Cornwall Advanced Rhinology Fellowship
A dedicated fellowship programme for ENT surgeons seeking subspecialist expertise in medical and surgical rhinology.
The Cornwall Advanced Rhinology Fellowship is a 12-month programme designed for ENT surgeons wishing to develop subspecialist expertise in medical and surgical rhinology, including the acquisition of advanced surgical technical abilities. Fellows benefit from direct personal mentorship, research opportunities, and integration into the wider rhinology community.
The fellow will work under the supervision of Prof Neil Tan and Mrs Aileen Lambert, and is based primarily at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. The timetable is balanced between time in the operating theatre and clinic on a weekly basis; typically 2–2.5 days operating and 1.5 days clinic. The fellowship is funded and you will be required to obtain a GMC Licence and appropriate insurance. Support in visa applications will be offered to international fellows.
Research forms an important part of the fellowship with dedicated academic sessions in the timetable. Emphasis is given from the fellowship supervisors to support the development of skills in clinical academia, manuscript preparation and oral presentation. It is expected that the fellow will complete at least one project per year aimed at international presentation and publication.
Following completion of the fellowship, we expect the fellow to be fully prepared to establish an independent rhinology practice, providing comprehensive medical and surgical management of complex sinonasal disease with confidence, sound clinical judgment, and technical excellence.
- ▸Advanced post-residency clinical training in the management of diseases of the nose, paranasal sinuses and orbit
- ▸Surgical training in endonasal approaches to the paranasal sinuses including primary and revision sinus surgery, advanced frontal sinus techniques (Modified Endoscopic Lothrop / Frontal Drillout), endoscopic resection of nasal tumours, and transnasal approaches to the orbit
- ▸Academic skills development in clinical research, manuscript preparation and oral presentation
- ▸Teaching skills including medical student and resident teaching, and contribution to multidisciplinary discussions
Fellowship supervisors: Prof Neil Tan and Mrs Aileen Lambert
Programme Duration
12-month full-time clinical fellowship.
Operative Experience
High-volume FESS including primary and complex revision cases, septorhinoplasty and tumour surgery. Navigation-assisted surgery and comprehensive exposure across the rhinology subspecialty including advanced frontal sinus approaches.
Academic Opportunities
Fellows benefit from dedicated academic time within the timetable, with direct mentorship in clinical research design, data analysis, manuscript preparation and oral presentation. Active participation in regional and national rhinology meetings is supported and encouraged.
Eligibility
Open to ENT surgeons following completion of residency or equivalent international training. GMC registration or eligibility to obtain required.
The Cornwall Advanced Rhinology Fellowship is highly competitive and we recommend early contact to express interest. To enquire about the fellowship, please email the Royal Cornwall Hospital ENT secretary nicola.smith112@nhs.net and send your CV and referee reports.
Current Fellow
Dr Louize Pietermans is an ENT (Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery) specialist from Belgium with a particular interest in rhinology. She obtained her medical degree from KU Leuven and completed her specialist training at several leading teaching hospitals, including ZOL Genk, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge, and UZ Leuven. She will return to a Consultant position in Antwerp following completion of fellowship.