduct hearing screenings, with plans to expand access across the region. A hearing aid donation program has also been established. This work was published in the International Pediatric Journal of Otolaryngology.
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