A rich tradition of comprehensive training, innovation and care.

The faculty and staff of the Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine are committed to training the future leaders of our specialties, investigating causes, developing innovative treatments and promoting the health of our patients.

About Us

What We Do

Education

We offer diverse and comprehensive educational experiences for residents and fellows, including robust research training opportunities and a world-class teaching faculty.

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMS

Research

Our team knows that research plays a critical role in the advancement of care. Learn more about the work being done in our labs.

BROWSE OUR ONGOING PROJECTS

Patient Care

Our team includes specialists in hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, language, cancers of the head and neck and reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery.

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Faculty Spotlight

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Jing Zheng

Associate Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

The long-term goal of my lab is to identify and investigate molecules that play important roles in mammalian hearing, thus to enrich our understanding of cochlear physiology, and to further develop a better strategy to prevent hearing loss. Outer hair cells (OHCs) are essential for providing high sensitivity and frequency selectivity of hearing. They are also the most vulnerable cells in the inner ear and are involved in most sensorineural hearing loss that affects the hearing of millions of people. It is known that OHC death is strongly connected with the generation of reactive oxygen species...

Urjeet Patel

Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Within the field of Otolaryngology, my area of interest and expertise is in head and neck surgery specifically for cancer. I am particularly interested in trans-oral endoscopic removal of tumors, as well as reconstructive surgery following tumor removal including free tissue transfer. I have also expanded surgical services to include trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) at Northwestern, by which tumors can be removed through the mouth with robotic assistance.

Claus-Peter Richter

Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and McCormick School of Engineering

Development of cochlear implants including novel devices based on neural infrared stimulation, use of laser in clinical settings, micromechanics of the cochlea, imaging

Stephanie Shintani Smith

Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Otolaryngology; Sinus Problems; Sinus Surgery; Rhinitis; Nasal obstruction; Minimally Invasive Salivary Gland Surgery; Interventional Sialendoscopy; Ear, Nose, Throat, Voice disorders

Douglas M Sidle

Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Dr. Sidle is the only double board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon at Northwestern. He specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. He has a particular interest in rhinoplasty, cosmetic facial surgery, and injectable fillers and Botox. He also performs complex skin cancer reconstructions.

Kevin C Welch

Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Chronic sinusitis, sinus cancer, sinus tumors, skull base surgery, endoscopic sinus surgery, revision endoscopic sinus surgery, endoscopic skull base surgery, esthesioneuroblastoma, inverted papilloma, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, CSF leak

Xiaodong Tan

Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Application of infrared laser stimulation in cochlear implants. Anti-ototoxicity and hearing protection

Jeffrey C Rastatter

Associate Professor of Otolaryngology (Pediatric Otolaryngology)

Benign and malignant head, neck, and face cysts, tumors, and vascular anomalies; parotid and submandibular gland disorders; thyroid and parathyroid gland disorders; endoscopic cranial base surgery; airway and breathing problems; velopharyngeal insufficiency; ENT manifestations of craniofacial problems

Nancy M Young

Professor of Otolaryngology (Pediatric Otolaryngology)

Nancy M Young is the Lillian S Well Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology and a fellow of the Knowles Hearing Center of Northwestern University. She is Medical Director of the Cochlear Implant Program and Audiology Department and also serves as Head, Section of Otology & Neurotology and Director of Research in the Division of Otolaryngology at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Dr. Young is a fellow of the American Neurotology Society and American Otological Society and a member of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology. She is a founding member and served as board secretary of th...

John Maddalozzo

Professor of Otolaryngology (Pediatric Otolaryngology)

Head & neck masses in children, maxillary tumors, dental tumors, parotid and submandibular tumors as well as cysts, inflammation, and stones, brachial cleft deformity/cysts (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th), lymphatic malformations, rannulas, mucoceles, lesions/tumors of the tongue, thyroglossal duct cysts, midline cervical cleft, teratomas, dermoid cysts, surgical disease of thyroid gland (tumors, nodules, autoimmune diseases), thymic cysts.