We had an Acoustic Neuroma support group meeting on Saturday at UCSD. The two foremost AN surgeons in the world are now located in San Diego and establishing an Acoustic Neuroma center there. They've generously offered us space for support group meetings on the medical campus. Most of my efforts for these group meetings involves finding free space to hold the meetings. That problem is now history.

We arrived for the meeting arms full of materials—these two unpretentious doctors met us in the lobby and helped us get a meeting room ready. Instead of a formal meeting they stayed for two hours and answered everyone's questions. We're so lucky to have them in San Diego.

Rick Friedman and Marc Schwartz to Lead Acoustic Neuroma Center

August 11, 2017 | Lindsay Morgan

Building on a strong interdisciplinary tradition in Neurotology and Skull Base Neurological Surgery, UC San Diego's Department of Surgery is excited to announce the recruitment of Dr. Rick Friedman, MD, PhD, and Dr. Marc Schwartz, MD, to UC San Diego. Together with teams from the Division of Otolaryngology and the Department of Neurological Surgery, Drs. Friedman and Schwartz will build a world-class Acoustic Neuroma Center to provide destination care in the new Jacobs Medical Center. This program will feature use of a state-of-the-art imaging center, operating rooms, and surgical equipment.

Drs. Schwartz and Friedman will begin November 1, 2017 and practice on the La Jolla campus.

Dr. Friedman was an Associate at the prestigious House Ear Clinic for 15 years and Head of the Section of Hereditary Disorders of the Ear at House Ear Institute. During that time, he became one of the most well-known acoustic neuroma surgeons in the world. Four years ago, he was recruited to the USC Keck School of Medicine to be the Chief of Otology/Neurotology and continued to perform complicated skull base surgery. Today he has one of the largest Acoustic Neuroma practices in the United States. The Division of Otolaryngology is proud to claim Dr. Friedman as one of its own residents and gratified to have him back home.  

This program is further fortunate to reunite Dr. Friedman with Dr. Marc Schwartz, who is currently the senior Neurosurgical Associate at the House Ear Clinic.  Dr. Schwartz has practiced at the House Clinic for 15 years and expects to perform his 2,000th acoustic neuroma resection during the first few months after his arrival at UCSD. In addition to his acoustic neuroma experience, Dr. Schwartz has developed an international reputation in the treatment of patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and in surgery for implantation of Auditory Brainstem Implants.

This reunited team will immediately establish UCSD as a leading national and international presence in the field of acoustic neuroma and lateral skull base surgery.  This stellar team has spent many years together refining acoustic neuroma and skull base tumor surgery. In addition, they will establish Auditory Brainstem Implant and Neurofibromatosis Type 2 programs. These multidisciplinary programs will incorporate other specialists from within the University.

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A few photos from the meeting.....