Rhinology Fellowship

Fellowship Mission of the University of Colorado

The goal of the Neurorhinology Fellowship Program is to train independent neurorhinologists who are knowledgeable, competent, self-reflective, inquisitive, ethical, and compassionate. Fellows develop expertise in the contemporary evaluation and management of diseases, disorders, and conditions within the field of neurorhinology, as well as the surgical procedures essential to its practice. 

Program Overview

The University of Colorado Neurorhinology Fellowship is a one-year clinical training program that offers one fellowship position annually. Fellows are appointed as PGY-6 instructors within the Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Fellows train with a team of fellowship-trained rhinologists and dedicated rhinology advanced practice providers whose practices span the full breadth of rhinologic and skull base care. The fellowship provides comprehensive exposure to the medical and surgical management of sinonasal disease, inflammatory airway disorders, and anterior skull base pathology across multiple clinical sites within the University of Colorado Health system. Additional multidisciplinary learning opportunities are available through National Jewish Health (NJH), providing fellows with unique exposure to experts in respiratory disease, allergy and immunology, and inflammatory airway disorders.

Educational Experience

The fellowship provides a robust educational experience that combines protected academic time, hands-on clinical instruction, and structured didactic learning. Fellows are provided one day per week of protected academic and research time.

Education occurs in both informal and formal settings. Informal teaching takes place throughout daily clinical encounters and surgical cases. Fellows also assume teaching and supervisory responsibilities with otolaryngology residents. Faculty incorporate case-based and patient-based instruction during medical and surgical evaluations, clinical decision-making, and the development of surgical skills.

Formal educational experiences include:

• Weekly Rhinology Conference
• Biweekly Skull Base Multidisciplinary Conference
• Annual Rhinology Education Block
• Annual Fellows Integrated Airway Disease Immersion Course at National Jewish Health
• Annual CU Skull Base Course

Research & Scholarship

The program supports and encourages basic, translational, and clinical research across all areas of rhinology and skull base surgery.

Each fellow is paired with a research mentor whose expertise aligns with the fellow's academic interests. Fellows also participate in the department's Research Forum curriculum, which is incorporated into weekly didactics. This longitudinal series is led by otolaryngology basic science faculty and covers topics such as biostatistics, study design, grant writing, and other foundations of academic research. Research Forum convenes approximately six times throughout the academic year.

Collaborative Research Opportunities

The University of Colorado provides fellows with access to both clinical and basic science faculty for collaboration on a wide range of ongoing research initiatives. Multidisciplinary research opportunities are available across numerous specialties, including:

• Neurosurgery
• Ophthalmology
• Pulmonology
• Allergy and Immunology
• Medical Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Head & Neck Oncology
• Neuroradiology

In addition, fellows have collaborative access to investigators at National Jewish Health, a globally recognized institution specializing in respiratory care. These partnerships provide opportunities for multidisciplinary research in pulmonology, allergy and immunology, occupational medicine, and related fields. Fellows may collaborate with national and international experts in cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, immunodeficiency, autoimmune disorders, environmental exposures, and inflammatory airway disease.

Current Fellows

Cynthia Koenigsberg, MD

Medical School: University of Minnesota School of Medicine

Residency: University of Minnesota School of Medicine

Application Requirements & Deadlines

Applications for the Neurorhinology Fellowship are accepted through the SF Match Rhinology Fellowship Match Program.

Key Dates:

• Applications Open: November 1, 2026
• Application Deadline: February 1, 2027
• Interview Date(s): To be announced
• Match Day: May 26, 2027

Applicants should submit all required application materials through the SF Match system.

Please contact Vicki Muscatello at [email protected] with any questions