Objective To determine whether medical student Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (Oto‐HNS) interest groups increase student and resident interest in the specialty and influence decisions to apply to Oto‐HNS residency. Methods Two web‐based surveys were distributed by the Division of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at UConn Health: one to current medical students at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and the other to currents residents at Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–approved otolaryngology training programs. Results Fifty medical students and 89 residents completed the surveys. Several components were assessed in these surveys, including factors contributing to the selection process, interest group availability, attendance of meetings, availability of otolaryngology mentors, and interest in the specialty. A majority of medical students noted that interest groups play a role in influencing their interest in a medical specialty (56%). Medical students who attended Oto‐HNS interest group were more likely to consider applying for otolaryngology residency ( P < .0001) and had improved understanding of otolaryngology than those that did not attend ( P = .0003). Residents who attended interest group meetings were more likely to be influenced to apply to otolaryngology than those that did not attend. Conclusion Oto‐HNS interest groups improve medical student understanding of the specialty. Medical students and residents who participated in interest groups were more likely to be influenced positively regarding the specialty than those that did not attend. Oto‐HNS interest groups may foster greater interest in otolaryngology residency and offer a potential solution to the current match concerns. Level of Evidence xx

Objective To test the hypothesis that age-related demineralization of otoconia will result in an age-related increase in blood levels of otoconia matrix protein, otolin-1. Study design Cross-sectional observational clinical trial. Setting Clinical research center. Patients Seventy-nine men and women ranging in age from 22 to 95 years old. Interventions Diagnostic. Main outcome measures Blood levels of otolin-1 in relation to age. Results Levels of otolin-1 of subjects divided into four age groups (1: 20–30 [n=20], 2: 50–65 [n=20], 3: 66–80 [n=20], 4: 81–95 [n=19] years old) demonstrated an increasing trend with age The difference between otolin levels of groups 2 and 3, as well as, (P=0.04) and 2 and 4 (P=0.031) were statistically significant, but there was no significant difference between the two oldest groups. Conclusions Otolin-1 blood levels are significantly higher in patients older than 65 years of age. This is consistent with previous scanning electron microscopy findings of age-related otoconia degeneration and increased prevalence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) with age. Normative data provided here can serve as important reference values against which levels from BPPV patients can be compared to further evaluate otolin-1 as a circulatory biomarker for otoconia degeneration.

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