Kenneth M. Grundfast, MD, FACS, FAAP
Professor and Chairman

Research Interests:
The Kenneth B. Schwartz Center: (Co-investigator) To support and advance compassionate health care in which caregivers, patients and their families relate to one another in a way that provides hope to the patient, support to caregivers and sustenance to the healing process.

Financial Impediments to Hearing Aid Purchase Among Americans with Hearing Loss. (PI) This study seeks to offer a more complete picture of the role of cost in a hearing impaired person’s decision to purchase a hearing aid. The investigative goal is to support the hypotheses that 1) many people who could benefit from hearing aids do not receive them, and 2) public and private insurers should cover part of the cost of hearing aids.

Publications:
Grundfast KM, Indications for Tympanostomy Tubes, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Audio-Digest Otolaryngology 38(09):N/A, 2004.

Bakthavachalam S, Driver MS, Cox LC, Spiegel JH, Grundfast KM, Merkel RA,, Hearing Loss in Wegerer’s Granulomatosis. Otology & Neurotology 25:833-37, 2004.

Presentations:
Guidelines for management of otitis media and tips on managing childhood cholesteatoma, FitzHugh Symposium, U of VA School of Medicine, Charlottesville VA, June 4, 2005.

Evaluation of infants and children with stridor and airway compromise, FitzHugh Symposium, U of VA School of Medicine, Charlottesville VA, June 4, 2005.

Evaluation of the hearing impaired child, FitzHugh Symposium, U of VA School of Medicine, Charlottesville VA, June 5, 2005.

Professionalism in Otolaryngology, FitzHugh Symposium, U of VA School of Medicine, Charlottesville VA, June 5, 2005.

Genetic Diagnosis of Hearing Loss; What to Test for and Why, American Otological Society, Inc., COSM, Boca Raton FL, May 2005.

Impediments to Hearing Aid Purchase Among Americans with Hearing Loss, Triological Society Annual Meeting, COSM, Boca Raton FL, May 2005. (poster)

So many needs, so little time: Can we build trust and caring while on roller blades?! Schwartz Rounds Panel, Boston Medical Center, Boston MA, 2005.

Diagnosis of Sensory-Neural Hearing Loss in Children, Academy of Advisors Forum, Framing
Disease in Different Epochs, Boston University School of Medicine, 2005.

Can there be joy at the holidays in the hospital? Schwartz Rounds Panel, Boston Medical Center, Boston MA, 2004.

Coping with the frustration of dealing with "The System,” Schwartz Rounds Panel, Boston Medical Center, Boston MA, 2004.

Pediatric Otology and Neurotology, Course at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Los Angeles CA, September 2004.

Genetic Hearing Loss: The Cutting Edge, Course at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Los Angeles CA, September 2004.