COCLIA

Comprehensive Otolaryngologic Curriculum Learning through Interactive Approach (COCLIA) is a teaching tool to help residents learn otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.  This document provides discussion questions for over 100 major otolaryngology topics. Residents meet weekly to review the questions and learn from each other.

Download Coclia here.

How to use these materials:

Assign each resident a question to research and respond to with a one-page handout. 
Junior level residents should focus on the basic science or general anatomy and physiology questions. More senior residents should review and discuss landmark or current journal articles pertaining to the topic. Chief residents are assigned management of difficult cases or oral board scenarios.

Schedule time weekly for the residents to gather and present their responses.
Conferences must be scheduled at a time when all can attend. No ORs should be running or the residents should be exempt to attend their teaching conference. The program will not work if 1/2 of the residents are absent.

Invite a faculty member who has experience in the topic to attend.
The faulty member should be present to oversee the discussion. However, the teaching is done by each resident as they answer their questions.

Cultivate a relaxed learning environment. 
Learning can and should be fun. Joke, make the question funny, have coffee, etc.  Encourage the residents to save the weekly conference handouts. By the end of the two-year program, residents will have a binder with pertinent information on the major topics in otolaryngology.

How was COCLIA developed?
Dr. Sheri Slezak, a plastic surgeon at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, developed the concept of COREQUEST Resident Educational Program. Upon instituting the curriculum in her program, she found in-service scores consistently rose to finally level off at the third year. COREQUEST is currently employed as a teaching tool by most plastic surgery programs.


Dr. Sonya Malekzadeh adopted these concepts and successfully applied them to our specialty in the form of COCLIA.
“We have found this program to be a new, effective and fun way to learn otolaryngology. It has been well received by residents and faculty. In distributing this program nationally, we hope to improve resident education, test scores and overall knowledge base.

“In writing the questions, I read a text chapter, classic articles, and recent journals from the last two years. These four sources allow me to vary the questions and cover a topic well. As the program grows, I continue to update the questions every two years. “
COCLIA is a continually evolving project. I look forward to comments, suggestions and feedback regarding this program.

Additional Resources for Residents
OOSG (Formerly NROSG) - currently under construction
Section for Residents and Fellow