Faculty

Bio

Dr. Adams primary clinical interest is neurotology, the surgical and medical management disorders of hearing, balance, and facial movement. She treats disorders of the ear canal, ear drum, middle ear bones, mastoid, inner ear (cochlea and vestibular labyrinth), and nerves traveling to the brainstem. She is part of a collaborative team of neurosurgeons and skull base surgeons who treat tumors of the lateral skull base, including acoustic neuromas.

Bio

Dr. Boyer's clinical and research interests are centered on the care of patients with nasal and sinus disorders. Her current research project is a clinical trial investigating a novel treatment for patients with severe hereditary nose bleeds. Additional clinical and research interests include evaluation and treatment of facial pain and chronic sinusitis. Dr. Boyer treats patients with complex sinus disease related to cystic fibrosis, immune deficiency, and ciliary dysfunction. She also participates in the multidisciplinary care of patients undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery. Besides her clinical and research efforts, Dr. Boyer is active in medical student and resident education at the University of Minnesota and as Executive Medical Director for M Physicians and Vice President of the Customer Solutions Center for M Health Fairview.

Bio

Dr Caicedo Granados is a native from Colombia, South America. He completed his otolaryngology residency training at Universidad Militar Nueva Granada in Bogota Colombia. He moved to the United States to pursue additional training. He joined the otolaryngology Department at the University of Minnesota in the year 2000 as a NIH T32 research fellow. He then completed his Otolaryngology head and neck surgery training at the University of Minnesota. Following his residency training at University of Minnesota, Dr Caicedo Granados completed his advanced training in oncologic head and neck surgery and oncologic skull base surgery at the University of Pittsburgh

Bio

I became interested in Otolaryngology / Head & Neck Surgery during my medical school years at Northwestern University in Chicago. I then moved to the Twin Cities, completing my general surgical internship as well as my otolaryngology residency here at the University Minnesota in 1997. For the past 12 years, I have been in practice as a general otolaryngologist in the greater Seattle area. During that time, I gained invaluable experience in this field, treating patients in all aspects of general otolaryngology, including otology (hearing diseases and corrective surgery), head and neck masses (both benign and cancerous growths) as well as nasal / sinus diseases. I enjoy seeing both adult and pediatric patients.I am excited to return to the Twin Cities and join the Department of Otolaryngology here at the University of Minnesota. The ability to work alongside physicians I trained with over 10 years ago, as well as being actively involved in teaching the medical students and otolaryngology residents is very attractive. My wife is equally excited to return back to her native state of Minnesota, having been born in St. Paul. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, 3 children and our dog.

Bio

Dr. Cureoglu's research has focused on middle ear infections, hearing loss, otosclerosis, Meniere's disease, congenital and acquired hearing losses, syndromic ear problems, and other ear pathologies. He has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific articles and presented more than 40 presentations in scientific conferences.

Bio

The marriage of form and function has always assumed a particularly prominent position in my approach to patient care. This philosophy guided my decision to complete additional training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery following Otolaryngology residency. I feel quite privileged to offer my patients the full spectrum of facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgical and medical care. This diversity naturally fosters the development of long-term relationships with my patients and their families. I cherish each and every one of these relationships, which markedly augment the overall sense of personal satisfaction I enjoy as physician. As an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota, I am fortunate to be able to communicate my passion for my work through the education of future physicians. My personal interests extend across the realms of cooking, sports, theater and travel. Lastly, while my family and I come to embrace the Twin Cities, the New York Yankees continue to garner my unbridled enthusiasm and support. Dr. Dresner specializes in wound healing in surgical incisions repaired with subcuticular absorbable staples versus traditional cutaneous stainless steel staples. His primary research topic is regeneration of the facial nerve following injury.

Bio

As an otologist, I specialize in the treatment of chronic ear disease, cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, ossicular chain reconstruction, cochlear implants and implantable hearing devices. I also treat sudden hearing loss, Meniere Disease and other forms of vertigo. I treat patient of all ages, children and adults.The otologic condition in which I have the broadest surgical expertise is cholesteatoma, an aggressive epithelial cyst that can grow in the ear and if untreated, it can cause permanent hearing loss and other serious complications. I treat congenital and acquired cholesteatoma in children and adults.I perform minimally invasive endoscopic ear surgery in appropriate patients with chronic middle ear disease and cholesteatoma. With this new advanced endoscopic technique, I can avoid an incision behind the ear, have better visualization and repair the ear drum, remove infection and cholesteatoma with a minimally invasive transcanal approach resulting into less post-operative pain and a quicker recovery. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota I enjoy teaching to resident physicians and medical students. Teaching and keeping up with the latest advances in technology are a very important part of my professional career. I have presented my research work and clinical results on outcomes of Endoscopic Ear Surgery nationally at our Annual Academy Meetings in Otolaryngology and internationally in France, Italy, Scotland and Japan.To know more about Dr. Fina's expertise with Endoscopic Ear Surgery please visit these links:https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/108564011337149849492/108564011337149849492#108564011337149849492/posts/p/pub https://www.healthpartners.com/hp/healthy-living/healthy-living-blog/endoscopic-ear-surgery-mn.html

Research Summary

Dr. Fina is engaged in several research projects investigating outcomes of endoscopic ear surgery for repair of tympanic membrane perforations and surgical management of cholesteatoma.

Clinical Summary

Management of chronic ear disease Cholesteatoma Otosclerosis Ossicular chain reconstruction Cochlear implants Implantable hearing devices Sudden hearing loss Meniere Disease and other forms of vertigo

Bio

Dr. Gapany's primary research focus is identifying prognostic markers in head and neck tumors.

Bio

Dr. Goding's primary research focus areas include laryngeal reinnervation for unilateral vocal fold paralysis and laryngeal muscle histology.

Bio

Raluca Gray, MD is a voice, swallow and airway specialist. She graduated cum laude from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in Science, Technology and International affairs. She then completed her medical training at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC and her otolaryngology residency training at Montefiore Medical Center – Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York, NY. She completed her subspecialty training in laryngology at the University of California Los Angeles.

Bio

Dr. Hamlar specializes in craniofacial and skull base surgery. He prides his work on helping patients facing difficult to remove cranial base tumors and disfiguring traumatic injuries to restore them to an acceptable cosmetic and functional lifestyle.

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Dr. Hilger specializes in facial plastic and reconstructive procedures including: face lift, chin implants, eyelid and brow lifts, pinning ears back, skin resurfacing, rhinoplasty, post-traumatic reconstruction, reconstruction of soft tissue defects following resection of cutaneous malignancies.

Bio

Dr. Hilton's primary clinical specialty is the surgical treatment of chronic ear disease, and lateral skull based tumors. His current research is in developing a cell culture model of Cholesteatoma Keratinocytes for investigation of behavior and novel treatment options for chronic ear disease.

Bio

Jesse Hoffmeister, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor and Speech-Language Pathologist in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota, where he specializes in the assessment and treatment of voice, swallowing, and upper airway disorders. He completed his doctoral degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is certified by the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association.Dr. Hoffmeister's research focuses on the relationships between cranial sensorimotor function and cognitive/psychological state , with a particular emphasis on defining the neurobiological underpinnings that govern these relationships. In speech-language pathology, there exist obvious, but poorly-understood interactions among successful cranial sensorimotor behaviors (vocalizing, swallowing, coordination of breathing) and cognitive/psychological state. Understanding these relationships and their neurobiological underpinnings would significantly advance our ability to treat patients with voice, swallowing, and airway disorders. Thus, the ultimate goal of Dr. Hoffmeister's research is to develop methods of optimizing cognitive/psychological state to improve motor learning and performance. This can improve clinical outcomes for patients with diverse etiologies of dysphonia and dysphagia. Dr. Hoffmeister's lab is currently focused on refining methods of objectively measuring changes in vocal function while examining degree of sympathetic nervous system activation through a novel use of high-resolution manometry (HRM) and online biomonitoring.

Research Summary

Cochlear implantation outcomes Tinnitus reduction strategies Prevention of hearing loss due to aging Cytomegalovirus-induced hearing loss Cochlear lateral wall pathophysiology

Bio

Dr. Janus's primary research areas include outcomes in facial trauma repair and obstructive sleep apnea surgery.

Bio

Dr. Ashok R. Jethwa is a head and neck surgical oncologist and microvascular reconstructive surgeon. He treats benign and malignant disorders of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, cervical trachea, salivary glands, and skin. He also has an interest in reconstructive surgery of the head and neck and the management of endocrine disorders including thyroid malignancies and parathyroid disease.

Research Summary

Research Summary - Dr. Jethwa

Bio

The diagnosis of a tumor in the head and neck is daunting for any patient given the possible implications for appearance, speech, and general quality of life. My goal is to establish a foundation of trust and understanding such that my patients fully understand the nature of their disease, the treatment options available, and expected outcomes. I am committed to treating my patients with a combination of well-established therapies and new technology to optimize cure of the disease and quality of life. In addition, microvascular reconstructive techniques are used when appropriate to achieve the goals of optimizing function and form.

Research Summary

I spend my clinical time treating patients with benign and malignant disease of the head neck. Given that this disease is strongly associated with tobacco use, I have become interested in the tobacco-related carcinogenesis and the risk of oral cancer. Specifically, I am driven to produce new and clinically applicable knowledge about the carcinogenic events that lead to oral carcinoma. Many of our patients have a history of smoking, but the factors that cause some smokers to develop carcinoma while others do not are poorly studied. This gap in knowledge led me to study tobacco related carcinogenesis in oral/head and neck cancer. We seek to better understand the specific carcinogens most important in the genesis of oral cancer. This research is expected to not only significantly increase understanding of tobacco-related carcinogenesis, but also aid in risk assessment for oral cancer as well as tobacco regulation efforts. 

Bio

Dr. Lander has been a member of our Pediatric ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery faculty since 2002. He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. He is a fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist-facial plastic surgeon and a member of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO). Dr. Lander provides care in all areas of pediatric otolaryngology, with special interests in ear surgery, airway reconstruction, cleft lip and palate, and vascular malformations.

Bio

Dr. Meyer is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist who attended medical school at the University of Minnesota and completed otolaryngology residency at the University of Minnesota. She went on to complete a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital. Her interests include all aspects of pediatric otolaryngology but especially caring for children who have been identified as deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), as well as chronic ear disease, cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency, and neck masses including thyroid masses. She is also the Pediatric Otolaryngologist on the Midwest Fetal Care Center team. Outside of work she enjoys supporting the local sports teams, running, reading fiction, and spending time with her husband and 2 sons.

Bio

Dr. D.D. Michael is Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology in the University of Minnesota Medical School, and is Co-Director of the Lions Voice Clinic. She has a B.A. in music and psychology from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, as well as a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology and a doctorate in Voice Science from the University of Minnesota.Dr. Michael has been a singer all of her life, a voice and piano teacher for over 40 years, and therefore has expertise in treating voice problems in professional voice users such as singers, actors, and teachers. A common part of her practice is returning injured singers to the stage. She also has expertise in functional breathing problems, particularly in athletes, and draws on her experience as a runner in treating these disorders. She is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) and their local affiliates. She was founder of the MNVoice, a professional organization for voice-specialty speech-language pathologists in Minnesota, and moderated the group for nearly two decades. For the National Association of Teachers of Singing, she has just finished her tenure as Chairman of the Voice Science Advisory Committee, and director of the NATS-sponsored website Vocapedia.info, which provides information about the voice that is vetted by a committee of voice scientists. She was instrumental in the movement that founded the Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA) in 2014, and now serves on the conference committee, co-directing the international online conference in 2020 and the directing the 2021 conference in Minneapolis, at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Michael is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences for voice and singing science as well as voice treatment. She also lectures regularly at colleges around the state, where she presents seminars in vocal health and voice science for singers. Her areas of research and publication include perceptual characteristics of voice, acoustic measures of voice quality, and various aspects of normal and abnormal singing and speech production. As an educator, Dr. Michael's goal is to make voice science accessible to singers and singing teachers, having written a series of articles explaining the workings of the singing voice for the Journal of Singing. She also trains graduate clinicians in voice disorders and the special needs of singers. In her work on the faculty of the Department of Otolaryngology, she often provides independent study opportunities for students in other departments, particularly in the School of Music, and clinical practicum opportunities for Master's in Speech-Language-Pathology students from the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. She maintains an active private voice and piano studio, and continues to perform in a variety of musical styles.

Bio

Stephanie Misono, M.D., M.P.H. graduated cum laude from Harvard Medical School and earned a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of Washington School of Public Health. She completed her residency training in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, then subspecialty fellowship training in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. She is board-certified through the American Board of Otolaryngology.Her clinical and academic interests in laryngology include voice and airway problems, as well as early laryngeal cancer. She has been named a Top Doctor by Minneapolis St Paul Magazine and Minnesota Monthly. Her research is focused on optimizing treatment outcomes in patients with laryngeal disorders.Dr. Misono is an Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and adjunct faculty of the Department of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts. She is a recent member of the Voice Committee and current member of the Geriatric Otolaryngology Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Her research on voice disorders is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH K23DC016335) and the American College of Surgery.