Noel L. Cohen Award for Significant Contributions to Otology and Neurotology

Through a generous gift from our late colleague, ANS has established the Noel L. Cohen, M.D. Award for Significant Contributions to Otology and Neurotology. The establishment of the award is a fitting tribute to Dr. Cohen — a gifted physician, surgeon, academician, educator, administrator and a leader. His contributions brought distinction to Otology & Neurotology, New York University, and our society. The first recipient of this esteemed award, Dr. Thomas Balkany, was announced at the 55th Annual virtual Fall meeting on Sept 12, 2020. 

6^th ANNUAL NOEL L. COHEN AWARDEE NAMED
CONGRATULATIONS! 
Susan B. Waltzman, PhD

Want to learn a bit more about our fabulous recipient!? Read on...

Susan Waltzman, PhD is the Marica F. Vilcek Professor of Otolaryngology and Vice Chair, Faculty Development and Academic Affairs in the Department of Otolaryngology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and is the co-founder of the NYU Cochlear Implant Center.

Her research is focused on two main areas: outcomes with cochlear and brainstem implants and isolating the variables which affect performance including the impact of new technology on outcomes in children, adolescents, older adults and special populations. The most current research at the Cochlear Implant Center focuses on the treatment of those with single-sided deafness, residual hearing, the aging population and children with compromised auditory nerves.

She has been the PI on numerous device-related clinical trials over the past 20 years, the most current trial being the use of auditory brainstem implants in children with compromised auditory nerves. Dr. Waltzman is the author of more than 130 peer-reviewed articles, numerous book chapters and a resource textbook with Dr. J. Thomas Roland titled Cochlear Implants.

She has also been invited as a Visiting Professor at many institutions world-wide and is a frequent contributor and invited speaker at national and international conferences.

About Dr. Noel L. Cohen 

Dr. Cohen’s education and training was marked by distinction. He received his B.A. from the University Heights College in the Bronx in 1951.  Subsequently, in 1955, he received his M.D. from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. It was in Holland that he met his wife, Baukje.  Between 1957 to 1959, Noel served as Lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve. He first joined the NYU family in 1959 as an ENT resident and, following completion, he stayed on as faculty in 1962.  

At NYU, Dr. Cohen’s career flourished as did NYU under his leadership. Little known is that early in his career, Noel was an accomplished thyroid surgeon before choosing the path that would lead him to become one of the leading cochlear implant and acoustic neuroma surgeons. A natural leader, Dr. Cohen became Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology in 1980, a position he held until 2003 – an impressive 23 years! In 1997-1998, he served as Interim Dean of NYU School of Medicine.

Under his leadership as Chair, the department grew in national and international stature. He established the NYU Cochlear Implant Center and built it into one of the largest clinical and research cochlear implant programs in the world. His landmark VA Cochlear Implant study established the superiority of multichannel cochlear implants over single-channel device. He was one the early pioneers in the clinical application of auditory brainstem implants. In addition to cochlear and brainstem implants, he built one of the largest acoustic neuroma programs on the East Coast.

A distinguished surgeon and speaker, he was highly sought after as guest, participant, and lecturer, throughout the world. In 2003, in recognition of his many contributions to medicine, he was awarded an Honorary M.D. from University of Freiberg. Though he will forever be remembered for his innumerable contributions, his friends and colleagues will fondly remember him for his kindness and humanity.  The establishment of the Noel L. Cohen Award is a wonderful tribute to our late friend and colleague and will forever associate his name to significant contributions in Otology & Neurotology.  It will serve to honor those amongst us whose contributions reflect an enduring commitment to scientific innovation and medical advancement in our field.