Brendan O'Connell, MD

Biography

Dr. Brendan O'Connell is an ear, nose, and throat physician and neurotologist with fellowship training in neurotology and skull base surgery. He specializes in medical and surgical disorders of the ear, including chronic ear infections, cochlear implants, and acoustic neuromas. Dr. O'Connell earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. He earned his medical degree and completed his residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. He then pursued fellowship training in otology/neurotology and skull base surgery at Vanderbilt University.

Prior to joining CEENTA, Dr. O'Connell was an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he was a Medical Director of the Children's Cochlear Implant Center. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and lectures both nationally and internationally on topics related to otology and neurotology. He has a particular interest in cochlear implantation as it pertains to preservation of natural hearing, expansion of indications, and single-sided deafness. He is honored to join CEENTA and provide expert otology/neurotology care to the Charlotte area. He and his wife Stephanie are the parents of 3 children.

Education & Fellowship

Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts with distinction in Spanish, University of Virginia, 2006

Doctorate
Doctor of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 2010

Residency
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 2015

Fellowship
Neurotology/Skull Base Surgery, Vanderbilt Otology Group, 2017

Awards

Business NC Magazine Top Doctors, 2021-2023
Charlotte Magazine Top Doctors, 2022-2025
SouthPark Magazine Top Doctors, 2022

Testimonials

Research

Recent books and chapters

• O’Connell BP, Haynes DS, Wanna GB. Auditory Rehabilitation in Sporadic Acoustic Neuroma. In: Carlson ML, Link MJ, Driscoll CL, Neff BA, Van Gompel JJ, Flemming KD, Lane JI, Shepard NT, Foote RL eds. Comprehensive Management of Acoustic Neuroma. Thieme. 2019.
• O’Connell BP, Wanna GB. Familial Head and Neck Paraganglioma and Genetic Testing. In: Wanna GB, Carlson ML, Netterville JL, eds. Contemporary Management of Jugular Paraganglioma. Springer. 2018.
• O’Connell BP, Meyer TA. Cholesteatoma. In: McRackan T, Brackmann D, eds. Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery: Clinical Reference Guide. Plural Publishing. Sep 2015.
• Rizk HR, O’Connell BP, Camilon R, Meyer TA. Congenital Disorders of the Inner Ear. Head and Neck Surgery. JP Brothers. 2015.
• O’Connell BP, Lambert PR, Huang M. Temporal Bone Trauma. In: Pensak M. Clinical Otology. Thieme. 2015.
• Deep NL, O’Connell BP, Ho ML, Lane JI, Carlson ML. Surgery for Cochlear Implantation – Congenital Anomalies. In: Haynes DS, Gifford R. Cochlear Implants. JP Brothers. In press.
• O’Connell BP, Vos TG, Hunter JB, Brown KB. Congenital Hearing Loss and Inner Ear Malformations. In: Haynes DS, Rivas A, Sweeney A, Carlson ML. Surgery of the Ear. Thieme. In press.

Recent peer-reviewed journal articles

• Kimura KS, O'Connell BP, Nassiri AM, Dedmon MM, Haynes DS, Bennett ML. Outcomes of Revision Cochlear Implantation. Otol Neurotol. 2020 May 28;. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000002659. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32472921.
• Schwartz N, Rooth MA, Dillon MT, O'Connell BP, Dedmon MM, Huang BY, Brown KD. MRI surveillance following concurrent cochlear implantation in cases of vestibular schwannoma resection. Am J Otolaryngol. 2020 May 4;:102518. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102518. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32451290.
• Canfarotta MW, Dillon MT, Buss E, Pillsbury HC, Brown KD, O'Connell BP. Frequency-to-Place Mismatch: Characterizing Variability and the Influence on Speech Perception Outcomes in Cochlear Implant Recipients. Ear Hear. 2020 Mar 19;. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000864. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32205726.
• Thompson NJ, Dillon MT, Buss E, Rooth MA, King ER, Bucker AL, McCarthy SA, Deres EJ, O'Connell BP, Pillsbury HC 3rd, Brown KD. Subjective Benefits of Bimodal Listening in Cochlear Implant Recipients with Asymmetric Hearing Loss. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2020 Mar 17;:194599820911716. doi: 10.1177/0194599820911716. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32182164.
• Canfarotta MW, O'Connell BP, Buss E, Pillsbury HC, Brown KD, Dillon MT. Influence of Age at Cochlear Implantation and Frequency-to-Place Mismatch on Early Speech Recognition in Adults. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Mar 17;:194599820911707. doi: 10.1177/0194599820911707. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32178574.
• Hodge S, Peterson AA, O’Connell BP, Drake AF. Clinical Presentation of Congenital Cholesteatoma of the External Auditory Canal in Goldenhar Syndrome: A Case Series. International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. In Press.
• Thompson NJ, Dillon MT, Buss E, Park LR, Pillsbury HC 3rd, O'Connell BP, Brown KD.Electrode Array Type and Its Impact on Impedance Fluctuations and Loss of Residual Hearing in Cochlear Implantation.Otol Neurotol. 2020 Feb;41(2):186-191. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000002457. PubMed PMID: 31743293.