Specialties

• Surgery of the ear and lateral skull base
• Minimally invasive endoscopic ear surgery
• Cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing aids
• Otosclerosis, cholesteatoma, and stapes surgery
• Tympanic membrane (ear drum) repair
• Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma)
• Paragangliomas, temporal bone tumors, and cancers of the ear
• Tinnitus, vertigo and balance disorders
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks
• Bell’s palsy/facial paralysis

Education

Undergraduate: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 2010

Master of Science: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2017

Medical Degree: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2018

Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 2023

Locations

Dr. Smetak sees patients at:

Leadership Roles & Honors

• Nicholas Torok Vestibular Award, Presented at the American Neurotology Society, Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings, 2022, Topic: Vestibular Migraine Confounds Management of Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome
• Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA), Junior Elected, University of Minnesota Medical School, 2017
• Scott D. and Susan D. Augustine Biomedical Engineering Research Fellowship, University of Minnesota, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 2015
• Sigma Gamma Tau (ΣΓΤ), Aerospace Engineering Honors Society, University of Southern California, 2010
• USC Cardinal and Gold Award for Leadership and Involvement, University of Southern California, 2010

Select publications

1. Smetak MR, Riojas KE, Whittenbarger N, Noble JH, Labadie RF. Dynamic Behavior and Insertional Forces of a Pre-curved Electrode Using the Pull-Back Technique in a Fresh Micro-Dissected Cochlea. Otology & Neurotology. 2023 Jan 18. Online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003812.
2. Landeen KC, Smetak MR, Keah N, Davis SJ, Shastri K, Patel PN, Yang SF. Professional Social Media in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Usage, Resources, and Barriers. Annals of Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology. 2022 Nov 3. Online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1177/00034894221133746.
3. Smetak MR, Riojas KE, Sharma RK, Labadie RF. Beyond the Phantom: Unroofing the Scala Vestibuli in a Fresh Temporal Bone as a Model for Cochlear Implant Insertion Experiments. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 2022 Dec 1;382:109710. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109710.
4. Sharma RK, Smetak MR, Patro A, Lindquist NR, Perkins EL, Holder JT, Haynes DS, Tawfik KO. Speech Recognition Performance Differences Between Precurved and Straight Electrode Arrays from a Single Manufacturer. Otology & Neurotology 2022 Oct 6. Online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003703.
5. Richard KE, Smetak MR, Peterson AA, Phillips JD, Virgin FW. Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss after Opioid Overdose in an Adolescent Male. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal. 2022 Sep 23. Online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1177/01455613221129932.
6. Smetak MR, Cass ND, Manzoor NF, Hatton K, Perkins EL, Rivas A, O’Malley MR, Bennett ML, Haynes DS. Vestibular Migraine Confounds Management of Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome. Otology & Neurotology. 2022 Aug 1;43(7):835-839. DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003584. Winner of the Nicholas Torok Vestibular Award.
7. Cannon P, Smetak MR, Webster RJ, Labadie RF. A Novel Tool for Auricle Retraction During Closure of Post-Auricular Incisions. Proceedings of the 2022 Design of Medical Devices Conference. 2022 Apr 28. DOI: 10.1115/DMD2022-1048.
8. Smetak MR, Cass ND, Paueksakon P, Perkins EL, O’Malley M, Chambless L, Tawfik KO. Intermediate Grade Primary Melanocytic Neoplasm of the Cerebellopontine Angle: A Diagnostic Challenge. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal. 2022 Mar 4. Online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1177/01455613221076783.
9. Keah NM, Smetak MR, Lewis JS, Topf MC. Secondary Syphilis Presenting as Recurrent Oral Mucocutaneous Lesions. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal. 2022 Feb 10. Online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1177/01455613221078179.
10. Totten DJ, Smetak MR, Manzoor NF, Perkins EL, Cass ND, Santapuram P, O’Malley MR, Haynes DS, Rivas A, Bennett ML. Endoscope-Assisted Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Repair: Single Institution Outcomes. Annals of Otorhinolaryngology. 2021 Aug 29. Online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1177/00034894211041223.
11. Wu J, Smetak MR, Stevens MN, Netterville JL. Organ-Preserving Treatment Strategy for Extra-Axial Chordoma Metastatic to the Larynx Causing Airway Compromise. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal. 2021 Jul 31. Online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1177/01455613211037639.
12. Kimura KS, Smetak MR, Freeman MH, Wootten CT. Undetectable Viral Load Within the Mastoid During Cochlear Implantation in a Patient with COVID-19. Otolaryngology Case Reports. 2021 Jun;19:100273. Epub 2021 Mar 2. DOI: 10.1016/j.xocr.2021.100273.