The Keck School of Medicine at USC in Los Angeles, Calif, has announced the sudden and tragic passing of John K. Niparko, MD, who chaired the USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Dr Niparko, who died on April 25, 2016, had been selected from a group of more than 50 highly qualified candidates in February 2013 to chair the Otolaryngology-HNS Department at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. He was widely regarded as a transformative recruitment to USC and a pillar of the university, and the fields of science and medicine. In his three years at USC, Dr Niparko led the department’s ascent to the top 10 departments of otolaryngology research funding in the country, strategically expanded its faculty and clinical services, and provided life-changing treatments and services to countless adults, children, and their families. Dr Niparko’s work spanned not only the greater Los Angeles region, but touched patients across the world through his international outreach.
According to his colleagues at USC, Dr Niparko “embodied the best of what it means to be surgeon-scientist, as he transformed not only his department, but medicine as a whole. His career was a synthesis of humanism and scientific achievement.”
Dr Niparko was deeply committed to his work at USC, which included expanding his department’s clinical programming, initiating new strategies for training residents and medical students, and developing collaborative, entrepreneurial relationships to bolster the department’s research endeavors.
An internationally renowned otology surgeon and researcher who received many awards throughout his distinguished career, Dr Niparko authored, co-authored, and edited many papers, articles, and books. Dr Niparko came to USC from Johns Hopkins University, where he had been a professor and director of the division of otology, neurotology and skull base surgery, as well as medical director of the division of audiology. From 2009 to 2012, he had served as interim director of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins, which since 1998 had been ranked number one in ear, nose, and throat care in the nation by US News & World Report.
Dr Niparko was a leading authority on cochlear implants and other implantable devices that improve hearing for the profoundly deaf and severely hard of hearing. Under his leadership, the cochlear implant programs at the Keck School of Medicine at USC and Johns Hopkins garnered international reputations for excellence in cochlear implantation, post-operative training and rehabilitation, groundbreaking research, and participation in clinical trials of advanced implantable devices, such as the auditory brainstem implant (ABI).
Most recently, Dr Niparko had been leading a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study that examines the effects of cochlear implantation on language, behavioral, and societal outcomes in children. The study involves 62 investigators from six university-based clinical sites and two data coordination centers.
In a message from USC, his colleagues shared that “John was a dynamic and humble colleague and leader, whose good humor, compassion, and gentle nature earned our esteem and deep affection. We are all enriched for having known him.”
A native of Detroit, Mich, Dr Niparko had received his bachelor’s degree and medical degree with distinction from the University of Michigan, where he also completed his residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and a fellowship in neurotology. He served as a faculty member at Michigan following the completion of his fellowship, before moving on to Johns Hopkins. He leaves behind his beloved wife and two sons, extended family, many patients, and a wide circle of friends.
The Keck School of Medicine at USC reports that a memorial service for Dr Niparko was held at USC on May 10, 2016.
In lieu of flowers, the Niparko Family would be most grateful for gifts in honor of Dr Niparko to be directed to the John Niparko Endowment Fund to carry on his vision at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. To donate in Dr Niparko’s memory follow this link, and be sure to click on the “Memorial or honorarium information” link on page two of the donation form and indicate that your gift is in memory of “John Niparko, MD”.
I worked with Dr. Niparko — what a wonderful, talented surgeon! I will never forget the time I reminded him that we had gone to the same high school in Dearborn, MI. He immediately demonstrated what a caring, helpful midwesterner he was by carrying my luggage up a flight of stairs for me so I wouldn’t miss my flight. That was the kind of man I will always remember him to be. His impact on the field of neurotology is immeasurable!
John was a dear friend and colleague, whose generosity and dedication added so much to so many lives. I will miss him dearly.
We have lost a truly extraordinary physician-scientist and he has left an indelible mark on the lives and hearts of both his patients and colleagues. We will all mourn his passing and honor his many contributions. It is a great loss for all of us but all the more to his family. They are all in my prayers and I send heartfelt sympathy to all of them!
I am shocked and devastated to learn of Dr. Niparko’s passing. He removed a rare tumor from my son’s sinus 20 years ago and my son was engaged to be married at the time. Dr. Naparko met with us and made arrangements for my son to have his surgery within a week, even personally calling us at home to help us get ready. I had been calling Hopkins today for an orthopedic surgeon and kept telling strangers who answered the phone how he had saved my son’s life. So I thought I would google his name, knowing he had moved to Southern California, and was shocked to read of his passing. What an exceptional person who more than gave back to what matters in life, through not only his incredible medical contributions, but as an extraordinarily caring and kind human being. My son now has two children ages 12 and 15. My family sends our deepest condolences to Dr. Niparko’s wife and two children. No words will suffice to convey our grief.
Marian van den Berg
We can’t begin to absorb this very sad news; we are all just devastated by the loss of such a great surgeon, and someone who we are proud to call a friend. We first met John when he came to Hopkins – what a gift, as the Cochlear Implant Program was not quite in place at the time of our son Justin’s surgery at the age of 4 in 1993. We traveled to NYU for his implantation, and shortly afterwards, the newly established program at Hopkins was established, under the expertise and leadership of Dr. Niparko. What a privilege it was to be parents working alongside him in helping to establish the rehabilitation program in The Listening Center. There are just no words to describe how John changed our family’s lives. We will forever be indebted to him for his surgical skills, compassion, and friendship. If not for this wonderful man, we’re more than sure our son, now 28, would not be flying planes commercially. Our heartfelt condolences and love go out to his family and the entire cochlear and otolaryngology communities. You will forever be missed, and never forgotten.
Tammy and David Reymann
The first day I met Dr. Niparko, I walked into a cochlear implant support group meeting with my husband and my 4 month old. He saw a shell shocked couple and walked up to us, hand outstretched and said, “Hi, I’m John.” He immediately put us at ease and made our journey to get an implant for our daughter an easier one. His manner, his kindness, and his genuine love for what he did and the people he helped made such a difference. He change our lives, and especially, 15 years later, my daughter’s life. Such a special man, He will be missed.
Dr. Niparko was an attending at Johns Hopkins during my residency. We shared a common bond because we both were at Michigan together too. He was a great surgeon, teacher, and researcher. My wife and I had dinner at his home on a couple occasions as well. I will miss him. He was a world class Otologist and human. Steve and Sandy Weiner
I am so sad to hear about John – such a generous man. In the early days of cochlear implantation he always valued my input as a teacher of the deaf and valued the role of education for children with implants – as shown by his work with the River School. These posts reflect what a special man he was and how he will be missed the world over. I can hear his voice now….he has gone too soon. I do hope his family find some comfort in these messages showing his huge impact.
John will be sorely missed as a great colleague, physician, researcher, friend and wonderful human being.
Our sympathies and prayers go out to the Niparko family.
What a loss for all–Mostly his family, but for so many patients and others (like myself) fortunate enough to have worked with him. This is indeed sad news–may we all have such a positive impact in this world, no matter how long we are allowed to live here.
This is just shockingly devastating news. John and I worked together at Johns Hopkins for years, where he was always eager to be involved in the anatomy class I was directing, even when his schedule was chaotically busy. He was the epitome of a physician-scientist-teacher, and a truly remarkable person. He will be sorely missed around the globe.
Devastated to learn of this news. I worked with JKN as his Sr. Medical Office Coordinator when I first came to Johns Hopkins from 2000-2004. He was a great surgeon and person. He was always very kind to me. I will miss him dearly. My deepest sympathy to JKN’s family, friends and colleagues.
A tragic loss to USC and to all of the people at Johns Hopkins who knew and loved him. He was a good and great man.
I just wanted to express my deep sadness for the loss of one of my great working professionals here at Johns Hopkins. He was not old, close to my age, perhaps a few years older. He worked with cochlear implants, created The Listening Center, and was a PHENOMENAL person. He changed the world. He cared about what he did, his patients, his co-workers, and teaching his knowledge. He left Hopkins, I believe in 2012-13, to go to USC, where he was named Chair of Otolaryngology (well deserved). He stopped in about a year or two ago to my lab here at Hopkins (I am a graphic artist). He was attending a meeting at the Baltimore Harbor. I asked if he was going to other places around Hopkins, and he said no, “just wanted to see you”. I was so humbled at the thought that he cared enough to stop in to see me. I will really miss him. I can only hope he will get the acknowledgement for all he has done and all he deserves.
Dr. Niparko was not only a great surgeon he was an insightful and compassionate human being. I was fortunate enough to have him as my surgeon at Johns Hopkins – twice for an original implant and for a revision surgery a year later when the implant failed. As a late deafened adult, he was a key factor in helping me to accept what I will best call “my new normal.” Three years later we moved to Los Angeles and Dr. Niparko became my physician again. He also helped us to become estalished patients with several other specialists at USC with whom “we fit” because he knew us personally – not as “just another patient.”
I cannot find the words to express how sad I am. Dr. John Niparko was an excellent surgeon, a serious scientist, an outstanding medical doctor and a wonderful man. I had the pleasure to spend some time with him traveling and lecturing in Prague and a few other cities in Central and Eastern Europe. He will always stay in my memory and in my heart.
Monika Lehnhardt-Goriany
I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of John Niparko.
We had a wonderful meeting together in France last year.
As a friend, I will remember his generosity and compassionate personality.
You will be missed terribly by us.
Rest in peace, John.
Alain Uziel
We are incredibly sad that Dr John Niparko has left us. For fellow otologists and neurotologists, John was an icon. His unrelenting work in research, improving both medical treatment and training, has led to the inspiration of many colleagues throughout the world. We have always enjoyed being in John ‘s company. He was an incredibly warm person, giving sincere attention to everyone who would ask for it. This man will be in our hearts for ever. On behalf of the department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck surgery of the Radboudumc Nijmegen in The Netherlands, my sincere condolences to the loving family.
Dr Niparko helped champion the need for early intervention and younger age of implantation on his trips to Japan. Many children in Japan benefitted as a result. John was an avid landscape gardener with a love for bonsai trees and spent hours wandering through Japanese gardens in the rare down times of his lecture tours here. Thank you.
I come from the UAE, very far away from where D. Niparko was, but every time we met him, we always felt he was so close.
We were fortunate to know him since 2009, and he performed all of my daughter’s surgeries and changed her life forever with cochlear implants. I would never forget how humble and compassionate he was and would terribly miss him forever! May god rest his soul in peace and my prayers and sincere condolences to his family.
Words cannot express how saddened I am to hear the news of his passing. He was a wonderful Doctor, great surgeon, and a truly sincere, down to earth, special person. He always had a smooth and subtle temperament. He would always call my daughter “His Valerie”..in my eyes, and to my daughter’s ears, the world has lost a true icon, much respect. From my family to his, our sincerest thoughts and prayers.
The news of his sudden passing is very near and dear to my family’s heart. This magnificent man changed my son Gabriel’s life as well as ours along with many other kids and adults for forever with his specialty of being a surgeon who performed cochlear implants. When we found out that Gabriel was deaf our hearts broke. We didn’t know how to process that. We did the hearing aid route with many struggles. We started the cochlear implant process and one of the MANY things we needed to do was meet with an ENT surgeon and all we heard was how AMAZING Dr John Niparko was. I fought the insurance people hard to get a referral with him, with a lot of phone calls and many mind-numbing conversations with an ill-informed woman from our medical group we got an approval to see him. We had to wait quite a bit to just get an appointment, but boy he was worth the wait. He was an absolute gem. He was kind, spoke to us with so much compassion and sincerity, and explained things to Euler and I so we understood what was going to happen if the surgery was an option. And he was so sweet with our Gabe. He saw the hearing aids results and that they weren’t giving him enough amplification to hear, let alone ever learn to speak, and he ordered a CT scan to see if Gabe had the cochlea anatomy to accept an implant (he did). Then we scheduled a date for the surgery. 3 months later (Dec ’14) Gabe was implanted in the right ear, then 3 months after that March ’15 he was implanted in his left ear. He’s done 100s maybe 1000s of these surgeries. He was the world’s leading doctor in this specialty. The world has lost a HUGE leader in this specialty. What he did for our Gabe was a life changer for him and us. Rest in Peace Dr Niparko, thank you for giving our son back the sense of hearing.
I am at a loss for words. This man has given my family many blessings. My husband and I felt he was our girls’ angel. A gentle and kind-hearted man who truly cared for his patients. Our hearts are breaking so much right now. We will miss you. Greg, Tammy and the 3 A girls. Amber received her 1st implant June 1999 at 11 months, his second youngest patient to receive a cochlear implant at JHH and 2nd implant 2011, reimplantation in 2012. Alyssa and Amanda – received her 1st implant at 11 months in 2006 and her 2nd in 2013. Our relationship with this man and what he has done for our girls will never be forgotten.
I am so shocked and saddened to hear of John’s passing. He was not only a colleague, but a friend and a compassionate human being to all. He was a visionary in his field and wanted to share the benefits of his knowledge with everyone to improve their ability to help others and to improve the lives of those in need. My heart goes out to his family and to all of us who have lost a dear friend and a consummate professional.
John operated I our daughter twice and changed her life. We moved from Indonesia to be near him and send our daughter to the River School. She is now thriving due to the care and comfort that John provided to our entire family. I will never forget him running out into the parking lot to give us all hugs before he moved to LA.
We are deeply saddened to learn about passing of such a kind and talented doctor. Dr. Niparko performed two surgeries on our son while he was in Baltimore. We felt so fortunate to have someone so gifted and capable to take care of our child. After he left Hopkins for the west coast, he was available to us for consultation. He even gave us his cell phone number and said we could call him any time. You don’t come across a human being like this every day. It is hard to believe he is no longer with us. Our hearts go out to his friends and family.
He was my physician at Johns Hopkins due to my AN for two years before he relocated. I am very sorry to hear of his passing too soon.
Dear John, we will think of you always! You were the best friend and the greatest of us. We’ll try to continue the tremendous work you started. Rest in peace, Yours, Wolf & Alex
Dr. N was not only the best surgeon for CI out there, but a man of high honors. His bedside manner was impeccable. He did 5 surgeries on me and I will never forget this man. He has a special place in my heart. I took my hearing dog to his sons’ school many years ago to show them what a hearing dog does and to talk to the students about hearing loss. While he was at Johns Hopkins, I used to go with him to talk to his medical students when they were learning about CI. Such a tragic loss of a doctor so young. He will be missed terribly.
Dr. John Niparko was a wonderful man and of course, a wonderful surgeon. I had the pleasure of meeting him once and was so impressed with his ability to make one feel as if one had known him forever. I’ve met many people over the years who had complications with their ears that would have prevented them from receiving a cochlear implant had it not been for Dr. Niparko and his expertise. He has been a blessing to so many, including all of the surgeons he trained over the years. Dr. Howard Francis was my cochlear implant surgeon, for both my implants, and worked with Dr. Niparko for many years.
R.I.P. Dr. Niparko. You will be greatly missed by many. God bless your family and may they find peace and comfort in the many memories they have of you.
Our condolences and prayers for Dr. NiParko’s family. Our daughter was among the many who were blessed enough to receive her CIs from Dr. NiParko. As many have said, while his skills, expertise and credentials are impressive, what is more indelible in our minds is his caring manner and quiet sense of humor. We count ourselves, and especially our daughter, as among those who were so very fortunate to have known him. He truly changed her life and his spirit and work live on with her. Thank you for sharing this wonderful man with us.
Not only was Dr. Niparko Truly one of the best ENT surgeons – always giving his best to each of his patients – he was a wonderful friend to so many of us. His patients drove him to always do more and in return, he brought out the best in so many. I am very saddened at this great loss in the medical community and forever grateful to have had such a friend.
Forever in our hearts,
Paula and Parker Holbrook
Wow….What an immeasurable loss of such a gentle, caring and talented undisputed leader of his field. Two years ago today, Dr. Niparko performed double implants on our 1 year old grandson Shane. Prior to the implanting we met Dr. Niparko and quickly felt as though he cared about Shane as much as we did. He immediately took Shane and us “under his wing” and we couldn’t be more appreciative and thankful for having this giant of a man be the one to perform his magic on Shane. Today, Shane hears and speaks beautifully…no doubt as a result of Dr. Niparko. Rest in peace Doc…we and so many in this world are extremely blessed, grateful and honored to have met you and have been touched by your magic….especially our grandson Shane. Our deepest sympathy and sincere thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and sons.
I really feel sad when I hear the news. He is such a wonderful and excellent doctor. He did the CI surgery for my son in October of last year, which is very successful considering my son’s malfunctioning cochlea. He will be remembered forever by my family. May he have peace and joy in heaven!
Xiao Zhang
I personally knew Dr. Niparko. I worked with him at Johns Hopkins University and he was a great doctor and surgeon.
Dr. Niparko did both my kids’ CI surgeries. His pleasant bedside manner made the surgeries feel way less scary. He did an amazing job on them too. He’ll be missed.
Dr. Niparko performed my cochlear implant surgery at Hopkins. He was a kind and thoughtful man, one of the most caring doctors I ever knew. He took time and energy to make the lives of his patients better, even if it did not remotely benefit himself. We will truly miss him.
Dr. Niparko did both of my CIs. He was a wonderful man and I’m truly saddened to see that he has passed away. My thoughts and prayers to his family. You will be missed Dr. Niparko. What a huge loss to us all.
I felt terribly sad when I read that John has left us. As a truly universal man, he leaves behind a big empty space. The worldwide otological fraternity owes him a great debt of gratitude for his unstinting work to improve our patient care and scientific knowledge and to promote our otological specialty. As a friend, I will remember him with great fondness. His big smile, warmly drawing in its target, or at times mischievously annotating his statements, will stay with me forever. I offer my deeply felt condolences to his family and friends.
Erwin Offeciers – European Institute for ORL Antwerpen Belgium
We flew from KS to see Dr. Niparko when every doctor in our home state told us there was nothing we could do for our son until he became deaf in both ears. Dr. Niparko was very informative and personable and gave us a sense of hope. He squeezed us into his busy schedule to help us out. Very tragic loss to the deaf/hard of hearing community. I wish we had tons of doctors like him in the Midwest! RIP and prayers to his family.
Dr. Niparko touched so many lives. He will be missed by patients and colleagues. He had such a tender manner and the passion he had for his craft and field will be the legacy that will live on. I feel fortunate my sons were his patients, and he always greeted us with a smile and kind words. He left this life too soon and I hope his family finds peace soon.
Very, very sad. He will be terribly missed by the whole Otolaryngology Community (as well as by his many patients). My sincere condolences to his family. I traveled from FL to have Dr. Niparko do my revision surgery in 2013. Alice’s post says it all: Few people will ever have the impact on as many lives as Dr Niparko had. His compassionate manner along with his amazing knowledge about Cochlear Implants brought joy to so many. We have lost a great CI surgeon and a dear friend. My sincere condolences to his loving family. RIP Dr Niparko. We will miss you.
I was so blessed to have had John Niparko as my cochlear implant surgeon in 2010 and again in 2012 at Johns Hopkins. He was one of the most humble, non-egotistical, talented, sweet, gentle, doctors and surgeons that I have ever met. It was a privilege and gift to have been his patient. John Niparko was someone who I would describe as a doctor’s doctor. He was the doctor that every doctor would go to. He had a delicious sense of humor in the operating room! His death is a huge loss for the medical community, his colleagues, his friends, his patients. John’s legacy, though, will live on for all eternity. I take comfort from that. Sincerely, Mindy Hayden
Few people will ever have the impact on as many lives as Dr Niparko had. His compassionate manner along with his amazing knowledge about Cochlear Implants brought joy to so many. We have lost a great CI surgeon and a dear friend. My sincere condolences to his loving family. RIP Dr Niparko. We will miss you.
I remember meeting Dr. Niparko at an HLAA meeting in Baltimore about WHY you should go bilateral. His research and reasons gave me the push to go forward to get my second ear done, and I have never looked back. Thank you Dr. Niparko! You will be missed.
We have lost a great CI surgeon, but more than that, a kind and compassionate man who left us way too soon. Dr. Niparko performed 5 CI surgeries on me. I was not a normal case, but he refused to give up on me. This news has been difficult to absorb. My sincere condolences go out to his family. RIP Dr Niparko. We will miss you.
Prayers to the family…..
We traveled from Texas to see Dr. Niparko for my son to receive a cochlear implant. Dr. Niparko was able to give my son the gift of hearing and we will always be grateful. RIP
Dr. Niparko was a wonderful man, great doctor and a friend. Seventeen years ago, he and the team at Johns Hopkins implanted my then 10 year old son. Literally, John and the cochlear implant “gave me my son back”. See “Jacob’s Ride” for details.
This kind soul has left way too early. Many prayers to his family. We went to MD to see him from CA…and still, his kind heartedness is what I remember most. He will be missed by many. Rest easy Doc…you will not be forgotten.
I am so sad about this. He has been a phenomenal doctor for me. I had met him in 2000 and fell in love with his manner and his staff. He did my first Implant in 2000 and my second implant in 2003, when I begged him to do it. I just recently got my revision surgery in 2014 and I was so excited to see him again. I had the most respect for this man who gave my hearing back. He will be terribly missed.