UC San Diego Acoustic Neuroma Program

07/20/2026

Last week, Dr Friedman was announced as an Ambassador to the Brazilian Skull Base Society!

07/16/2026

Dr Rick Friedman and Dr Elina Kari attended the 2nd Brazilian Congress of Skull Base Surgery this week as keynote speakers.

Dr Friedman lectured on "Hearing Preservation and Middle Fossa Approach for Vestibular Schwannoma" and Dr. Kari presented on "Translabyrinthine Approach and Cochlear Implantation".

This high-level multidisciplinary event brought together over 100 national experts and 26 international guests representing neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and head and neck surgery.

07/07/2026

Rosie's Story 🌺

When I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, my ability to keep doing the activities I loved was a big concern. I love partner dancing and slacklining, both of which require great balance and coordination.

My tumor, which I named Brian, was discovered when my hearing loss was
mild. As Brian grew and my hearing loss progressed, I realized that surgery was the right choice for me even though it meant losing a balance nerve. A few days after I finished college and fifteen months after my initial diagnosis, the surgical team at UCSD evicted Brian.

It was scary to go from spinning on a slackline to stumbling through the ICU with a gait belt.
Luckily, the human brain is great at adapting. After the first week, my nausea resolved, and I
could walk short distances unassisted. A couple of weeks later, I was walking several miles a
day at an almost normal pace. Moving my head side to side still felt weird, but it no longer threw me off balance. I notice it less and less every day.

As my capabilities improved, I added more balance exercises to my routine. By week 5, I felt
ready to try the slackline again. I set one up with a few friends and gave it a go! The video below is of my first attempt after surgery. I did it! I’m not as steady as I once was, but I feel confident that I will get there. I’m happy to have made this much progress so quickly.

Alongside my balance recovery, I’ve been adjusting to a cochlear implant. I knew that a CI might not work well or at all because of the tumor, so I am thrilled to share that my CI works and it works pretty dang well! My hearing with the CI is already leagues better than the hearing I was left with before surgery. I am so grateful that the team at UCSD was able to save my cochlear nerve and place a CI.

Every member of the team was so kind and competent. I chose UCSD because I wanted to give myself the best chance at a smooth recovery with minimal complications. At almost two months post-op, I’m confident I made the right choice.

**Watch her video here🎥**
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nndOkaaNA98?feature=share

07/06/2026

Registration is now open! Make plans to join us this fall in sunny San Diego! We will be adding additional program information and agenda to the registration site soon! This program is open to all patients in any stage of their journey!

Please join us on campus for our AN Patient Education Event led by Drs. Rick Friedman and Marc Schwartz! The day will include presentations by our team on various AN topics, networking, and support from fellow patients and caregivers. Be on the lookout for event updates and our program agenda! We wi...

06/30/2026

Save the Date! Saturday October 17th, 2026. Registration coming soon...

05/15/2026

Dr Suresh is part of our surgical team! He is extremely knowledgeable, kind, and skilled. He takes great care of our patients during surgery, in navigating their treatment decisions, and with research and patient education!

05/15/2026

Ben provides compassionate and expert care for the vestibular rehab of our patients before and after their surgery. He goes above and beyond in his work and is a source of positive energy and knowledge for our team and patients.

05/14/2026

In May of 2025, I noticed that I was not feeling myself and decided to make an appointment with my primary care physician. After examination, blood tests, and eventually an MRI, I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma. It was frightening to receive this news, especially since I never heard of or knew anything about this diagnosis. Once my wife and I processed this news, we set out on a mission to learn as much as we could about treatment options and long-term outcomes. After countless hours of research, we both consistently saw positive reviews on the acoustic neuroma program at UCSD including Dr. Friedman and Dr. Schwartz. We also learned they offer free phone consultations and review of your MRI images.
Being from the east coast we were concerned that the distance and logistics of seeking treatment across the country would be difficult, but the reputation of USCD made me decide to call and set up a phone consult. I was contacted by one of two patient navigators at UCSD named Kris to set up the consult call and after our conversation, I immediately knew I had made the right choice. The phone consultation with Dr. Friedman went great and I decided that surgery was the correct choice for me. Within days I was scheduled for surgery on March 3, 2026. Kris and the team at UCSD were extremely helpful in answering my questions and helping me navigate the insurance approval process.
Before I knew it, March had arrived and my wife and I flew to San Diego on March 1st. We were lucky enough to be accepted to the LaJolla Family House where we stayed until I was cleared at my post-op appointments on March 11th. The surgery on March 3rd went exactly as Dr. Friedman and Dr. Schwartz planned with full tumor removal. As I was deciding where to pursue my treatment, it was important to not only have great surgeons, but also a team dedicated to my recovery. Many reviews said the team approach at UCSD is second to none, and I could not agree more. Everyone involved in my care was part of a team that was compassionate and well versed in treating patients with the unique demands an acoustic neuroma diagnosis presents. One week following surgery I was able to walk on the beaches in La Jolla, what a beautiful place to recover!! Two-weeks post-op we flew back to the east coast with no trouble or discomfort and one week after I was home, I was able to drive. I cannot thank the team at UCSD enough, this is truly a world class program with a deep dedication and passion for helping patients navigate treatment.
--Ryan D, 48, Pennsylvania

05/14/2026

Tamara is an invaluable part of our clinical care team. She has a huge heart and works tirelessly to care for our patients as they undergo and recover from treatment. She is a wealth of knowledge on all things AN and we are lucky to have her as a resource and a support for our team and patients.

05/13/2026

Our audiology team is exceptional! They go above and beyond for our patients and really understand the unique challenges of hearing loss associated with an acoustic neuroma diagnosis. We are lucky to work hand in hand with such a caring, knowledgeable, and talented team. Thank you to Meghan and Madeline for sharing today and thank you to our entire audiology team - we appreciate you! 🫶🌟🦻