Course Director:

Darius Kohan, MD*

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We specialize in all aspects of otolaryngology (ENT) with focus on diseases of the ear including hearing loss, tinnitus,and vertigo. We perform hearing restoration surgery for otoslerosis (stapedectomy), cholesteatoma (tympanomastoidectomy), acoustic neuroma (multiple techniques). We also perform Cochlear Implant surgery for patients with profound hearing losss.

Board certifications
Otolaryngology – American Board of Otolaryngology
Neurotology – American Board of Otolaryngology / Neurotology

Administrative titles
Director – Neurotology of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital

Academic titles
Adjunct Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Education
New York University School of Medicine

Residencies
Mount Sinai Beth Israel — Petrie Division
New York University Langone Medical Center

Fellowships
New York University Langone Medical Center

Guest Speaker:

Meg1

Margaret Dillon, AuD, PhD, CCC-A

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Director, OHNS Clinical Research
Director, Cochlear Implant Clinical Research
Associate Professor; OHNS Clinical Research
UNC Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery
Division of Auditory Research – Cochlear Implant Clinical Research

Faculty:

sujana 3

Sujana S. Chandrasehkar, MD, FACS*

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Dr. Chandrasekhar, a fellowship trained Otologist/Neurotologist, received her undergraduate degree from Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, City College of New York, cum laude.  She then went on to earn her M.D. at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.  She completed her internship and residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at New York University Medical Center, and her fellowship in otology/neurotology at the House Ear Clinic and Institute, in Los Angeles, California.

She has held leadership positions at the most prestigious organizations in her field, serving as President of the AAO-HNS where she was also Past Chair of their Board of Governors and Secretary/Treasurer of the American Otological Society.  Dr. Chandrasekhar is also a Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell, Clinical Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Consulting Editor, Otolaryngology Clinics of North America, and Director of Neurotology, JJ Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Her honors and awards, foundation memberships, professional society participations, Grant activities, presentations and publications are extraordinarily numerous and laudable.  Dr. Chandrasekhar is board certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology in both Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and in Neurotology, and is licensed in New York and New Jersey.

Ghossaini

Soha N. Ghossaini, MD, FACS

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Soha Ghossaini, MD, FACS is an otologist/neurotologist practicing with ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP.  She is board certified in both Neurotology and otolaryngology. She is an experienced ear surgeon in the New York- Queens area who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of various hearing, balance, facial nerve and skull base conditions in both children and adults.

Dr. Ghossaini’s vast expertise includes treating conditions such as chronic ear disease, single sided deafness, sudden hearing loss, and Meniere’s disease, as well as performing hearing restoration surgical procedures such as stapedectomy, bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants. Other ear-related procedures and surgeries, such as tympanoplasty, cholesteatoma surgery, mastoidectomy and  implantable hearing aids, intratympanic injections are of particular focus.

Dr. Ghossaini works to treat patients as she would her own family, taking time to understand their concerns, provide education on their conditions, and discuss the best possible treatment options. She pursued a career in health care to make a difference in people’s lives and  has an interest in Global hearing health.

Dr Ghossaini presents regularly on various topics related to the medical and surgical treatment of various hearing and balance disorders at several local, regional, and international meetings.

Dr. Ghossaini has participated in numerous research studies in the areas of intratympanic therapy, bone anchored hearing aids, and hearing loss. She authored peer-reviewed articles and has received multiple professional society awards from organizations such as the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

She is a member of several professional societies, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, North American Skull Base Society, American Neurotology Society, The Triological Society of Otolaryngology, and American Otological Society. In addition to being a member of these groups, she is heavily involved in committees within these organizations.

Haberman

Jona Haberman, AuD, CCC-A*

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Supervisor of Audiology
Northwell Health Physician Partners at Lenox Hill
Adjunct Professor, Audiology
CUNY Graduate Center

Hanson

Matthew Hanson

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Kasper

Craig A. Kasper, AuD, FAAA

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Dr. Craig Kasper is the Managing Director of NYHD. He specializes in disorders of the vestibular system and balance optimization. A Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, Dr. Kasper has been at the front lines of public education and hearing/balance healthcare service for over 25 years.  He completed his Doctorate of Audiology at the University of Florida and earned his master’s degree with clinical honors from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Kasper completed his Clinical Fellowship and served as a clinician in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Kasper is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). Dr. Kasper is a member of the American Balance Society and also earned certification in Performance Breathing from XPT.

He has contributed to scholarly articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Hearing Research and Laryngoscope. In addition to his professional publication history, he has written informative and educational health/scientific articles for the general public.

His experience has made him a resource for the media. He has appeared in print, on local and nationwide television, and online discussing topics related to hearing/balance health and wellness. Dr. Kasper has appeared multiple times on the Dr. Oz Show, with Katie Couric on her show Katie’s Take, on the ABC News Now show Parenting, Good Morning America, NY1 News, WNBC, WCBS News Radio, MSNBC, CBS News, WABC News, Bloomberg News, MTVu, Backstage Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, The Vancouver Sun, 1010WINS.com, Diabetes Health Magazine, New Jersey Star-Ledger, Men’s Journal, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan magazine, and many others.

Stan Pelosi, MD

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Dr. Stan Pelosi is a board-certified neurotologist affiliated with Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital. His primary clinical focus is in the surgical treatment of disorders affecting the ear, including cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, chronic mastoiditis, and tympanic membrane perforation. He has expertise in performing cochlear implant surgery as well as placement of other implantable hearing devices for hearing restoration. Dr. Pelosi also is part of a multi-disciplinary team at Northwell Health that specializes in management of vestibular schwannoma and other tumors of the lateral skull base. Prior to his arrival at Northwell, Dr. Pelosi spent several years in academic practice in Philadelphia, PA.

Board certifications
Otolaryngology – American Board of Otolaryngology
Neurotology – American Board of Otolaryngology / Neurotology

Academic titles
Assistant Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Education
Brown University School of Medicine

Residencies
Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Center

Fellowships
Vanderbilt University Medical Center GME

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Zachary Schwam, MD

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EDUCATION & HONORS

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY 2021-2023 Otology/Neurotology fellowship

  • First neurotology fellow at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
  • Hold several independent anatomy and radiology review sessions for residents and do board-style case prep during resident didactics.
  • Guide residents in temporal bone laboratory as part of the annual dissection course.
  • Interviewer for otolaryngology residency and neurotology fellowship applicants.
  • Editor of the Mount Sinai Otolaryngology Video Repository.
  • Committees: Integrated Quality Improvement (IQI), house staff appeals committee.
  • Assisted in developing our first annual skull base course and organizing ourlong-standing annual endoscopic otology course.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY 2016-2021 Otolaryngology Residency

  • Outstanding clinical housestaff award (given to one resident per year across 2017-2018 the health system; nominated by the medical student body)
  • Hugh Biller Resident Research Award 2019
  • Hugh Biller Resident Research Award 2020
  • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) medical honor society 2021
  • Resident teacher of the year award (elected by the residents) 2021
  • Chairman’s award 2021

Yale School of Medicine, New Haven CT 2011-2016
Doctor of Medicine

  • USMLE Step 1: 255
  • USMLE Step 2 CK: 264
  • USMLE Step CS: Pass (P/F)
  • Honors in all clerkships

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 2007-2011
Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Germanic Languages and Literatures (minor), Summa Cum Laude

  • Cumulative GPA: 3.95/4.00
  • Dean’s List 2007-2011
  • Benjamin Franklin Scholar (academic honors, top 5% of students)
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Delta Phi Alpha (National German Honors Society)
  • C.F. Lauber Prize for outstanding achievement in German Studies
Smouha

Eric E. Smouha MD, FACS

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Eric Smouha, MD, FACS is board-certified in both Otolaryngology and Neurotology. With nearly thirty years of experience, his clinical and academic interests span all aspects of otology and neurotology. Dr. Smouha has performed several hundred operations for cholesteatoma and has given instructional courses on cholesteatoma and complications of otitis media at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and in the School of Graduate Education at Mount Sinai. With expertise on hearing preservation, he has performed hundreds of successful stapedectomy operations for the treatment of otosclerosis, cochlear implants for deafness, and newer surgically-implanted hearing devices.

His publications include a textbook entitled Cholesteatoma, and articles on the management of cholesteatoma in the normal hearing ear, the treatment of CSF leaks of the skull base, and the surgical treatment of Meniere’s disease.  He has also conducted basic research on matrix metallo-proteinase enzymes in cholesteatoma, and on three-dimensional imaging of the temporal bone. Additionally, Dr. Smouha has done pivotal basic research in hearing preservation surgery of the inner ear.

As a neurotologic surgeon, Dr. Smouha has expertise in the treatment of acoustic neuromas and diseases of the skull base. His meta-analysis on the conservative management of acoustic neuromas was presented at the North American Skull Base Society and published in the journal Laryngoscope, and is widely cited.

He is a fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American College of Surgeons; and a member of the American Otological Society, the American Neurotological Society, the Triological Society, the North American Skull Base Society; and, a recipient of the Certificate of Honor of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He has been listed as a top doctor in New York Magazine, the New York Times Super Doctors, Castle-Connolly, and the Top Doctors of America. Voted Teacher of the Year in 2009 and 2014 by the resident staff, his devotion to training physicians has further established excellence in the otology teaching programs. His contributions to the field of Neurotology have established him as a leader in his field and an outstanding clinician.  

Neil M. Sperling, MD*

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Dr Neil Sperling is among New York s most experienced surgeons for hearing restoration.

Our center for hearing specializes in accurate diagnosis of hearing disorders with individualized recommendations for solutions including advanced technologies, implantable hearing devices and surgical hearing restoration. We seek to provide excellent patient care and an exceptional patient experience.

Dr Sperling has expertise in otosclerosis and conductive hearing loss. He is involved in developing advanced technologies for hearing restoration including the Earlens device.

Board certifications
Otolaryngology – American Board of Otolaryngology

Academic titles
Associate Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Education
New York Medical College

Residencies
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

Fellowships
Fairview University of MN Hospital and Clinic

Svrakic

Maja Svrakic, MD, MSEd

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Dr. Maja Svrakic holds a full-time faculty appointment at the Department of Otolaryngology at Northwell Health/Long Island Jewish Medical Center and is an Associate Professor of the affiliated Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She is double-board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology in Otolaryngology and Neurotology and is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, where she serves on various educational committees as well as the American Neurotology Society and North American Skull Base Society,

Dr. Svrakic graduated summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis and received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She completed residency in Otolaryngology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center. She subsequently completed the prestigious fellowship in Neurotology at New York University. Dr. Svrakic completed a Masters in Health Professions Pedagogy and Leadership program at the Hofstra University School of Education. She has research interests in resident education, tinnitus, temporal bone models and cochlear implant outcomes. Dr. Svrakic directs an annual symposium on vestibular disorders in New York, bringing together nationally recognized multi-disciplinary speakers. She has presented locally, nationally and internationally on resident education and training, cochlear implant techniques and outcomes, immune mediated sensorineural hearing loss, facial nerve disorders, tumors of the skull base and disorders of balance. Dr Svrakic is active in teaching medical students, otolaryngology residents, physician assistants and audiologists in the New York area as well as national temporal bone courses. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters as well as published her art in medical journals.

Dr. Svrakic provides specialized medical and surgical care for disorders of hearing and balance, chronic ear disease, and tumors of the temporal bone and skull base.

Board certifications
Otolaryngology – American Board of Otolaryngology
Neurotology – American Board of Otolaryngology

Academic titles
Associate Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Chief resident
Montefiore Medical Center – Einstein Division

Education
Columbia Univ College of Physicians and Surgeons

Residencies
Montefiore Medical Center – Einstein Division

Fellowships
New York University School of Medicine

Andrea Vambutas, MD, FACS

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Dr. Andrea Vambutas is the Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital. She is also Director for the Center of Hearing & Balance at the New York Head & Neck Institute. She is also the Medical Director of the Apelian Cochlear Implant Program and Professor of Otolaryngology & Molecular Medicine. She was instrumental in developing the Apelian Cochlear Implant Center, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2011. The center cares for infants and adults. The cochlear implant team is comprised of surgeons, audiologists, speech pathologists, social workers, sign language interpreters and deaf educators who provide all aspects of evaluation prior to, and rehabilitation following cochlear implantation. The center has been the recipient of many complicated otologic cases, and difficult clinical problems.

Dr. Vambutas is a clinician-scientist that studies immune responses and their effect on hearing.

There are three unique forms of hearing loss that may be amenable to medical therapy for recovery of natural hearing: Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease, Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Meniere s Disease. Timely treatment with steroids results in hearing recovery in about 60% of cases. Unfortunately, that response is lost over time with repetitive treatment. For those that fail to respond to corticosteroids, there are no alternate treatments. Deteriorating hearing is rehabilitated with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Despite how beneficial these devices are, they do not select for what we want to hear, unlike our brains that do it naturally and seamlessly.

Her research interests are in the restoration of natural hearing in these steroid resistant patients.

To this end, her laboratory has identified the critical role of an inflammatory protein, interleukin-1 (IL-1), in this disease. Her research group is running a NIH-sponsored phase I open-label clinical trial to determine if blockade of IL-1 can prevent further hearing loss in these steroid-resistant individuals (www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01267994). Her laboratory is also trying to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind these diseases, specifically in distinguishing steroid sensitive and resistant hearing loss which would identify new biologic markers of disease.

Awards and Recognition:

Castle Connolley, Best Doctors

Best Doctors in America

Outstanding Teacher Awards, North Shore-LIJ Health System & Montefiore Medical Center

Service Award, American Academy of Otolaryngology HNS

Professional Affiliations:

Diplomat: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Fellow: American College of Surgeons

Fellow, American Neurotology Society

Elected Member: New York Otologic Society

Elected Member: Henry Kunkel Society

Elected Member: American Association of Immunologists

Board certifications
Otolaryngology – American Board of Otolaryngology

Administrative titles
Chairman – Medical Dir Cochlear Implant Center of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Chief of Division – Otology/Neurotology of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Chief of Division – Research Otolaryngology of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Chairman – Medical Dir Cochlear Implant Center of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, North Shore University Hospital

Academic titles
Associate Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Education
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Residencies
Long Island Jewish Medical Center

Fellowships
Minnesota Ear Head and Neck Clinic

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