Think Neuro

Dr. Abbas Anwar, a native of Southern California, is a board certified otolaryngologist – head and neck surgeon, at the Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute. He specializes in all aspects of general and pediatric ENT and has special interests in sinonasal diseases and infections, head and neck surgery, otologic disorders, and throat complaints. He is well trained in the latest leading-edge innovations in otolaryngology including balloon sinuplasty, CT guided sinus surgery, and microlaryngeal laser surgery.

Dr. Courtney Voelker explains about acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that affects the nerve for hearing and balance. Find out about signs and symptoms, and the three treatment options that are available.

Dr. Evan Walgama is a Head & Neck Oncology Surgeon, which means that he specializes in treating any cancer affecting areas from the collar bone to the base of the brain. While in the past, head and neck cancer surgeons tended to see older patients in poorer health who were often smokers coming in for treatment, the demographics have shifted. Dr. Walgama’s practice is following this national trend, where younger, healthier, non-smokers, and often male patients are filling his waiting room.

The culprit is HPV – human papillomavirus. Patients may develop tumors in the mouth, tongue, throat, or skull base for other reasons as well. Surgery is sometimes a good option, and in other cases, chemotherapy and radiation might be considered better. Shared decision making with his patients is something Dr. Walgama advocates for. “I'm a surgeon, but not everybody needs surgery,” Dr. Walgama says. Listen to this podcast to learn how Dr. Walgama deals with tricky tumors in a delicate region of the body

Eight years ago, at age 23, Tatiana Sarkisian was waiting to meet with a professor in her architecture program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture. She remembers her right hand moving across her body on its own, then her body slumping down onto the floor. The next thing she remembers is waking up in an ambulance. She’d had a seizure. Soon after, Tatiana learned that she had brain cancer. More specifically, she had a grade III Anaplastic Astrocytoma, a tumor of the glial cells. That first seizure started her on a cancer Odyssey, with four surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, treatments that have extended her life. The rollercoaster of emotions left her feeling isolated and alone. She sought out deeper support and community and she's learned that she wants to tell her story to help others who are specifically dealing with brain cancer. She has found her voice. Listen to this episode to learn how Tatiana is living with her disease and helping others live with theirs.

Courtney Voelker, MD, PhD (DPhil Oxon), is a Rhodes Scholar and board certified neurotologist. She is Director of Otology/Neurotology-Lateral Skull Base Surgery; and Director of the Adult & Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. She is an otolaryngology – head & neck surgeon who takes care of adult and pediatric patients seeing a wide range of inner ear and skull base conditions. A Super Doctor Rising Star award recipient, she is committed to offering top quality, compassionate care to all her patients.

Prior to joining PNI, Dr. Voelker was at USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC as Division Chief of Otology, Neurotology and Lateral Skull Base Surgery, and the Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). She has conducted leading-edge research on the physiology and diseases of the inner ear at Brown University, the University of Oxford, Washington University in St. Louis, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Dr. Voelker has authored numerous research publications and textbook chapters in her field. She is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and the American Neurotologic Society.

Dr. Voelker graduated with Honors from Brown University and earned her medical degree from The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. As a Rhodes Scholar she earned her PhD from the University of Oxford in developmental neurobiology. She completed her residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the Washington University (Barnes-Jewish Hospital) in St. Louis and her fellowship at the world-renowned House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles.

Learn more about Dr. Voelker and other PNI Doctors

https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/people/courtney-voelker/