Hearing loss in infants and children can be temporary or permanent. It can be caused by head infections, trauma, exposure to loud noise and some types of medical therapies. There is a significant genetic component associated with hearing loss.

My research aims to uncover the connections between genetics and hearing loss. Throughout my investigations, I seek to understand the genetic basis of hearing loss. In addition to my research work, I’m a pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT)/otologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Cincinnati.

I was first inspired to become a pediatric ENT surgeon during residency. When working with children, my mentor Dr. Craig Derkay, a pediatric ENT surgeon and a director of pediatric otolaryngology, inspired me. I pursued my research interests when I trained under my mentor Dr. Richard Smith during my pediatric ENT fellowship. These mentors encouraged and supported my career in Otolaryngology, Otology and Genetics.

I have more than 23 years of experience in the ENT field. My research has been published in respected journals, such as Journal of Child Neurology, Genetics in Medicine, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Otology and Neurotology, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and The Laryngoscope.