Meet the Otology/Neurotology Sectionin the UCSD DIvision of Otolaryngology
Otologists and Neurotologists diagnose and treat diseases of the middle and inner ear, including hearing loss, exostoses ("surfer's ear"), acoustic neuromas, dizziness and other balance disorders, and tinnitus. Our four attending physicians have both MD and PhD degrees, meaning that they are scientists as well as physicians. This affords our patients the unique benefits of translational medicine, i.e., research done by these physicians in the UCSD School of Medicine laboratories is "translated" to help the patient in the clinic and hospital settings.
Jeffrey P. Harris, MD, PhD Dr. Harris is our Division Chief and the Section Head of UCSD Otology/Neurotology. He specializes in disorders of the ear, hearing, and balance, as well as tumors which affect the skull base. He has over 30 years of experience in stapedectomy for otosclerosis, and he specializes in revision cases. Fellowship trained and Board certified in neurotology/skull base surgery, Dr. Harris is our only physician with the specialized training required to perform advanced skull base surgeries such as Gamma Knife neurosurgery. In addition to his active clinical practice and faculty committments, Dr. Harris is committed to researching the causes of deafness and other disorders such as acoustic neuromas, Ménière’s disease, and autoimmune inner ear disease. Dr. Harris sees patients at the UCSD Perlman Clinic in La Jolla and performs surgery at the UCSD Thornton Hospital in La Jolla. To schedule an appointment to see Dr. Harris, please call our Perlman Clinic at 858 657-8590.
Joni K. Doherty, MD, PhD Dr. Doherty specializes in the evaluation and treatment of many inner-ear problems and hearing disorders, including Ménière’s disease, acoustic neuromas, and otosclerosis. Recently funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Doherty is researching the regulation of growth in vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas). Dr. Doherty sees patients at the Perlman Clinic and the VA Clinic in La Jolla, and performs surgery at the UCSD Thornton Hospital in La Jolla and the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. To see Dr. Doherty, please call our appointment desk at 858 657-8590.
Quyen T. Nguyen, MD, PhD Dr. Nguyen evaluates and treats problems including exostosis (“surfer’s ear”), tympanic membrane perforations, ossicular chain problems, otosclerosis, cholesteatoma, single-sided deafness, Ménière’s disease, and acoustic neuromas. Dr. Nguyen has recently been awarded a 5-year National Institutes of Health grant to study the use of molecular fluorescence imaging to guide surgeons in tumor surgery. She evaluates and treats patients in the Outpatient Clinic and the OR at the UCSD Hillcrest Medical Center. You may make an appointment to see Dr. Nguyen by calling Scheduling in Hillcrest at 619 543-6631.
Erik Viirre, MD, PhD Dr. Viirre's specialties are the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of balance disorders (dizziness, vertigo) and tinnitus ("ringing in the ears"). His research is focused primarily on the causes and management of vertigo and tinnitus, including the use of virtual reality to manage vertigo. A biomedical researcher and neurophysiologist, Dr. Viirre also studies the causes of migraine and benign positional vertigo, and is helping to develop a means to assess the cognitive state during human-computer interactions. Dr. Viirre is also developing a website that will screen and help patients suffering from tinnitus. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Viirre, please call the Perlman Clinic at 858 657-8590.
Erika Zettner, PhD Dr. Zettner is an Associate Clinical Professor, Audiologist and Co-Director of the UCSD/San Diego State University Joint Doctoral Program in Audiology, currently the only program in California to offer a doctorate degree in audiology. In addition to instruction and administrative work, she specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders using standard audiological tests as well as the newest auditory evoked potential measures and otoacoustic emissions. She has implemented new testing procedures that assist in diagnosing endolymphatic hydrops, superior canal dehiscence, small eighth cranial nerve tumors, middle ear disorders, and auditory processing disorders in adults. Dr Zettner uses the most current verification techniques for hearing aid fittings, including real ear measures and SpeechMapping. She is equipped to treat tinnitus using the latest technology and science, and to work with adult cochlear implant users. Dr. Zettner also performs facial nerve testing for the UCSD Facial Nerve Center and ototoxic monitoring for the UCSD Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Zettner, please call the Perlman Clinic at 858-657-8590.
Sharon Lindebak, C-FNP
Luis Benitez, MD
Brian Kung, MD Dr. Kung is our 2st-year Neurotology Fellow. He attended medical school at Jefferson Medical College and completed his Otolaryngology residency at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Dr. Kung’s interests include dizziness, migrainous vertigo, chronic ear surgery, stapes surgery, cochlear implantation, and temporal bone tumors.
Thomas Alexander, MD Dr. Alexander is our 1st- year Neurotology Fellow. He attended medical school at Duke University School of Medicine and completed his residency at UCSD.