Comments of Dr. Schulte

From: Dr. Bradley Schulte
To: Dr. A Julianna Gulya
Subject: Comments on Training

These comments will by necessity be brief because research on human temporal bones is a relatively new aspect of our research program at MUSC and becuase we have no formal or funded training mechanisms in place to support such studies. However, I can provide a few observations based on our recent attempts to recruit individuals to work on human temporal bones. First, I have had trouble generating a high or even medium level of enthusiasm among senior and especially junior colleagues with PhD degrees for projects involving direct studies of human tissues. Although compliance issues (IRB regulations etc.) certainly play a role in this reticence the more critical issues are the inability to manipulate the system, uncertainties about the availability and quality of the specimens and perhaps, most importantly, concerns about the competitiveness of such studies for future funding. Second, undergraduate students pursuing PhD degrees in cellular and molecular programs and postdocs are also hesitant to work on human tissue-dependent projects for the same reasons. Since we do not have research oriented Residency Training Programs either in ENT or Pathology we have been forced to rely on short term research trainees for help with these studies. Our highest level of success so far has been with recent medical school graduates seeking a research experience in auditory science to increase their competitiveness for ENT or Neurosurgery residency slots. These one year on average research rotations have proven useful. We also have had excellent experiences with ENT and Pathology Residents utilizing human inner ear tissues during their required 3 month research rotations.

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