Brett Einerson

Estelle S. Harris, MD is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Utah Health Science Center. As a Pulmonary and Critical Care physician, her clinical interests include general pulmonary consultation, acute lung injury, non-invasive ventilation, neuromuscular abnormalities and diaphragm muscle dysfunction. Dr. Harris received her MD from the University of Colorado. She received training in Internal Medicine at Boston City Hospital, Boston University, and her Pulmonary and Critical Care training from the University of Michigan. Dr. Harris is the Medical Director of the University of Utah medical intensive care unit (ICU) and the Huntsman Cancer Hospital ICU/intermediate care unit. She is also the pulmonary consultant for the neuromuscular clinics at Neurosciences Center and the NeuRx Diaphragm Stimulator Program. She is currently a member of the American Thoracic Society, The American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Richard Gurgel, MD MSCI, is a professor of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery within the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Utah. Dr. Gurgel’s clinical interests include the full spectrum of neurotology, specifically in the care of patients with vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas), glomus tumors, and other skull base lesions. He also has an interest in the surgical restoration of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss and auditory prosthesis such as cochlear implants and robotic-assisted cochlear implantation. His research focuses on the impact of hearing loss on cognition in older adults. He is the section chief of Otology and Director of the Cochlear Implant Program at the University of Utah, caring for children and adults, and the Salt Lake Veteran’s hospital, caring for our country’s veterans. Dr. Gurgel is an NIH-funded surgeon-scientist with research focusing on the impact of hearing loss on cognition in older adults, and how cochlear implants can improve cognition. He has published two leading books in his field, Otologic Surgery and Imaging in Otolaryngology, as well as over 125 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He has served as the chair of the prestigious Hearing Committee and is the incoming chair of the Implantable Devices Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He is also the fellowship director of the Neurotology fellowship at the University of Utah. In 2025, he was awarded the Dr. Clark Lowe Rich Distinguished Surgeon & Mentor Award for the University of Utah School of Medicine. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Utah with an Honors B.A. in Biology. He then continued his training by attending medical school at the University of Utah. There he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society as a junior. Dr. Gurgel has lived in Germany, Israel, and the Philippines. He is fluent in Cebuano and Waray-Waray (both Filipino dialects). Dr. Gurgel completed residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, which is consistently ranked as a top 10 Otolaryngology program in America, according to U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals. He went on to do his fellowship in Otology, Neurotology, and Skullbase Surgery at Stanford University, also a leading institution in the field. There he was a member of Stanford Society of Physician Scholars and elected fellow teacher of the year for two consecutive years. Outside of the hospital, his time is mainly spent with his wife on all activities pursuant to raising five daughters.

The University of Utah Health offers comprehensive medical services, making world-class healthcare accessible and affordable for the community. With a range of specialties including primary care, women's health, pediatrics, and heart services, they are dedicated to providing high-quality treatment and preventive care for patients of all ages. In addition to traditional medical services, University of Utah Health emphasizes the importance of health management tools like MyChart, ensuring patients can easily access their personal health records. Their commitment to innovative care extends to a wide array of programs and resources aimed at enhancing overall wellness and community health. Generated from the website