Dr. Michael OLeary
As a neurotologist, Dr. Michael O'Leary specializes in diseases of the ear and balance, treating all aspects of ear problems, both medical and surgical. Among his unique areas of expertise in the ears are correction of surfer’s ears (exostosis), stapes surgery and repair of chronic mastoidectomy defects. His role on the skull-base team focuses 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. He is a founding member of the Senta Clinic in San Diego and also sees complex referral patients with his subspecialty colleagues at La Jolla Private Practice Associates. He helped create the new Center for Hearing – “ChEARS”– offering hearing healthcare with advanced hearing aids, assistive listening devices and BAHA implants.
Dr. O’Leary received his medical degree (magna cum laude) from Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC. As part of his 24-year Naval career as an ensign (0-1), he completed his residency at the Naval Hospital San Diego, and was assigned chief of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at the Naval Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island. He received fellowship training in neurotology/skull-base surgery at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles, followed by a year of microvascular surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. He also has served as chief of neurotology/skull-base surgery at the San Diego Naval Hospital
Dr. O'Leary is board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and 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 and Neck surgery and has served as consultant to the Surgeon General. He is a founding member of the Senta Clinic, an interdisciplinary team on the Alvarado Hospital campus focusing on skull-base disorders.
He is a member of numerous medical associations, and has served as president of the San Diego Society of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, president of the Society of Military Otolaryngologists, and president of the House Fellowship Alumni group. Military decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal and the Navy Meritorious Service Medal.
Dr. 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. His passions include his family, his patients, his specialty, quality improvement and golf—in that order!
