Developing the next generation of otolaryngologist-researchers

The lifeblood of any specialty is innovation and discovery. It is important for the field of otolaryngology and its patients that we identify, recruit, train, and develop the next generation of researchers in otolaryngology. This article describes programs and resources currently available to otolaryngologists in training and early in their career for their development as clinician-scientists. We describe the background of the current generation of National Institutes of Health-funded otolaryngologists and discern where the next generation might come from. Special attention is given to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, which focuses on supporting research and research training in hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language, and to programs aimed at the development of clinician-scientists.