What do they do?

As an ENT specialist your job will involve diagnosing a patient and examine a patient for any signs of injury or ailment. As an Otolaryngologist you may experience extended work hours and on-call situations that require them to meet the needs of a patient at any time of the day. Thus, you have to be adaptable and able to work well under stressful conditions. You should be able to provide comprehensive care to patients in a team environment working with other medical staff.

Skills Needed

• Good coordination and fine manipulative skills together with a thorough knowledge of head and neck anatomy
• ENT surgeons are involved in communication disorders and should themselves be good communicators and sensitive
• Good time management skills are paramount. The workload is frequently huge and this often results in a demanding schedule. You will need to have the capacity to operate effectively under pressure and remain objective in highly pressurised situations
• Excellent problem-solving abilities are very important. You will need to make sound clinical judgments and decisions as to different treatments quickly and accurately. You will need to think beyond the obvious and anticipate situations that may change rapidly
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team is vital. The diverse nature of the speciality means that you will work closely with the anaesthetic department, oncology team, palliative care, immunology, respiratory and rheumatology etc

How do I get there?

As a physician, an otolaryngologist is required to obtain a medical degree (MBBS), which takes about five years, followed by postgraduation in otolaryngology. One can also undergo super-speciality training (fellowship). 

Typical day in the life of a ENT Surgeons

Pros & Cons about this career