Theodore Richardson McRackan, M.D., MSCR

Teddy McRackan, MD, MSCR, is a fellowship‑trained neurotologist, ear surgeon, and lateral skull base surgeon whose clinical and research expertise focuses on cochlear implantation, acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma), and advanced hearing restoration. His work integrates complex otologic and skull base surgery with a rigorous, outcomes‑driven research program aimed at improving functional hearing, quality of life, and long‑term outcomes for patients with hearing loss, particularly hearing aid and cochlear implant users. He is widely recognized for advancing patient‑centered approaches to hearing care. As Director of the Skull Base Center and Medical Director of the Cochlear Implant Program, Dr. McRackan specializes in acoustic neuroma surgery, cochlear implant surgery, and comprehensive surgical management of complex ear and lateral skull base disorders. His clinical expertise includes the management of hearing loss, cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in both children and adults. His high‑volume surgical practice directly informs research focused on real-world outcomes and durable functional benefit. Dr. McRackan leads a nationally funded research program examining the communication, health, social, and functional benefits of hearing aids and cochlear implantation in adults, with a long‑term goal of developing scalable, patient‑centered interventions to improve outcomes and quality of life. His work spans basic science, translational research, and clinical outcomes research, establishing him as a leader in hearing and cochlear implant research. His research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences), the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, and the Doris Duke Foundation. In 2022, Dr. McRackan received the Triological Society's Harold Mosher Award for Outstanding Clinical Research for his leadership in developing the Cochlear Implant Quality of Life (CIQOL) instruments. These tools are widely used in hearing loss and cochlear implant clinical care and research, and have helped redefine how patient‑reported benefit is measured across the field. Dr. McRackan holds a Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) and has formal training in epidemiology, clinical trial design, biostatistics, mixed-methods research, dissemination and implementation science, and intervention development. Through his combined roles as an ear and skull base surgeon, cochlear implant specialist, and funded investigator, Dr. McRackan continues to advance the science and practice of hearing improvement worldwide.