喵咪社区

Dr. Oghalai is an otolaryngologist with 喵咪社区 who specializes in ear and skull base surgery. He treats patients at Keck Hospital of 喵咪社区 and 喵咪社区 Norris Cancer Hospital.

Here鈥檚 what you won鈥檛 find on his resume.

Science fueled his youth.

鈥淲hen I was growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a doctor, because I liked helping people and I loved science.鈥�

He spends his spare time with his family in the outdoors.

鈥淲hen I鈥檓 not working, I鈥檓 spending time with my wife Tracy and kids, Kevin and Tom. We enjoy hiking, biking, movies, traveling and outings with the Boy Scouts.鈥�

He loves what he does.

鈥淢ake sure you pick a career that you will enjoy doing. That鈥檚 the best piece of advice I ever received. I鈥檓 very lucky, because I like coming to work!鈥�

Here鈥檚 how he sees his professional role.

鈥淚 see myself in three different roles. As a clinician, talking with my patients is a lot of fun. Helping them with surgery is extremely gratifying.

From the research perspective, I also feel like I鈥檓 making a difference in my patients鈥� lives, by working to discover new ways to help them overcome their diseases.

As an educator, I see mentoring students, research trainees and young faculty as a privilege, and it makes me proud to see them succeed and lead happy lives.鈥�

His work offers several rewards.

鈥淭here are two highly rewarding aspects of my job. The first is seeing the long-term outcomes of my patients after cochlear implantation, particularly the children. It鈥檚 amazing to see them hear and talk like their peers and to be like anybody else in school. The second is following up on the students and trainees I have worked with over the years. It makes me thrilled to have been a part of their training.鈥�

Inspiration comes from his patients.

鈥淚鈥檓 inspired by my patients. Providing compassion and support in the face of diseases that are inadequately treated by modern therapies is an important part of what I do. While this aspect of medicine is critical 鈥� in fact, this is why I believe that academic medical centers are so important 鈥� ultimately, it would be even better to actually treat the disease. The research and discovery required to develop treatments drives me to work hard.鈥�

The study of light has improved his practice.

鈥淭he most influential advancement in my field is optics, the scientific study of sight and the behavior of light. Microscopic and endoscopic tools have revolutionized the way otolaryngologists perform surgery, by improving accuracy and minimizing trauma.鈥�

Keck Medicine stands apart from other institutions.

鈥淭he 喵咪社区 Caruso Department of Otolaryngology 鈥� Head and Neck Surgery has the most enthusiastic and committed group of faculty, staff and trainees I have ever seen. Everybody is enthusiastic to improve the way medical care is delivered, to advance our understanding of disease and to develop new treatments for untreatable disease. The energy of this bunch is incredible, and I鈥檓 privileged to join them.鈥�

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