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James Lin, MD, FACS

James Lin portrait
Director , Ambulatory Operations , Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Professor, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Professional Background

Dr. James Lin specializes in disorders of the ear and skull base in patients of all ages. He routinely treats individuals with chronic ear disease ranging from simple fluid behind the eardrum to an extensive infection of the middle ear and mastoid requiring surgical removal of the infection and mastoid followed by reconstruction of the eardrum and hearing apparatus. In addition to treating chronic ear infections, Dr. Lin routinely performs surgery to restore or rehabilitate hearing including replacement of fixed stapes bones (stapedectomy) for otosclerosis, ossicular chain reconstruction, bone anchored hearing device placement, and cochlear implantation. He works in concert with head and neck surgeons and skull base-trained neurosurgeons to aid in access to and removal of tumors of the ear and posterior and middle skull base. Dr. Lin specializes in the treatment of patients with vestibular (balance) disorders including Meniere's disease, superior semicircular canal dehiscence, and benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV). He performs the entire gamut of vestibular surgeries including endolymphatic sac surgery, labyrinthectomy, superior semicircular canal surgery, and vestibular nerve section.

Dr. Lin makes every attempt to provide access for patients to his subspecialized ear care in multiple locations. Locally, he regularly sees patients and operates at KU Hospital, KU Medwest, KU Indian Creek Campus, and Children's Mercy Hospital. For the 4 summers, he has travelled with the Medical Missions Foundation and has performed surgeries for advanced ear disease in Antigua, Guatemala. Providing access to specialty ear care also includes training future ear surgeons; he directs and instructs ear dissection courses once a year in Kansas City or Omaha, and he will often serve as a guest instructor in other nationally reputable courses. He has several publications and book chapters, and he serves as a reviewer for multiple journals: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Laryngoscope, Audiology and Neurotology, Otorhinolaryngology (ORL), Head and Neck, and Otology-Neurotology.

Education and Training
  • BS, Duke Univ.
  • MD, Virginia Commonwealth U.
  • Residency, Otolaryngology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Clinical Fellowship, Neurotology, House Clinic, Los Angeles, California
Professional Affiliations
  • American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Implantatable Hearing Devices, Member, 2020 - Present
  • American College of Surgeons, Member, 2017 - Present
  • American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, CPT Advisory committee, Member, 2016 - Present
  • American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Physician Payment Panel, Member, 2016 - Present
  • American Medical Association, Member, 2016 - Present
  • Otosclerosis Study Group, Otosclerosis Study Group, Member, 2015 - Present
  • American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Equilibrium and Balance Disorders Committee, Member, 2013 - 2020

Publications
  • DiNardo, L., J, Lin, James, Karageorge, L., S, Powers, C., N. 2000. Accuracy, utility, and cost of frozen section margins in head and neck cancer surgery.. The Laryngoscope, 110 (10 Pt 1), 1773-6
  • Lin, James, Staecker, Hinrich. 2006. Nonorganic hearing loss.. Seminars in neurology, 26 (3), 321-30
  • Lin, James, Fayad, J., N. 2007. Encephalocele.. Ear, nose, & throat journal, 86 (8), 436
  • Lin, James, Fayad, J., N. 2007. Epidermolysis bullosa.. Ear, nose, & throat journal, 86 (4), 192
  • Lin, James, Staecker, Hinrich, Jafri, M., S. 2008. Optical coherence tomography imaging of the inner ear: a feasibility study with implications for cochlear implantation.. The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology, 117 (5), 341-6
  • House, John., W, Lin, James, Friedman, Rick., A, Cullen, Robert., D. 2009 (3rd), 591-602
  • Lin, James, Fayad, J., N. 2009. Applebaum incudostapedial prosthesis.. Ear, nose, & throat journal, 88 (9), 1098
  • Lin, James, Fayad, J., N. 2009. Applebaum incudostapedial prosthesis.. Ear, nose, & throat journal, 88 (9), 1098
  • Lin, James. 2010. Book Review of Operative Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, 2nd Edition. Otology/Neurotology, 31 (7), 1013
  • Gaudet, J., E, Walvekar, R., R, Arriaga, M., A, Dileo, M., D, Nuss, D., W, Pou, A., M, Hagan, J, Lin, James. 2010. Applicability of the pittsburgh staging system for advanced cutaneous malignancy of the temporal bone.. Skull base : official journal of North American Skull Base Society ... [et al.], 20 (6), 409-14