Summary:
The American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) has named Dr Craig Buchman as the Niparko Memorial Lecturer for CI2026 Chicago, where he will present on “Tonotopic Coding in Cochlear Implantation.”
Key Takeaways:
- The Niparko Lecture honors Dr John K. Niparko’s legacy in advancing cochlear implant research and care.
- Dr Buchman, a leading otologist and founding ACI Alliance board member, will share insights from his research on inner ear electrophysiology and cochlear implant performance.
- CI2026 Chicago, held May 6–9, 2026, will bring together multidisciplinary experts, with registration opening in December 2025.
American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) has selected Dr Craig Buchman to deliver the annual Niparko Memorial Lecture at CI2026 Chicago on “Tonotopic Coding in Cochlear Implantation.” The Niparko lecture was established to recognize Dr John K. Niparko’s enduring commitment to cochlear implant research and clinical care, and honor his significant contributions to the field.
Dr Buchman’s Background
Craig Buchman, MD, FACS, is professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Utah and past Lindburg professor and chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Georgia, his MD at the University of Florida, his residency and research fellowship in otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh, and clinical fellowship in neurotology at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles. He was a founding board member of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance and served as its chair of the board during the early years, immediately following Dr Niparko. He is currently chair of the Hearing Committee and past chair of the Implantable Devices Committee and the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing for the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, past president of the American Neurotology Society, and past chair of the William House Cochlear Implant Study Group.
Dr Buchman’s Clinical Interests
Buchman’s clinical interests include medical and surgical management of ear and hearing disorders in adults and children, and he has published extensively in the field. He has lectured worldwide on hearing loss, cochlear implantation, and auditory brainstem implantation, and his research has been supported by the NIH and the Department of Defense, industry partners, and private foundations. His current research focuses on inner ear electrophysiology as it relates to cochlear implant performance, hearing preservation surgery, and tonotopic coding.
About CI2026 Chicago
CI2026 Chicago: Conference on Cochlear Implants will be held May 6–9, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The conference will foster dissemination of multi-disciplinary scientific information applicable to audiologists, physicians, speech pathologists, psychologists, scientists, engineers, educators, students, and others involved in cochlear implantation. Conference registration opens in December 2025 with discounted rates available for ACI Alliance members and early bird registrants. Conference details can be found at https://ci2026chicago.org/.
About ACI Alliance
ACI Alliance is a not-for-profit membership organization created with the purpose of eliminating barriers to cochlear implantation by sponsoring research, driving heightened awareness, and advocating for improved access to cochlear implants for patients of all ages across the U.S.
