Physician
Michigan Ear Institute

I an an Otolaryngologist- Ear, Nose, & Throat (ENT) Surgeon board certified in Otology, Neurotology, Otolaryngology and Skull Base Surgery and specialize in the treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the ear and skull base, with a special focus on the treatment of pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implantation. I received by medical degree from the University of Michigan School of Medicine after graduating from Ferris State University with a BS in biotechnology and completed residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. I then went on to complete more specialized training in Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

I am originally from Bay City, Michigan and a member of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians.

I am fortunate to have may accomplishments throughout my career in medicine- from lives saved in airway emergencies to giving the gift of hearing to children and adults.

I am thankful to have these opportunities throughout my training as an ENT Surgeon and now as a Neurotologist, a very competitive subspecialty field of ENT. There are only 14 fellowships throughout the country available each year, so to be accepted into this field was a great accolade.

A recent accomplishment I am most proud of came from the development of a collaboration with Central Michigan University-working to expand their Cochlear Implant Program and provide care to a greater number of people in a larger service area, including treatment of children with hearing loss.

This has given me the opportunity to give the gift of hearing to three young sisters with progressive hearing loss, ages 4, 6, and 9 years old. Hearing aids were no longer providing benefit, and all three sisters became candidates simultaneously for cochlear implants. They underwent surgery and received their implants on the same day. It was a very special moment to share this journey with these young girls and their family. This was a very rare case that three sisters would be candidates at the same time and the story has been picked up by local news media.

My current goal is working to expand access and availability of cochlear implantation and improve ear and hearing health to children and adults who are hearing impaired. I am working with local hospital systems to offer cochlear implantation to the pediatric population as part of a global health system. I also work with the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program in Michigan to identify pediatric hearing loss as early as possible to ensure children are given the best opportunities to excel academically and socially. I continue to provide outreach and teaching for resident and fellow doctors in training, in addition to speaking at a national and local level regarding these topics.

The information presented here was accurate as of January 1, 2019.