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Program Overview

The University of Utah Neurotology Fellowship provides comprehensive training in the full gamut of otology/neurotology and skull base surgery. The fellowship is designed to provide a well-rounded experience in medical and surgical care of disorders affecting hearing, balance, cranial nerves, and the skull base. Paired with a major research institution offering limitless opportunities for scholarly pursuits, University of Utah Health serves as the primary referral center for the majority of the Mountain West region. Our fellow is therefore able to see patients from a wide variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and delve deeply into both rare and common otologic disorders in both clinical and research activities.

The neurotology practice at University of Utah Health encompasses care of both adult and pediatric patients. Commonly treated pathologies include:

  • Skull base tumors, including:
    • Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma)
    • Facial nerve schwannoma
    • Glomus tympanicum and jugulare
    • Meningioma
    • Chondrosarcoma and other petrous apex lesions
    • Endolymphatic sac tumors
  • Neurofibromatosis type II-Advanced or congenital sensorineural hearing loss treated with cochlear implantation
  • Facial nerve disorders
  • Cerebrospinal fluid leaks and encephaloceles
  • Temporal bone malignancy: managed in concert with head and neck surgeons at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (the only National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Mountain West, located on campus and staffed by University of Utah Health physicians)
  • Vestibular disorders
  • Full breadth of otologic diseases including chronic otitis media, otosclerosis, aural atresia, and others

Fellows in our program gain experience in the multimodality treatment of skull base tumors. Theprogram offers direct involvement in radiation treatment planning with radiation oncologists and neurosurgeons.

As decision making is one of the most challenging aspects of otology and neurotology, our fellows are provided with dedicated, independent clinic time at the University. Any surgical cases yielded are performed by the fellow as the attending on the case, under the supervision of one of the staff otologists.

To uphold the goals of University of Utah Health, our fellows are actively involved in research at any level (basic science, translational, or clinical) and education of residents and medical students. Protected research time (one day per work week) is provided, and the fellow is encouraged to not participate in clinical activities during this time.

Contact Us

Program Director

Richard K. Gurgel, MD MSCI

Fellowship Coordinator

Christy Jenkins