Welcome

Dana L. Crosby, MD, MPH 

Department Chair and Residency Program Director

On behalf of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology, I welcome you to explore our website and learn a bit about who we are. SIU Oto-HNS is a very close-knit program with an individualized approach to training, helping residents reach their highest potential as surgeons. The smaller size of our program allows residents to foster strong relationships with colleagues and faculty, making residency a more personal experience.

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is a world-renowned leader in surgical education and simulation. Our residency program emphasizes the use of our state-of-the-art surgical skills center, the Memorial Learning Center, with monthly high-fidelity skills labs. Residents are excused from clinical duties during these labs in order to maximize their benefit. This portion of our curriculum is truly unique and provides residents with a safe and rich environment to develop their surgical skills outside of the operating room. 

It is our mission to train and graduate residents who are well prepared and fully supported for the career of their choice. Those choosing to further their education with a fellowship are well prepared with expert training and faculty support in all subspecialties of Otolaryngology. Residents graduating from SIU Oto-HNS have an incredibly well-rounded training experience that prepares them to be comfortable seeing all types of patients in a general practice. Our goal is to graduate residents who are prepared to provide cutting-edge care to patients in the setting of their choice. 

Our Community

Every year I am asked, "what does SIU Otolaryngology look for in a resident?" My response is fairly simple. Our team works best when all of its' members have three characteristics: a strong work ethic, a team mentality, and a genuine passion for patient care. I cannot emphasize the teamwork component enough. When all residents are willing to help each other out, the burden on each individual is so much less. It is this cooperative nature of the residents in our program that promotes continued success year after year. 

My Goal

As Program Director of SIU Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, I place significant emphasis on open communication and transparency among our team. I want residents to feel comfortable approaching me with any topic and I am dedicated to helping residents navigate both the ups and downs that occur throughout five years of training and beyond. Diversity among our residents is one of the best assets of our program and I will work hard to continue this tradition to ensure that all voices are represented in our program and our specialty as a whole. 

I look forward to speaking with you and answering any questions you might have about our fantastic training program!