MICHAEL O'LEARY, MD

At the SENTA Clinic, Dr. Michael O’Leary specializes in diseases of the ear and balance. He helped create the new ChEARS Hearing Center that offers hearing healthcare with advanced hearing aids, assistive listening devices and implants. His skull base role is that of neurotologist, focusing on tumors of the lateral skull base such as acoustic neuromas and meningiomas. He is also a nationally-recognized leader in the development of minimally invasive techniques including the endoscopic removal of pituitary tumors.

Michael J. O’Leary, MD was born in 1954, in Denver, Colorado and grew up in New York. He graduated from Scarsdale High School in Scarsdale New York with honors in 1972.  He began his medical career in New York, earning his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Rochester in 1976 (Cum Laude) followed by his doctorate of medicine from Georgetown Univ., Washington, DC in 1980 (Magna Cum Laude).

During medical school in 1976 he entered the US Navy as an Ensign (0-1), the start of a 24-year career. Following internship and residency at the Naval Hospital San Diego in 1986, he was assigned as Chief, Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at Naval Hospital Newport, RI until 1989 (the “head and tail” of the department). He then underwent subspecialty training in Neurotology/Skull Base Surgery beginning as a Clinical Fellow at the prestigious House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles. This was followed by a year of Microvascular surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, MO with Dr. Richard E. Hayden. In 1991 he returned to Naval Hospital San Diego as the Chief, Neurotology/Skull Base Surgery. Upon his retirement in 2000 as a Captain (0-6), his neurotology division had grown from one to a team of over 25 individuals, performing pioneering clinical and basic science research focused on disorders of the ear and skull base.

Doctor O’Leary is board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a clinical assistant professor of surgery with the Uniformed Services University of Health Science. He is a past chairman of the Skull Base Surgery committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck surgery and has served as consultant to the Surgeons General.

Honors include membership in AOA – the honor medical society, and he is a recent recipient of the AAO/HNS honor award. He is a member of numerous medical associations, and has served as president of the San Diego Society of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, the Society of Military Otolaryngologists, and the House Fellowship Alumni group. Military decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal and the Navy Meritorious Service Medal. He is also an Eagle Scout.

Doctor O’Leary has authored or presented more than 90 scientific works focused on the ear and skull base, including 10 book chapters. He is a champion of digital advances in medicine and an opinion leader regarding process improvement and practice effectiveness in medicine.

SPECIAL EXPERTISE

• Neuro-Otology
• Hearing & Balance Disorders
• Skull Base Surgery
• Surfer’s Ear
• Cochlear & BAHA Implants
• Meniere’s Disease
• Pituitary Tumors

AWARDS & HONORS

HONORS

Meritorious Service Medal, 2000
Navy Commendation Medal, 1987
Navy Achievement Medal, 1982
Meritorious Service Award, 1992
Expert Pistol, 1994
Expert Rifleman, 1992
Battle Excellence Award 1981,
1982 AOA (Honor Medical Society), 1980
Eagle Scout, 1969

AWARDS

Castle Connolly Southern California Top Doctors 2012
U.S.News & World Report Top Doctors 2012
Honor Award, American Academy Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, 2000
Staff of the Year Award, NMCSD ENT Residents; 1999
1st Prize, San Diego AOHNS Resident Paper Competitions-1984,1986
1st Prize, Military AOHNS Resident Paper Competitions-1984,1986

SPECIAL PROJECTS

“Healthcare Quality Dashboard”

COMMITTEES

CMS Quality Standards Ad Hoc Committee (2003 to present) Skull Base Surgery
Committee, Am. Academy of Otolaryngology Chairman (10/96-99), member (9/92-9/96)
Informatics Committee, Am. Academy of Otolaryngology (11/92-9/98) Provider
Profiling Working Group, NMC San Diego (9/96-98) Teleconsultation Working Group,
Chairman, NMC San Diego(6/96-4/97 Customer Service Committee, Co-Chairman, NMC
San Diego:6/94-5/95 Continuing Medical Education Committee, NMC San Diego
(9/91-3/97) Medical Records/Utilization Review Committee, Chairman, Naval
Hospital, Newport, RI (6/87-8/88)

ADVISORY BOARDS

CCHAT School for the Hearing-Impaired, Encinitas, CA (6/00-02) American Red
Cross Fibrin Sealant Medical Advisory Board (3/00-02)

INTERESTS

Golf, Bicycling, Windsurfing, and History