By gaining experience in a variety of clinical settings — including advanced tertiary/quaternary-care hospitals, a county hospital, a VA Hospital and private outpatient surgery centers — graduates of the IU School of Medicine Otolaryngology Residency program are able to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures related to otolaryngologic pathological conditions and achieve enhanced academic and clinical proficiencies. The department also offers three one-year fellowships to prepare trainees for a career in academic head and neck surgery, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery or rhinology.
Education
The faculty members of this department are educating students, residents, fellows and other physicians in the field of otolaryngology and related areas of medicine. IU School of Medicine offers the only otolaryngology—head and neck surgery residency in the state of Indiana.
Research
Faculty members are advancing research regarding disorders within this complex specialty. These scientists and clinician-investigators perform a broad range of research, including speech perception, stem cell research in the auditory system, and peripheral nerve regeneration.
Clinical Care
Renowned as one of the best otolaryngology departments in the nation, the fellowship-trained faculty physicians of this team are nationally and internationally recognized as clinical experts in the communication sciences, having been pioneers in the field of cochlear implants.
Seth Bruggers, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
Seth Bruggers, MD, is a board certified otolaryngologist who joined IU School of Medicine in 2025. He had previously been in private practice for 14 years. He sees pediatric and adult patients, and enjoys the full range of otolaryngology, especially sinus surgery, disorders of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, otology and pediatric otolaryngology. He has published several articles on endoscopic sinus surgery and has presented at state and national meetings.
Jessica A. Yesensky, MD
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
Jessica Yesensky, MD, primarily treats patients with cancers of the head and neck, salivary glands, thyroid and parathyroid and microvascular reconstruction following cancer resections. She also sees patients for benign diseases of the salivary glands and endocrine surgery.
Dr. Yesensky joined IU School of Medicine in 2019 following a fellowship in head and neck surgery at the University of California-Davis. Originally from Chicago, she completed her medical degree from the Rush Medical College and trained in otolaryngology residency at the University of Chicago. Dr. Yesensky joined IU School of Medicine due to its nationally renowned reputation in cancer care research. Her research interests include skin cancer, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and cancer cachexia.
Support the Department
Online giving is simple and secure. Philanthropic support helps improve patient care through research and training the next generation of surgeons in otolaryngology.