Panelist: Charley C. Della Santina, PhD, MD

Dr. Della Santina earned his PhD in BioEngineering at the University of California at Berkeley, where his work focused on development of micromachined silicon devices for neuro-electronic interfacing to the auditory/vestibular nerve. Since completing his medical degree at the University of California at San Francisco and residency at Johns Hopkins, he has been a clinician-scientist on the faculties of the Johns Hopkins Departments of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery and Biomedical Engineering.

As a board-certified otologic/neurotologic surgeon, Dr. Della Santina specializes in treatment of disorders of the middle and inner ear. His clinical interests include restoration of hearing via cochlear implantation and other implantable devices, management of patients who suffer from vestibular disorders, management of acoustic neuromas, and all other aspects of otology/neurotology. His NIH-funded research centers on development of a multichannel vestibular prosthesis intended to restore inner ear sensation of head movement.  His more than 50 publications include studies characterizing inner ear physiology and anatomy; novel tests of vestibular function; and effects of cochlear implantation, superior canal dehiscence syndrome, and intratympanic gentamicin therapy on the vestibular labyrinth.  His recent honors include an American Otological Society Clinician-Scientist Award, the Robert Bárány Society Young Scientist of the Year Award, induction into the American Otological Society, and multiple honorary lectureships in the U.S., Europe and Asia.