Neurotology Fellowship

The UCSF Neurotology Fellowship is a comprehensive, ACGME-accredited training program designed to develop future leaders in otology, neurotology, and lateral skull base surgery. The fellowship provides advanced clinical, surgical, and academic training across the full spectrum of hearing and balance disorders, with a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary care, innovation, and academic development.

Based at a world-renowned academic medical center, fellows benefit from a diverse and complex patient population across multiple clinical sites, including UCSF Medical Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. The fellowship is built upon the foundation of one of the nation’s premier otolaryngology residency programs, offering a rich clinical environment, high surgical volume, and a deeply embedded culture of teaching and mentorship.

The program is distinguished by its leadership in cochlear implantation and auditory science, and by a faculty committed to excellence in both clinical care and innovation. It offers a uniquely balanced training experience, combining high operative volume in otology and lateral skull base surgery with a strong emphasis on research and comprehensive vestibular care, preparing fellows for careers across the full breadth of academic and clinical neurotology.

A central strength of the program is its collaborative approach to lateral skull base surgery. Fellows work closely with neurosurgical colleagues in the evaluation and management of skull base pathology, participating in multidisciplinary conferences and joint operative cases. This integrated model fosters a comprehensive understanding of patient care across specialties and prepares fellows for team-based practice environments.

Fellows are encouraged to pursue scholarly activity tailored to their interests. Research opportunities span basic science, translational, and clinical domains, with particular strengths in:

· Inner ear imaging and ear mechanics

· Cochlear implantation outcomes

· Vestibular disorders and balance research

· Auditory neurosciences

· Complex sound perception

The program supports presentation at national and international meetings and provides mentorship in manuscript development, grant writing, and academic career planning.

Fellows play an active role in resident and medical student education. Opportunities include:

· Teaching in the UCSF Temporal Bone Dissection Course

· Participation in resident surgical training and didactics

· Mentorship of junior trainees and medical students

The fellowship fosters the development of strong surgical educators and academic leaders.

Fellows have access to state-of-the-art clinical and research facilities, including:

· The Schindler Temporal Bone Laboratory

· Advanced imaging and audiologic testing capabilities

· Multidisciplinary clinics and case conferences

These resources support both high-quality patient care and innovative research.

Graduates of the UCSF Neurotology Fellowship are well prepared for careers in academic medicine, complex clinical practice, and leadership roles within otology and neurotology. The program emphasizes individualized mentorship to help fellows achieve their professional goals.

UCSF is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. The fellowship program values the perspectives and experiences of trainees from all backgrounds and is dedicated to improving access to care for underserved populations.