MCW Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences Headlights Winter 2023 - Faculty Spotlight Q&A: Dr. Karl Doerfer

 Interview by Jonathan Bock MD ’01

How did you first come to learn about MCW?

My first experience at MCW was during an away rotation with the ENT department as a fourth year medical student from Northwestern. I was immediately impressed by the quality of the training as well as the culture of the department and character of the faculty and residents. I knew very quickly that it was the right place for me to train. I remain very close friends with the residents I rotated with as a student, and I’m privileged now to be working alongside many of the faculty that helped introduce me to otolaryngology.

What made you decide to pursue a fellowship in Neurotology?

I became interested in otology and neurotology early on as a medical student. I entered medical school after working for a number of years as a musician and sound engineer in Chicago, so I was immediately drawn to the mechanics and physiology of hearing. I then experienced sudden hearing loss between my first and second years of med school, which had a profound effect on me. I understood what it meant to lose a way of experiencing the world that we often take for granted. I also learned what it meant to be a patient in a very personal way. Through this experience, I realized what I could offer as an otologist to those experiencing similar challenges. 

I also had the privilege of completing a pediatric ENT fellowship in addition to my neurotology fellowship, and a substantial portion of my practice is pediatric. Caring for complex pediatric patients is another passion of mine, and I’m very glad I can combine my interests, taking care of children with chronic ear conditions and profound, congenital hearing loss. It’s hard to imagine having a bigger impact on a child's life than helping them be able to hear. I work with an amazing team of audiologists, department personnel, and physician colleagues that make the impossible possible for these kids.

What is it like being in practice at MCW as an attending?

I am very grateful to be back in an environment where I have roots. Starting as a new attending is always a challenge. Having close, collaborative relationships with faculty members, residents, and our allied health professionals within the department has made this transition both incredibly smooth and highly enjoyable. I could not ask for a better job.

What types of research are you hoping to pursue in your academic practice?

I am interested in research exploring the relationship between hearing loss, hearing rehabilitation and cognitive function, both in adults and children. I’m especially interested in how cochlear implantation impacts cognitive function and psychological well-being in older patients who are at risk for decline in these areas due to other aspects of the aging process. I am also interested in expanding use of cochlear implants for restoring hearing in patients with skull base tumors who have lost hearing as a result of tumor growth or surgical resection.

How does your family like being back in Milwaukee again?

While I never lived in Milwaukee before residency, my family truly feels at home here. My wife and I moved here just after my oldest son was born, and we welcomed our second son during residency. We are both from the upper Midwest, so it was very easy to settle in. Being away for two years during fellowship only confirmed how much we loved living here. We live near the MCW campus in Wauwatosa and love taking in what both our adopted hometown and the Milwaukee area have to offer. 

Pictured is Dr. Doerfer with his wife, Gracie and their two children, Michael (left) and Charlie (right). 

 

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