Rick A. Friedman, MDPHD

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Rick Friedman, MD, PhD, is a board-certified neurotologist, a specialist who treats neurological disorders of the ear. He is a world-renowned expert in the treatment of acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that develops on the main nerve connecting the ear to the brain. In addition to leading the acoustic neuroma program at UC San Diego Health, he also treats meningioma, neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), glomus tumors, hearing impairment, otosclerosis, Menieres disease, cholesteatoma, and chronic ear infections.As a professor in the Department of Surgery, Dr. Friedman trains medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his research on the genetics of common forms of hearing loss.Prior to joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Friedman served as the division director of otology, neurotology and skull base surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He was also the director of the USC Acoustic Neuroma Center and has experience treating over 1,000 acoustic neuromas. In addition, he served as medical director of the Cranial Base Surgical Center at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.Dr. Friedman completed his fellowship training in neurotology at House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles. He did his residency training in otolaryngology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, where he also earned his medical degree. He holds a doctorate in molecular pathology, also from UC San Diego. He is board certified in neurotology.A popular speaker, Dr. Friedman has presented his work at more than 30 medical conferences around the world. He has published some 100 articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed publications such as Human Molecular Genetics, American Journal of Medical Genetics, Otology & Neurotology and Laryngoscope, to name a few.Dr. Friedman belongs to most of the societies in his area of specialization, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the American Otological Society, the Acoustic Neuroma Association-Medical Advisory Board (co-chair), the American Neurotology Society, the North American Skull Base Society, the Triological Society, and the NIH/National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), where he serves as an ad hoc reviewer. Dr. Friedman enjoys spending time with this wife Elina, sons Andrew and Josh, and daughter Lulu. His other interests include surfing, running, and the Foo Fighters band.UC San Diego Health LinksFor more information, see https://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/surgery/otolaryngology/areas-expertise/Pages/acousticneuroma.aspx and https://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/surgery/otolaryngology/Pages/default.aspx.