John Niparko
John K. Niparko (1955 – April 25, 2016) was an American surgeon, scientist and otolaryngologist who specialized in cochlear implants. Niparko edited and wrote several chapters of "Cochlear Implants: Principles & Practices". Early life. Niparko was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. In high school, he became interested in early inner-era implant devices. He attended the University of Michigan where he received his bachelor degree and medical degree. There, he completed his residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He also completed a fellowship in neurotology, otology, and skull base surgery. Career. In 1993, Niparko established the Listening Center  at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. There, he served as the inaugural George T. Nager Professor and director of the Division of Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery from 2009 to 2012. Niparko was recognized as a leading authority on cochlear implants, and notably operated on former Miss America Heather Whitestone in 2002. In 2013, Niparko joined the University of Southern California where he was chair of the USC Keck School of Medicine's Caruso Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. He also founded and directed the USC Caruso Family Center for Childhood Communication. Niparko conducted  research demonstrating that cochlear implants were highly cost effective in children and adults. He led efforts to establish a new national organization to focus on the underutilization of cochlear implants in the United States. This led to the founding of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance in 2011 with a mission to focus on access to cochlear implants. The John Niparko Lecture at the annual Cochlear Implant Symposium was established by the American Cochlear Implant Alliance in his honor. On April 25, 2016, Niparko died of complications from cancer treatment at the University of Southern California's Keck Medical Center. He  was 61. Awards. Hearing Research Award (2001) - Deafness Research Foundation