UCSD AuD Program Faculty:

	Benitez, Luis, MD: (Part-time). Former Professor and Chief of Audiology at the University of Mexico in Mexico City. Now directs the neurodiagnostic laboratory at the UCSD Ear Center. Routinely provides ABR, otoacoustic emission evaluations, ENG, ECoG, VEMP and audiology for the clinical trials research program (including Dr. Harris' NIH study). Students rotate through Dr. Benitez's clinic.
	Bosch, Lauren, AuD. Fulltime audiologist at the VAMC San Diego. Instructor for the Balance Assessment course in the AuD program. (bio coming soon).
	Harris, Jeffrey P., MD, PhD: (Part-time). Professor and Chairman of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. Maintains a busy otologic and neurotologic medical and surgical practice at UCSD, VA hospital, and Scripps Clinic. Is the Director of the UCSD Residency Training Program in Otolaryngology; oversees the training and quality of instruction of medical students in this specialty; directs a two-year Fellowship in Otology and Neurotology; directs a large research program in otology, focusing on the response of the inner ear to inflammation and immune reactions including autoimmunity and viral labyrinthitis. Currently directs a large NIH-funded, multi-institutional clinical trial on autoimmune deafness with participating sites at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Iowa, Michigan, House Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, NYU, University of Texas Southwestern, and UCSD. Also engages in research on outcomes with the UCSD Department of Preventative and Community Medicine, particularly focused on Meniere's disease and cochlear implants. Students in the AuD program receive training in clinical otology, pre-and post-operative assessment of patients, pharmacology related to otology, design and implementation of clinical trails, and clinical assessment of patients with balance disorders at the UCSD Ear Center. He is the initial Co-Director for the AuD program.
	Hicks, Gayle, PhD. (Part-time) Dr. Hicks has expertise in both pediatric and adult audiological testing and amplification. She also has 20 years experience in multimodality neurodiagnostic procedures including intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. Dr. Hicks has worked clinically for over 25 years, presented nationally and internationally in the fields of audiology and neurophysiology, founded and continues to run a successful private practice in San Diego since 1985. She has contributed to her professions by serving on and chairing national committees as well as serving as an examiner for of the American Board of Neurophysiological Monitoring for Professional Board Certification. Dr. Hicks founded and continues to run a successful private practice in San Diego since 1985.
	Keithley, Elizabeth M., PhD: (Part-time). Dr. Keithley performs research in auditory neuroscience and otology. This includes studies of age-related changes in the cochlea, focusing on the process and causes of degeneration of sensorineural elements in the inner ear. She also investigates the role of changes in mitochondrial function and mitochondrial DNA mutations on spiral ganglion cell survival. Additional area of study in her laboratory is immune mechanisms of the cochlea. This includes the generation of immune response at this site, the effects of immune response on cochlear structure and function, and the prevention of immune-mediated hearing loss. Laboratory techniques include histology, immunohistochemistry, protein chemistry, electrophysiology and molecular biology. Dr. Keithley teaches human temporal bone anatomy, cochlear pathology and research techniques. She supervises students and post-graduate trainees in research.
	Mullen, Lina M., PhD: (Part-time). Dr. Mullen performs research in auditory neuroscience and otology. This includes studies of the development of the cochlea, with an emphasis on sensory cell formation and how spiral ganglion neurons develop specific contacts with hair cells. She also performs basic research on the cochlear prosthesis. In particular, she is interested in improving contacts between damaged spiral ganglion dendrites and cochlear implant electrodes. This work involves guiding neurites to electrode surfaces, and controlling the interaction of neurites with biomaterials. Laboratory techniques include cell culture, cell signaling biology, and molecular biology. Dr. Mullen teaches auditory development and research techniques. She also supervises students and post-graduate trainees in research.
	Ryan, Allen F., PhD: (Part-time).Research in Auditory Neuroscience and Otology, including studies of the development of the auditory and vestibular systems, especially molecular control of sensory cell and neuronal maturation in the inner ear. Also investigates adult-onset hearing loss, including cellular mechanisms of hair cell damage and strategies for hair cell replacement by transplantation of sensory and stem cells, and studies involving control of cellular hyperplasia and recovery in the middle ear mucosa during otitis media. Laboratory techniques include molecular biology, cellular biology, tissue culture, and both functional and morphological evaluation of the inner ear. Teaches courses in auditory and vestibular anatomy, morphology and function, as well as the pathology of the auditory and vestibular systems. Supervises students/trainees in graduate/postgraduate research in auditory neuroscience. Serves on the Executive Committee of the Neuroscience Graduate Program. Member of the Institute for Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for Molecular Medicine. Directs an NIH Training Grant in Research in Otolaryngology. Participates in the teaching of courses in auditory/vestibular physiology and auditory pathophysiology, and supervises AuD students during lab rotation and/or doctoral projects.
	Viirre, Erik, MD, PhD: (Part-time). Doctoral specialization in vestibular physiology. Maintains a medical neurotological practice at UCSD Ear Center. Specializes in vestibular disorders. Participates in the AuD program by providing clinical instruction and research opportunities in the assessment and management of patients with vestibular pathology and tinnitus, and provides lectures in relevant courses. Currently engaged in research in both of these areas. Research on vestibular adaptation strategies using virtual reality, tinnitus habituation using digital signal matching, and studies involving pharmacological blinded medications.
	Zettner, Erika, PhD (Co-director): (Full-time). Coordinates academic and clinical placements at UCSD. Supervises AuD students at Perlman Center and teaches courses at UCSD. Areas of specialization include diagnostic audiology, electrophysiology, and otoacoustic emissions. Research foci: a) ipsilateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions as a measure of peripheral frequency resolution; tobramycin ototoxicity in patients with cystic fibrosis. Courses taught include: treatment of auditory/vestibular disorders, cochlear implants, and auditory processing assessment/management.
	(Link to SDSU AuD Program Faculty)