By gaining experience in a variety of clinical settings — including advanced tertiary/quaternary-care hospitals, a county hospital, a VA Hospital and private outpatient surgery centers — graduates of the IU School of Medicine Otolaryngology Residency program are able to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures related to otolaryngologic pathological conditions and achieve enhanced academic and clinical proficiencies. The department also offers three one-year fellowships to prepare trainees for a career in academic head and neck surgery, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery or rhinology.
Education
The faculty members of this department are educating students, residents, fellows and other physicians in the field of otolaryngology and related areas of medicine. IU School of Medicine offers the only otolaryngology—head and neck surgery residency in the state of Indiana.
Research
Faculty members are advancing research regarding disorders within this complex specialty. These scientists and clinician-investigators perform a broad range of research, including speech perception, stem cell research in the auditory system, and peripheral nerve regeneration.
Clinical Care
Renowned as one of the best otolaryngology departments in the nation, the fellowship-trained faculty physicians of this team are nationally and internationally recognized as clinical experts in the communication sciences, having been pioneers in the field of cochlear implants.
Elisa A. Illing, MD
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
Elisa Illing, MD, joined Indiana University School of Medicine faculty in 2016 following a residency in head and neck surgery and a fellowship in rhinology at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. She earned her medical degree at IU School of Medicine. Her specialties within otolaryngology include rhinology and anterior skull base surgery.
Dr. Illing is happy to return home to Indiana to establish her professional practice. She chose to pursue a career in otolaryngology because of the complexity of the disease and anatomy in the head and neck, as well as the ability to treat patients of all ages. As an otolaryngologist, Dr. Illing has the opportunity to use both medical and surgical interventions to cure disease and improve the quality of life for patients. Her research interests lie in the areas of rhinology and skull base surgery and she has presented her work at multiple national conferences.
Dr. Illing feels honored to partner with patients in their healthcare and her goal is to use her specialized training to offer evidence-based, cutting-edge therapies.
Robert Fujiki, PhD
Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
Robert Brinton Fujiki, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a clinician scientist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of voice, resonance and upper airway disorders across the lifespan, with particular interest in children. His research seeks to improve the diagnosis and treatment of voice, resonance and upper airway conditions in children. In addition to his research program, he is a speech-language pathologist at Riley Children's Health treating voice disorders, induced laryngeal obstruction and craniofacial anomalies.
He completed his PhD at Purdue University with Preeti Sivasankar, PhD, and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with Susan Thibeault, PhD. His research has been recognized by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), the American Speech-Language and Hearing Foundation, the American Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Association (ACPA), the Voice Foundation and the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
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