Specialties
- ENT Head and Neck (Otolaryngology)General Otolaryngology (ENT), Hearing & Balance Disorders, Otology & Neurotology / Skull-Base Surgery
- Hearing & Balance Disorders
Appointment Information
About Elina Kari, MD
Elina Kari, MD, is a board-certified head and neck surgeon and neurotologist, a specialist who treats neurological disorders of the ear. Dr. Kari's expertise includes treating ear and hearing problems in adults and children, and conditions such as ear infections, perforated eardrums (tympanic membrane perforations), cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, lateral skull base lesions and acoustic neuroma. In addition, she evaluates patients for cochlear implants, osseointegrated hearing devices and auditory brainstem implants.
As an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, Dr. Kari trains medical students, residents and fellows at at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She also conducts research on pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implants, and cochleovestibular malformations in children as well as abnormal cochleovestibular nerves.
Before joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Kari was the principle pediatric ear surgeon at University of Southern California / Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where they performed 75-100 pediatric cochlear implants per year.
Dr. Kari did her fellowship training in neurotology and otology at House Ear Institute in Los Angeles. She completed her residency training in otolaryngology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. Dr. Kari earned her medical degree from University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Mich. She is board certified in otolaryngology and neurotology.
She is a member of the American Neurotology Society and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
Outside of work, Dr. Kari enjoys running, reading, photography and travel. In addition to English, she is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Head and Neck Surgery.
Medical Degree
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
Fellowship
- House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Residency
- Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Gender
- Female
Languages
- Portuguese
- Spanish
Date Joined Staff
- 2017-12-01
Board Certifications
- American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
- Neurotology
Conditions and Treatments
- Sudden Hearing Loss
- Hearing Loss
- Skin Growth Behind the Eardrum (Cholesteatoma)
- Otosclerosis
- Cochlear Implants
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss
- Perforated Eardrum
- Auditory Osseointegrated Devices (AOD)
- Lateral Skull Base Lesions
- Auditory Brainstem Implant
- Vestibular Schwannoma
- Neurotology
- Tinnitus
News
Donna's Story: Acoustic Neuroma Treatment
When Donna was diagnosed with a rare, non-cancerous brain tumor, called an acoustic neuroma, she decided to take action and become involved in her health. She learned about her condition and searched, far and wide, for a care team that would be a good fit for her. In this video, she discusses her decision to come to UC San Diego Health for treatment and her road to recovery after a successful surgery to remove the tumor. Her story is empowering and gives us all strength to face into whatever comes our way honestly and with grace.
