Roles
Department Chair
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Biography
I am a Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and UHealth. I am a fellowship-trained neurotologist and cranial base surgeon with clinical and research interests centered on hearing, balance, cochlear implantation, and complex ear and skull base disorders.
My clinical practice focuses on patients with complex hearing and balance disorders, chronic ear disease, cochlear implantation, hearing preservation, and skull base pathology. I particularly enjoy caring for patients whose problems require a combination of careful diagnosis, advanced technology, and complex surgical decision-making.
My research has focused largely on cochlear implantation and the preservation and use of residual hearing. I am especially interested in understanding how surgical technique and intraoperative monitoring can influence long-term hearing outcomes. Much of my work has involved electrocochleography, hearing preservation, and electro-acoustic stimulation, with an emphasis on questions that can ultimately change how we counsel and treat patients.
I have been fortunate to lead and participate in multicenter clinical research supported by the National Institutes of Health. I enjoy the collaborative nature of clinical research and have particularly valued the opportunity to work with investigators and clinicians across institutions to answer questions that cannot be addressed by a single center.
Education and mentorship have also been central to my career. I have worked with medical students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty and particularly enjoy teaching clinical reasoning and surgical decision-making. I believe that good teaching is not simply about transferring knowledge; it is about helping trainees learn how to think, make decisions, and become increasingly independent physicians.
Over the course of my career, I have also taken on increasing administrative and leadership responsibilities. These experiences have given me a strong interest in building academic programs, recruiting and developing faculty, improving clinical operations, and creating an environment in which people can do their best work.
As Chair at Miami, my focus is on bringing these pieces together—building a strong clinical enterprise, expanding our research and educational programs, recruiting and developing outstanding faculty, and creating a department that is known for both excellence and a strong culture. -
Education & Training
Education
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Teaching Interests
I enjoy teaching because it gives me an opportunity to influence how the next generation of physicians approaches patients and clinical problems. My primary teaching interests are in otology and neurotology, particularly hearing loss, vestibular disorders, cochlear implantation, hearing preservation, and skull base surgery.
I particularly enjoy surgical teaching—helping trainees understand anatomy, operative technique, and, importantly, the clinical reasoning behind surgical decisions. I also place a strong emphasis on teaching residents and fellows how to approach complex clinical problems and make thoughtful, evidence-based decisions.
Research mentorship is another important part of my teaching. I enjoy helping trainees turn clinical observations into meaningful research questions and develop the skills to critically evaluate and communicate scientific evidence.
I also value mentoring junior faculty and helping them identify their academic interests, develop their careers, and find opportunities for leadership. Ultimately, my goal is to help trainees become thoughtful, capable, and increasingly independent physicians. -
Research Interests
My research focuses on hearing preservation in cochlear implantation, with a particular interest in the biology of the inner ear and how electrode implantation affects cochlear function.
My work began with histopathologic studies of cochlear implant electrode insertion trauma, including leading an electrode development program using a dedicated histopathology laboratory. This work evolved into electrophysiologic studies, including animal models, to better understand the effects of electrode insertion and to develop strategies for providing real-time intraoperative feedback to surgeons during implantation.
This translational work ultimately led to the development of an FDA-approved technology that is now in clinical use. In parallel, I have led and participated in multicenter clinical trials evaluating novel cochlear implant technologies, surgical techniques, and approaches to hearing preservation.
My overall goal is to better understand how cochlear implantation affects the inner ear and use that knowledge to develop technologies and surgical strategies that preserve hearing and improve outcomes for patients.