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Dr. Dr. Joni K. Doherty, Ear-Nose and Throat Doctor (ENT)
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Dr. Dr. Joni K. Doherty

Ear-Nose and Throat Doctor (ENT) | Otology & Neurotology

1450 San Pablo Street Suite 5100 Los Angeles CA, 90033

About

Dr. Joni Doherty is an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor, also known as an otolaryngologist, practicing in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Doherty specializes in diseases and disorders of the ear. She has completed five years of training in ENT and then completed two years in fellowship training in Otology & Neurotology, which is now her primary specialty and focus of her practice. She currently subspecializes in Otology & Neurotology, working side by side with Neurosurgeons at the Keck Medical Center of USC treating skull base tumors, such as vestibular schwannoma (a.k.a., acoustic neuroma). The specialty also includes all aspects of surgery inside the ear, such as repairing the eardrum (tympanoplasty), removing cholesteatoma, reconstructing the tiny middle ear bones and hearing mechanism, stapes surgery for otosclerosis, exostosis (surfer's ear), and cochlear implants in adults and children. She also treats non-surgical patients with ear diseases, such as Meniere's, and performs cerumen (wax) removal and ventilation tube placement in the office/clinic.

There are seven areas of expertise that an ENT might specialize in, and these are: allergies; facial reconstructive surgery; head and neck; laryngology; otology/neurotology; pediatric otolaryngology; and rhinology.

Education and Training

House Clinic Neurotology Fellowship 2006

UCLA BS with honors 1991

Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine Medical Degree and Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Cell Biology 1999

Board Certification

American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Certified in Otolaryngology

American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Certified in Neurotology

Provider Details

Female English
Dr. Dr. Joni K. Doherty
Dr. Dr. Joni K. Doherty's Expert Contributions
  • Ringing in ears?

    Tinnitus is most often (80%) due to underlying hearing loss and/or noise damage to the inner ear. The hearing organ, called the "cochlea" is a specialized sensory organ that contains 'auditory hair cells' (termed for the appearance of cilia (a.k.a., hairs) under an electron microscope). These cells are particularly sensitive to certain pitches or loud sounds and, if damaged, due to noise exposure, they may die and cannot regenerate (i.e., renew). The result can be tinnitus and sensitivity to loud sounds in the frequency range where the hair cells have been lost (i.e., died). READ MORE

  • Ear drop issue?

    That should not be a problem as long as you do not have a hole in your eardrum. READ MORE

  • What do I do about this ear pain?

    It sounds like you might be suffering from migraines - do you have sensitivity to bright lights with these headaches? Any nausea, vomitting, diarrhea? Do you clench or grind your teeth? Many people clench and/or grind their teeth in their sleep and are unaware of it, but this can cause ear pain, so the best thing to do it ask your dentist. READ MORE

  • Can’t hear on left side?

    You need to come in to see an ENT as soon as possible, since this could be a sudden hearing loss, which we treat as an emergency. READ MORE

  • Possible allergy?

    Yes, that could be secondary to allergies if they also itch, but if it gets worse or is painful, you should get it checked out. READ MORE

  • Watching airplanes okay for ears?

    Yes, watching airplanes is safe for the ears, but only with proper ear protection such as ear plugs or ear muffs (over the ears). READ MORE

  • Ear pain?

    Hello, you may have an ear infection or cerumen (wax) impaction. You should be seen by an ENT and have a hearing test (audiogram). READ MORE

  • What is causing a red, hot ear?

    You may have primary red ear syndrome, which is the most common form. It’s more likely to affect young adults. Most people (80%) with this condition have migraines or a history of migraines. The symptoms are red ears that burn and may itch. You may notice the symptoms in one or both ears, or they might switch from one side of your face to the other. A typical attack may last 60 minutes. Attacks rarely last longer than 4 hours. They usually happen during the daytime. This condition has no complications and isn’t deadly. Often, they seem to come out of nowhere. Sometimes they result from certain triggers. Common triggers: -Touching or rubbing your ear -Heat -Neck movements -Exercise READ MORE

  • I have terrible ear pain. Could this be an infection?

    Yes, ear pain could certainly be a sign of an ear infection. You should go in to get it checked at an Urgent Care or with your doctor, if they are seeing patients at this uncertain time. Other potential causes for ear pain include: (1) jaw clenching, (2) a tooth infection, (3) impacted ear wax, etc. Be well! READ MORE

  • Why can't anyone diagnose my Dad correctly?

    It could be a Patulous Eustachian tube. Has he had any imaging studies, like a CT or MRI? READ MORE

  • Will repeatedly using earplugs put me at risk of an infection?

    Possibly, because they may harbor bacteria or yeast if you are using the same pair repeatedly, and just wearing them often can cause moisture accumulation in the ear canal. Moisture sets up an environment for infection. READ MORE

  • Can swimmer's ears cause deafness?

    It is very unlikely for swimmer's ear, which is an outer ear infection (i.e., involves the ear canal rather than middle or inner ear) to cause permanent hearing loss, but it may cause blockage of your ear canal due to debris or pus. If you spend a lot of time in cold water, then your ear canal may already be narrowed by overgrowth of the bone lining the ear canal - this is called exostoses or "surfer's ear" and sometimes requires surgery to remove the bone overgrowth. READ MORE

  • I have a pus boil in my ears. Can it become serious?

    Yes, this can become serious and you should be seen and placed on antibiotics (by mouth) and possibly have it drained. Meanwhile, warm compresses can help. Antibiotic ointment will not likely be of benefit until it is opened. READ MORE

  • What is the hissing sound I am hearing in my ears?

    This is called "tinnitus" and is most often due to hearing loss. READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Stapedotomy, stapedectomy, tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, Hearing reconstructive surgery, middle ear surgery, exostoses (surfer's ear) removal, canalplasty, atresiaplastyChronic ear disease, otosclerosis, cochlear implantation, vestibular disorders, and skull base tumors such as acoustic neuromas and meningiomas

Faculty Titles & Positions

  • Division Chief of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery Keck Hospital of USC -
  • Associate Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC -
  • Program Director Neurotology Fellowship Program at USC -
  • Senior Scientist House Research Institute -
  • Assistant Profesor of Otolaryngology University of California, San Diego 2006 - 2010

Awards

  • Innovations and Technology 2009 Oregon Health & Sciences University 
  • Neurofibromatosis FDA Clinical Drug Trial Grant 2011 Department of Defense 
  • Research Grant for Otosclerosis 2002 National Organization for Hearing Research 
  • Fellowship Award for Research of “HER-2/neu expression in ovarian cancer” 1993 Tartar Trust Foundation 
  • Predoctoral Fellowship Award for “Regulation of HER-2/neu oncogene expression and its role in carcinogenesis" 1994 Department of Defense 
  • Rose Taub Award for NOHR project: “HER2 Regulation of Human Vestibular Schwannomas” 2005 National Organization for Hearing Research 
  • Clinician Scientist Award for “ErbB Regulation of Vestibular Schwannoma Tumorigenesis” 2006 American Otological Society 
  • Career Development Award (K08) for ErbB Receptor regulation of Vestibular Schwannoma 2007 National Institute for Deafness and Communication Disorders 
  • Neurofibromatosis Research Program Award 2012 Department of Defense 
  • Vice Presidential Citation for “Contributions to the Field of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery 2013 Triological Society 
  • Elected ‘Triological Society Western Section Representative 2019 Triological Society 

Treatments

  • Hearing Loss
  • Ear Infection
  • Swimmer's Ear
  • Ear Wax
  • Outer Ear Infection

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery  
  • American College of Surgeons  
  • HearAid Foundation, Board of Directors  
  • Frequency Therapeutics, Inc., Clinical Advisory Board  
  • Alcon Laboratories, Surgical Consultation Committee  
  • Editorial Board Member, Otology & Neurotology Journal  
  • AAO-HNS Liaison, Implantable Hearing Devices Committee, Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO)  
  • AOS Program Advisory Committee  
  • Council of Medical Trustees, American Otological Society  
  • Education Committee, Hearing Health Foundation  
  • Education Committee, American Otological Society  
  • Planning Committee, American Neurotolgy Society  
  • Thesis Review Committee, Triological Society  
  • Los Angeles Society for Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery  
  • Orange County Society for Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery  
  • Best Doctor's Expert Panelist  

Fellowships

  • UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center Neurotology  2006

Charities and Philanthropic Endeavors

  • HearAid Foundation
  • Wounded Warriors
  • Guide Dogs for the Blind
  • American Cancer Research
  • Alzheimer's Research Foundation
  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Treatments

  • medical, in-office, and surgical (both outpatient and inpatient surgeries)

Internships

  • University of Southern California/LACUSC Medical Center2000General Surgery

Fellowships

  • UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center2006Neurotology

Professional Society Memberships

  • AOS, ANS, TS, ABOHS, Temporal Bone Experts Committee of the National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Articles and Publications

  • Published over 50 articles, 6 book chapters and edited a book: Otolaryngology Clinics in North America
  • Disparities in Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma Initial Presentation Between a Public Safety Net Hospital and Tertiary Academic Medical Center at the Same Zip Code 2010 to 2020. Joshua Lin, Melissa L W
  • New Paradigm of Music Listening: Hearing Protection Perceptions and Treatment Decision-Making Among Music Venue Attendees. Ryan Long, Matthew E Lin, Avinash Iyer, Oluwatobiloba Ayo-Ajibola, Janet S C
  • Association between Cannabis Use and Tinnitus in US Adults. Matthew Lin, Bhavishya Clark, Joni K Doherty, John S Oghalai, Courtney C J Voelker, Janet S Choi, Reyes Orozco, F.
  • An Exploration of Online Support Community Participation Among Patients With Vestibular Disorders. Joni K Doherty, Uttam K Sinha, Courtney C J Voelker, Alaina M Bassett, Vanstrum, E.

What do you attribute your success to?

  • She attributes her success to her drive to treat patients with compassion and work hard to help them.

Philanthropic Initiatives

  • HearAid FoundationWounded WarriorsGuide Dogs for the BlindAmerican Cancer ResearchAlzheimer\'s Research FoundationSt. Jude Children\'s Research Hospital

Teaching and speaking

  • Teaching2006-2010 Human Anatomy & Physiology - Medical School Lecturer for the Ear portion (2 consecutive days/year, UCSD School of Medicine)2006-2012 Temporal Bone Dissection (8-24 hours/year), Lectures on Middle Fossa and Translabyrinthine Craniotomy and interactive dissection laboratory resident instruction of both approaches, UCSD2018-pres. Ear portion of Respiratory Block, Lecturer for the Ear portion, Keck School of Medicine2018-pres. Otology & Neurotology Didactic teaching sessions, 2 hours/year, USC Caruso Family dept. of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2023-pres. Neurotology Fellowship didactic teaching sessions, 2 hours/month, Neurotology Fellowship Program, USC Caruso Family dept. of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck SurgerySpeaking2007 CME lecture Role of Erb-B family receptors in Vestibular Schwannoma, COSM 2007, San Diego, CA2008 Grand Rounds Overview of Hearing Loss, University of California, San Diego, CA.2008 CME lecture Surgical Approaches to IAC and CPA lesions University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA.2009 Grand Rounds Otology in Ethiopia, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA.2010 CME lecture Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Orange, CA.2011 Grand Rounds Menieres Disease: Diagnosis & Treatment, Orange, CA.2012 Grand Rounds Cochlear Otosclerosis: Implications of the role of TGF, ARO, Baltimore, MDMolecular-targeted Therapies for NF2-related Vestibular Schwannomas, International Symposium on Intracranial Tumors, Nuilly, France2013 CME Lecture RAD001 trial for NF2-related Vestibular Schwannomas Vail, University of Colorado, Denver, CO.2013 CME Lecture Idiopathic SSNHL: viral or vascular? Vancouver, Canada.2013 CME Lecture Periductal channels: Role in Endolymphatic Hydrops, Vancouver, Canada.2013 Grand Rounds Human temporal bone otopathology genotyping, COSM, Orlando, FL.2014 CME Lecture NF2-related tumor invasion of bone, Vail, University of Colorado, Denver, CO.2014 CME Lecture Update of NF2 Clinical Trials, Washington, DC.2014 CME Lecture NF2 invasion: temporal bone and radiographic correlation, COSM, Orlando, FL.2015 CME Lecture Cochlear Implantation Approach & Hearing Preservation, Vail, CO2016 CME Lecture Melanin: Role in Hearing Preservation, Vail, University of Colorado, Denver, CO.2017 CME Lecture Vertiginous Migraine: Diagnosis, AAO-HNSF Academy meeting, Atlanta, GA.2017 CME Lecture BAHA implantation: cost effectiveness; COSM meeting, Chicago, IL.2019 USC Research Symposium: Triological Thesis,The role of Cochlear Melanin in Hearing preservation2018 Grand Rounds Update and Vestibular Migraine Diagnosis and Treatment University of Miami, FL2012 Invited Lecture Molecular-targeted Therapies for NF2-related Vestibular Schwannomas, International Symposium on Intracranial Tumors, Nuilly, France2014 Invited Lecture Update on Clinical Trials for Neurofibromatosis type-2 related vestibular schwannoma, Childrens Tumor Foundation NF conference, Washington, D.C.2016 Invited Lecture Tinnitus Diagnosis and Management, Hearing Loss Association of America, Long Beach Chapter2018 Invited Lecture Are you aware that Ototoxic Drugs can Cause Hearing Loss? Hearing Loss Association of America, Mission Viejo Chapter2019 Invited Lecture Update on Ototoxicity Palm Springs Hearing Seminars2021 Invited as Visiting ProfessorNeurofibromatosis 2-related Vestibular Schwannoma Management Update and Vestibular Migraine Diagnosis and Treatment, University of Texas, Southwestern2022 Invited Lecture Cochlear Implantation: What we have learned from human Temporal Bone histopathology studies (Grand Rounds), House Clinic, Los Angeles, CA2018 Grand Rounds Update on Ototoxicity, House Clinic, Los Angeles, CA.2018 CME Lecture Neurofibromatosis 2: Clinical trials, University of Miami, FL.2018 CME Lecture Hearing Preservation in Cochlear Implantation, University of Miami, FL.2018 CME lecture Invited panelist at the AAO-HNSF academy meeting to discuss Vestibular Migraine2020 CME lecture Invited panelist to discuss Otoendoscopic vs.MicroscopicApproaches to Ear Surgery, COSM 2020 (virtual meeting)2021 CME lecture Natural History of Acoustic Neuromas at the 22nd Annual Brain Tumor Update and 11th Annual Symposium on Brain Metastases and Spine Tumors (virtual conference held on October 29-31st) (virtual)2021 Grand Rounds Neurofibromatosis 2-related Vestibular Schwannoma Management, University of Texas, Southwestern2023 Invited Panelist American Neurotology Society panel on Neurotology Fellowship2023 CME Lecture Contemporary Management of Otitis External, Otolaryngology Underwater Conference, University of Pennsylvania2023 CME lecture Invited panelist to discuss Pediatric Cochlear Implantation, Otolaryngology Underwater Conference, University of Pennsylvania

Areas of research

Acoustic Neuroma, vestibular schwannoma, Neurofibromatosis type 2, otosclerosis, cochlear implantation, single-sided deafness, exostoses (surfer's ear), cholesteatoma, Meniere's disease, vestibular migraine, tympanic membrane perforations, conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss

Dr. Dr. Joni K. Doherty's Practice location

Keck Medical Center of USC

1450 San Pablo Street Suite 5100 -
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Get Direction
New patients: 323-442-5790, 800-872-2273

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

4650 Sunset Blvd. -
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Get Direction
New patients: 323-361-2145
Fax: 323-361-3717

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Media Releases

Get to know Otolaryngologist Dr. Joni K. Doherty, who serves patients in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Doherty, a highly skilled otolaryngologist, serves as the Division Chief of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery at Keck Hospital of USC. Committed to providing high-quality and compassionate care in her clinic, she concurrently focuses on advancing clinical practices in the fields of otology and neurotology.

Her clinic interests encompass a range of areas, including chronic ear disease, otosclerosis, cochlear implantation, vestibular disorders, and skull base tumors such as acoustic neuromas and meningiomas. 

As an educator, Dr. Doherty holds the position of Associate Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She is also the Program Director for the Neurotology Fellowship Program at USC.

A California native who grew up in Los Angeles County, Dr. Doherty graduated with Honors from UCLA, and earned her Medical Degree and Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Cell Biology from The Oregon Health & Sciences University. Her residency in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery took place at the University of Southern California/LAC+USC Medical Center, followed by a fellowship at the renowned House Clinic in Los Angeles.

After her fellowship, Dr. Doherty joined the faculty at UCSD, securing an NIH training grant for her research on vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) biology. Subsequently, she served as a senior scientist at the House Research Institute, balancing her time between neurotology practice in Orange County and research before joining the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

At the forefront of cutting-edge research on the genetics and biology of inner ear disorders, Dr. Dohert has conducted studies at the House Ear Institute, the University of California, San Diego, and the University of California, Los Angeles, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Board certified in otolaryngology and neurotology, Dr. Doherty is a Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. In addition, she is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.

Otolaryngology is the oldest medical specialty in the United States. Otolaryngologists, also known as ear, nose, and throat doctors, specialize in disorders of the head and neck, ranging from hearing loss to cancer. 

In her professional journey, Dr. Doherty has contributed to numerous research publications and authored textbook chapters in her specialized field. 

Outside of her professional commitments, she finds enjoyment in activities such as yoga, swimming, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and family.

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