Dr. James R. Gross

Douglas Backous, MD, is a board-certified neurotologist specializing in treating conditions of the ear and skull base. For more than 22 years, Dr. Backous has provided leading edge treatments for patients with hearing loss, deafness, chronic ear infections, cholesteatoma acoustic neuromas and facial nerve disorders. His professional passion is ensuring access to care for patients who choose to hear with cochlear implants, brainstem implants, Baha and other hearing devices. He treats adults and children. His medical research interests focus on implantable hearing device program efficiency for improved patient access and program viability. Dr. Backous is a member of the Proliance Surgeons Board of Directors. He is also the program director for the Seattle Advanced Otology Fellowship at Puget Sound ENT. Both Doug (’84) and his wife, Julie (’86), are alumni of Seattle Pacific University, where he previously served as Board Chair. They have three adult children. Dr. Backous is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infant Hearing Loss. His top areas of expertise are Cholesteatoma, Acoustic Neuroma, Schwannoma, and Infant Hearing Loss.

Trac Duong, MD, practices all aspects of adult and pediatric otolaryngology. He is subspecialty-trained in otology and neurotology and specializes in treating patients with complex diseases of the ear and skull base.  He performs microsurgery, including endoscopic ear surgery, to treat hearing loss, tympanic membrane perforation, otosclerosis, chronic ear infections, cholesteatoma, vestibular schwannoma and tumors of the ear and skull base. He has over 10 years of experience performing cochlear implant surgery and working with implantable hearing technology. He also treats patients with peripheral vestibular disorders such as Meniere's disease.He believes that excellent and compassionate care starts with listening and taking the time to educate his patients so they can be more effective partners in their own care. He considers it a privilege to care for his patients. Dr. Duong is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infant Hearing Loss. His top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, Cholesteatoma, DFNB1, and Jones Syndrome.

Seth Schwartz, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist/neurotologist who provides cares for a wide-range of ear problems ranging from hearing loss and chronic ear disease to skull-base tumors. He specializes in cochlear implants, acoustic neuroma, hearing reconstructive surgery, chronic ear disease, and other medical and surgical management of ear problems.Dr. Schwartz enjoys helping people to communicate better through hearing restoration surgery and cochlear implants, which is a large part of what he does as the head of the cochlear implant program at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. He finds it hugely rewarding to be able to play a part in enhancing the quality of patients' lives through this transformative surgery.When not busy practicing medicine, Dr. Schwartz enjoys skiing, biking and spending time in the outdoors. Dr. Schwartz is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infant Hearing Loss. His top areas of expertise are Acoustic Neuroma, Infant Hearing Loss, Schwannoma, Myringotomy, and Adenoidectomy.