Optimizing Otolaryngology Training Through Sports Psychology—The Mental Game

As the field of otolaryngology continues to advance clinically and technologically, it must also innovate in how it educates its surgeons. Mental skills training is a feasible, evidence-based method to optimize surgical performance and surgeon well-being. These skills promote confidence, adaptability, focus, and resilience—all qualities that enable safer patient care and more sustainable careers. By embracing these insights from sports psychology, otolaryngology programs can better prepare their trainees to meet the demands of modern practice.

Corresponding Author: W. Jack Palmer, MD, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, 925 Chestnut St, 6th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (william.palmer2@jefferson.edu).

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