Paula J. Woodward

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.

Ravi Ranjan, M.D., Ph.D., is chief of cardiac electrophysiology. His clinical interests include ablation of complex cardiac arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardias and supra-ventricular tachycardias. He also has keen interest in cardiac device based therapy like cardiac resynchronization therapy, ICDs and pacemakers. He has been a faculty member at the University of Utah since 2010 and is a tenured Professor of Medicine. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed an internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, a cardiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Ranjan has built a large clinical cardiology and electrophysiology practice in Utah.

Hannah Duffey, MD, is an allergy and immunology provider who sees patients of all ages. She is especially interested in drug allergy, allergic asthma management, infantile eczema and food allergy, but she cares for patients with a large spectrum of allergic and immunologic conditions. She cares for patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), food allergy, eczema, drug allergy, urticaria (hives), angioedema (swelling), stinging insect allergy, anaphylaxis and eosinophilic disorders. Dr. Duffey completed her pediatric residency at the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital. She then went to Colorado where she completed her allergy and immunology training at Children’s Hospital of Colorado and University of Colorado. She and her husband are excited to be back in Utah and enjoy spending time in the mountains.