Department of Otolaryngology

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

New York, NY

Title: Associate Dean for Student Research, College of Physicians and Surgeons

Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Mechanical Engineering

Vice Chair for Research, Department of Otolaryngology

Statement of Goals

“To be, or not to be—that is the question.” For ARO, the answer is clear: to be bold, inclusive, and visionary in advancing hearing and balance science. As President, I will champion our community’s shared purpose — to foster discovery, mentorship, and collaboration across disciplines. My priorities include empowering early-career investigators, promoting inclusion, strengthening interdisciplinary partnerships, and advocating for sustained research support. Together, we will continue to foster a vibrant, connected community where science inspires innovation and transforms lives.

Stanford University School of Medicine

Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

Stanford, California, USA 

Title: Bertarelli Foundation Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine 

Chair, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 

Professor, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery  

Statement of Goals 

As the premier international society for research in otolaryngology, ARO needs to broaden its outreach,  adopt innovative communication formats, and strengthen its social media presence to sustain growth  and expand its impact. In doing so, ARO will address the mounting uncertainties in public perception and  support for science. I have faithfully participated in ARO annual meetings since my first year of graduate  school, and ARO has been central to my growth as a surgeon-scientist. It has been a privilege to serve  this diverse community of scientists and clinicians through five different committees. My goals as a  candidate for ARO president are to expand membership by recruiting promising trainees and junior  faculty globally, retain and nurture active investigators, extend ARO's scope across all of otolaryngology,  and increase ARO's visibility in neighboring fields such as neuroscience. 

Location: St. Louis, MO, USA

Title: Associate Professor, Washington, University in St. Louis

Statement of Goals

I have been a member of ARO for over 15 years, beginning as a postdoctoral trainee. Trained as a neuroscientist and cell biologist, my first exposure to the auditory research community came through the ARO midwinter meeting. What drew me
in—and ultimately cemented my commitment to work as an otolaryngology researcher in the hearing and balance space—was the community's enthusiasm for diverse scientific approaches (including my use of larval zebrafish to understand sensory organs in the human ear) combined with the genuine support and approachability of both clinicians and scientists.

As a member of ARO, I have previously contributed to two initiatives I value: communicating our research effectively to the public through my work on the External Relations Committee, and supporting our talented trainees as the faculty representative for the student, postdoc, resident, and fellow chapter of ARO (spARO). In these current times of uncertainty for scientific research, I believe that continued support of trainees and junior faculty, alongside effective public communication about the importance of our work, are critical components of our mission. Additionally, I am committed to strengthening initiatives that demonstrate our organization's dedication to supporting scientists and clinicians from diverse identities and backgrounds to ensure everyone in our research community thrives and succeeds. Finally, as a current member of the Program Committee, I am deeply committed to maintaining the high quality and scientific rigor of our Midwinter meeting, ensuring it remains the vibrant hub of scientific exchange and collaboration that first drew me to this field.

Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University
Department of Otolaryngology
Shanghai, China

Title: Vice President of Eye & ENT Hospital
Director of the Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Hereditary Deafness

Director of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gene Editing and Cell Therapy for Rare Diseases

Statement of Goals

As a candidate for ARO Council Member at Large, my goal is to strengthen ARO’s international engagement and to advance gene therapy and other innovative treatments for hearing loss, together with their translation into clinical practice.
I have been attending the ARO conference annually since 2011 and have benefited greatly from its supportive and collaborative community. From 2015 to 2021, I served on two ARO committees, which provided valuable experience in connecting researchers and clinicians across diverse research areas. Having experienced ARO’s global impact, I hope to contribute to its continued growth by expanding its international presence, encouraging greater participation from colleagues especially in China and across Asia—and fostering meaningful cross-regional collaborations.

My second vision is to advance the global development of gene therapy and other cutting-edge technologies for hearing loss. While basic research is essential for understanding the mechanisms of hearing and deafness, it must be translated into clinical applications to achieve
real-world impact. Having led the world’s first clinical trial for congenital deafness and helped establish international consensus in the field, I aim to build on these achievements by fostering global collaborations, creating training opportunities for the next generation of researchers and clinicians, and promoting translational research that bridges discoveries in basic science with
clinical implementation.

Through these efforts, I hope to position ARO as a central hub for innovation in hearing loss— so that when silence meets science, no cochlea in the world remains silent.

Baltimore, MD, USA

Title: George T. Nager Professor & Vice Director for Faculty Affairs, Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; secondary appointments in Neuroscience & Functional Anatomy & Evolution

Statement of Goals

I have been attending ARO Midwinter Meetings since I was a first year grad student, way back when we convened in St. Pete’s Beach (who else misses attending the meeting in shorts and flip flops, playing darts at the Swigwam, and dodging the pigeons in the open-air poster sessions?). This society has been instrumental in my professional and scientific development. My students and postdocs have similarly benefitted from the welcoming spirit and high-caliber scientific interactions, and they return to the lab feeling energized and inspired after every meeting. In my role as Chair of the Finance & Investments Committee, I have established an excellent working relationship with Parthenon Management and learned so much from the other committee members during our discussions. I am honored to be nominated for the Secretary/Treasurer role and look forward to continuing to serve as a steward of ARO. We have a really special organization, and I hope to further strengthen our financial position in partnership with Council and the Finance & Investment Committee so that it remains strong for future generations of basic and clinician scientists during these turbulent times.

University of Utah.  Salt Lake City, UT. USA

Title:  Professor of Biomedical Engineering.  Adjunct Professor of Otolaryngology 

Faculty of the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program

Statement of Goals

  I have been an active member of the ARO for decades and my career has benefitted tremendously from the comradery and collegial atmosphere fostered by the association.  I feel it's time for me to give back to the ARO through administrative effort.  My status as an active Principal Investigator and previous experience as Chair of a large academic department have prepared me to contribute as ARO Secretary Treasurer and to serve as liaison for the Finance and Investment Committee.  If elected, I am prepared to devote the time and effort required for responsible management of ARO resources.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Title: Associate Professor, University of Michigan, Kresge Hearing Research Institute

The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME

Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

Title: Associate Professor