The Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology is one of the earliest ear, nose, and throat specialty departments in China. The department has one of the largest ear, nose and throat practices in China and it is also one of the main sources of otolaryngology in China. Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery was approved as a master's degree and doctoral degree authorization point in China in 1981. It became a national post-doctoral mobile station as early as 1995. Famous Chinese otolaryngologists such as Dr. LI Baoshi, Dr.WEI Nengrun, Dr. HUANG Xuanzhao, etc. have worked in this department. The department is led by Professor XIAO Hongjun, a well-known expert in otolaryngology in China since October, 2018. At present, the department has 68 doctors, 135 nurses and 11 technicians including 14 professors, 16 associate professors.

Clinical work: The team specialize in the medical and surgical care of ear, nose, face, neck and throat disorders. The highly trained and subspecialized group often works along side other subspecialties such as audiology, oncology, allergy and immunology and neurology to provide personalized quality treatments to each individual’s condition. The department has a complete set of specialties, rapid momentum development, and unique characteristics. It has a professional academic leader and a reasonable talent team.

Scientific research: The department presides two of "key Clinical Program of the Ministry of Health", two of "National Natural Science Foundation of China (Key Program)", fifty-four of "National Natural Science Foundation of China (including General Program)", two of “Foundation for University Key Teachers from Ministry of Education of China". Moreover, the project of "Basic and clinical Research of Vertigo disease" was awarded the first prize of National Science and Technology Progress, the second prize of Ministry of Education Science and Technology Progress and the first prize of Wuhan Science and Technology progress. The project "Basic and clinical research of inner ear immunity and autoimmune" was awarded the second prize of Chinese Medical Science and Technology progress and the second prize of Scientific and Technological progress in Hubei Province. Furthermore, from 2014 to 2020, Professor KONG Weijia was included in the list “Highly cited Chinese scholars” in the Scopes database index of Elsevier academic papers.

Medical Education: The department has the editor-in-chief of "Science of Ear, Nose and Throat" (1-2 editions), editor-in-chief of "Ear, Nose, Throat Science" (1-4 editions) and editor-in-chief of "Ear, Nose, Throat and Neck Science" (1-3 editions).

In terms of teaching work, in 2004, the "Ear, Nose and Throat Science" was awarded as "National Quality Curriculum" by the Ministry of Education. In 2005, the project of "Ear, Nose and Throat Science Teaching system Reform and Establishment" was awarded the second prize by Hubei Province. In 2009, the project of "Research and Practice of the Advanced Teaching System of Clinical Medicine" was awarded the second prize of Hubei Provincial Higher Education Teaching Achievement Awards. In 2010, their team was named "Hubei Province Higher Education Teaching Team". In 2013, the otolaryngology science was awarded as "National Quality Resource Sharing Course" and "English Teaching Brand Courses in China" by the Ministry of Education. In the same year, Professor KONG Weijia’s achievements of teaching was awarded the first prize of the "Reform and Practice of Talent Cultivation Mode in Medical" in Hubei Province. Moreover, Professor KONG Weijia was awarded the "Baosteel Outstanding Teacher Award" in 2006. He was named as the "Prominent Educator" of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in the same year. In 2011, Professor KONG Weijia was awarded the "Prominent Educator of Hubei province".