During the first month of residency training, introductory lectures focus on otolaryngologic emergencies and essential knowledge in the field. Thereafter, lectures are more in depth and focused on particular topics in basic and clinical science. Basic surgical anatomy is covered through cadaver and temporal bone dissection. There are weekly clinical conferences in head and neck radiology and in head and neck tumor oncology, which focus on discussions of patient care. There are monthly pathology conferences which reviewed slides from recent patients as well as basic science in pathology.

Residents actively participate in continuing education programs. These include the home study course and the annual otolaryngology examination. Scores from the above will provide feedback as to the adequacy of the basic teaching program. Additionally, these scores can aid in assessing individual residents' strengths and weaknesses in different aspects of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and serve as a basis for ongoing self-education and improvement for the residents.

Residents also work with the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery self-instructional packages and monographs, and take the education exams for the Otolaryngologic Clinics, and Patient-of-the-Month program.

All residents are expected to complete at least one research project under the guidance of a faculty preceptor during their four years of training. The research topic is selected by the individual resident, with guidance from a faculty member. Research may be clinical or laboratory based, and may be done with any member of our core faculty, or any of the extended clinical or basic science faculty at Stony Brook. Whenever possible, research projects will be submitted for presentation to a national or regional meeting.