Tiffany Peng Hwa, MD

Clinical Interests

• Lateral skull base tumors
• Acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas)
• Paragangliomas
• Facial nerve disorders
• Facial nerve schwannoma
• Glomus jugulare & glomus tympanicum
• Temporal bone tumors
• Cholesteatoma
• Hearing loss
• Otosclerosis
• Cochlear implants
• Tinnitus & pulsatile tinnitus
• Balance disorders
• Vertigo
• Superior semicircular canal dehiscence
• Sigmoid sinus dehiscence
• CSF leak and encephalocele
• Ear infections and mastoiditis
• Meningiomas
• Chordomas
• Tumors of the middle ear
• Bone-anchored hearing aids
• Temporal bone osteomyelitis
• Temporal bone trauma and fractures
• Disorders of the ear canal
• Ear pain
• Ear drainage

Research Interests

• Music and the brain
• Hearing loss
• Cochlear implantation
• Complex auditory processing
• Dementia and hearing loss
• Vestibular disorders
• Healthcare disparities

About Me

Dr. Tiffany Hwa is a comprehensively trained otolaryngologist (ENT doctor) with advanced training in disorders of hearing, balance, and the lateral skull base. After attending Rutgers University under the Presidential Full Tuition Scholarship, she earned her degree summa cum laude in Biology. She then completed her medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College and graduated with an Honors in Research, earning the Connie Guion MD Scholarship and the Arthur Palmer Prize for Efficiency in Otolaryngology. She completed resident training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at New-York Presbyterian Hospital with leaders in the field at Columbia, Cornell, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Subsequently, Dr. Tiffany Hwa pursued advanced fellowship training in Otology & Neurotology (Ears and Lateral Skull Base Surgery) at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Hwa has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters in addition to presentations at national and international meetings.

Dr. Hwa currently holds a parallel appointment as an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. She has mentored dozens of undergraduate, medical school, and surgical trainees in research to successful presentations at national meetings and publications in reputable, leading scientific journals. Dr. Hwa is committed to mentoring aspiring students and trainees, and helping to build their research skills and portfolio.

She is committed to comprehensive care of each patient, and aims to tailor expert treatment plans to your priorities and concerns. She prioritizes patient education as paramount to good care, and seeks to help you fully understand your condition.

Educational Background

• Fellowship, Neurotology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
• Residency, Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital of Columbia & Cornell, New York, NY
• MD, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY

Additional Training

• Certificate in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Memberships

• American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
• American Neurotology Society

Honors & Awards

• Penn Pearls Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, 2021
• Nicholas Torok Vestibular Award, American Neurotology Society, 2020
• CORE Grant Recipient from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, 2016
• The Arthur Palmer Prize for Efficiency in Otorhinolaryngology, 2014
• David Clayson Prize for Creativity, 2014
• Connie Guion MD Scholarship, 2011-2014
• Weill Cornell Medical College International Research Fellow, 2013-2014

Digital Bibliography

View Digital Bibliography

Selected Publications

1. Hwa, T. P., Luu, N., Henry, L. E., Naples, J. G., Kaufman, A. C., Brant, J. A., ... & Bigelow, D. C. (2021). Impact of Reconstruction With Hydroxyapatite Bone Cement on CSF Leak Rate in Retrosigmoid Approach to Vestibular Schwannoma Resection: A Review of 196 Cases. Otology & Neurotology, 42(6), 918-922.

2. Hwa, T. P., Tian, L. L., Caruana, F., Chun, M., Mancuso, D., Cellum, I. P., & Lalwani, A. K. (2021). Novel Web-Based Music Re-Engineering Software for Enhancement of Music Enjoyment Among Cochlear Implantees. Otology & Neurotology, 42(9), 1347-1354.

3. Hwa, T. P., Sturm, J. J., Losenegger, T., Owen, A., Kuhlmey, M., Cellum, I., ... & Kim, A. H. (2020). Impact of underlying diagnosis on speech and quality of life outcomes after cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness. Otology & Neurotology, 41(4), e432-e440.

4. Hwa, T. P., Wen, C. Z., & Ruckenstein, M. J. (2021). Assessment of music experience after cochlear implantation: A review of current tools and their utilization. World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

5. Hwa, T. P., Brant, J. A., Eliades, S. J., & Ruckenstein, M. J. (2021). What is the Right Treatment for Adults With Unilateral Deafness?. The Laryngoscope.

6. Dumberger, L. D., Hwa, T. P., Panara, K., Husain, S., Yver, C., & Bigelow, D. C. (2021). Profound Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Hematologic Malignancy: A Case for Urgent Cochlear Implantation With Discussion and Systematic Review of the Literature. Otology & Neurotology, 42(7), e815-e824.

7. Layfield, E., Hwa, T. P., Naples, J., Maina, I., Brant, J. A., Eliades, S. J., ... & Ruckenstein, M. J. (2021). Failure and Revision Surgery After Cochlear Implantation in the Adult Population: A 10-year Single-institution Retrospective and Systematic Review of the Literature. Otology & Neurotology, 42(3), 408-413.

8. Bankoti, K., Generotti, C., Hwa, T., Wang, L., O'Malley Jr, B. W., & Li, D. (2021). Advances and challenges in adeno-associated viral inner ear gene therapy for sensorineural hearing loss. Molecular Therapy-Methods & Clinical Development.

9. Hwa, T. P., Husain, Q., Brant, J. A., & K. Lalwani, A. (2021). Jugular Bulb Anomalies Involving the Internal Auditory Canal: A Case Series. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, 0003489421990153.

10. Nimmo, Z. M., Hwa, T. P., Naples, J. G., Shah, R., Brant, J. A., Eliades, S. J., ... & Ruckenstein, M. J. (2021). Age-related Patterns of Vestibular Dysfunction in Dizziness and Imbalance: A Review of Vestibular Testing Results Among 1,116 Patients. Otology & Neurotology, 42(6), 897-905.

Book Chapters

1. Peng T, Ramaswamy A, Kim HA. “Common Otological Surgical Procedures: Clinical Decision-Making Pearls and the Role of Imaging.” Neuroimaging Clinics on Temporal Bone Imaging. (2018).

2. Lantos JE, Leeman K, Weidman E, Dean KE, Peng T, Pearlman A. “Imaging of Temporal Bone Trauma: A Clinicoradiologic perspective.” Neuroimaging Clinics on Temporal Bone Imaging. (2018).

3. Dua AN, Peng T, Alexiades G. “Otolaryngologic Manifestations of Multiple Sclerosis.” Multiple Sclerosis for the Non-Neurologist. (2019).

4. Hwa TP, Bewley AF, Ruckenstein MJ. “Systemic manifestations of otologic disease.” Bailey’s Otolaryngology 6th Edition (2021).

5. Hwa TP, Brant JA. “Otalgia.” Medical Clinics: An Update in ENT for Internists. (2021)

6. Hwa TP, Eliades SJ, Ruckenstein MJ. “Meniere’s Disease and Vestibular Migraine.” Essential Otology & Neurotology: KJ Lee. (2021: ahead of print).