Micheal J. Ruckenstein, MD, is Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, where he directs the Residency Training Program, the Balance Center, and the Center for Implantable Hearing Devices. He holds a specialty certification in otolaryngologyhead and neck surgery and a subspecialty certification in neurotology from the American Board of Otolaryngology. He has an active clinical practice focusing on medical and surgical diseases of the ear and skull base. His research focuses on the development of quality of life measures for diseases such as acoustic neuromas and Mnire's disease, as well as the pathophysiology of inner ear disease.