Erik S. Viirre, MD, PHD

Dr. Viirre specializes in neurotology (diagnosis and outpatient treatment of vertigo, balance disorders, and tinnitus). He has been with the UC San Diego Department of Neurosciences since 2006 and the Department of Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery since 1998. A member of numerous scientific boards, Dr. Viirre is also an Research Professor in the UC San Diego Department of Cognitive Science and a research associate of the US Navy Naval Medical Center San Diego.

As a biomedical researcher and neurophysiologist, Dr. Viirre's interests include investigation of the origin and management of vertigo and tinnitus, including management of vertigo with virtual reality techniques. He has carried out clinical trials on medical assessment and treatment of neurotologic disorders such as benign positional vertigo and migraine, and has been working on development of a tinnitus therapy program for patients. He also collaborates with cognitive scientists and engineers in the development of systems to assess cognitive state during human-computer interactions.

Dr. Viirre is a teacher, mentor, and advisor to medical students, post-graduate students, otolaryngology residents, and fellows, in clinical work as well as research. He attended the University of Western Ontario, where he earned his PhD in Physiology in 1987 and his MD in 1988. He did post-graduate work at the International Space University at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by clinical and research work in neurotology at the London Ear Clinic in Ontario, Canada.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information on neurology at UC San Diego Health, see Neurological Institute.