Colin L. W. Driscoll, M.D.

Colin L. Driscoll, M.D., studies disorders involving the ear, temporal bone and skull base. This is accomplished using advanced imaging techniques and anatomic dissections, as well as by closing tracking patient outcomes.

Focus areas

• Skull base tumor treatment outcomes. Dr. Driscoll's team, in conjunction with colleagues in the Department of Neurologic Surgery, maintain an extensive database that tracks all patients evaluated and treated for skull base tumors, including vestibular schwannomas, meningiomas and others.

  Patients have different treatment options, so determining which may be best for a particular individual requires gathering excellent long-term outcomes data. Translating this knowledge back to the clinical practice to improve quality of care is a goal.

• Cochlear implants. Dr. Driscoll is medical director of the Mayo Clinic cochlear implant team. This group studies outcomes with the latest implant technologies. It has also used advanced imaging techniques and newer surgical techniques to improve surgical outcomes and hearing performance.

  The team is interested in regenerative medicine as it applies to hearing loss, potential cellular regeneration and restoration of function through cochlear implantation.

  Finally, the team is involved in testing new models of care delivery using telemedicine and other remote technologies. These technologies may allow them to program devices and troubleshoot via the Internet, allowing patients to remain at home.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Driscoll's research into skull base tumors aims to guide patients to their best treatment option based on their personal priorities and needs. Analysis of outcomes should also lead to improvements that result in better quality.

The goals of hearing research are to find more effective ways to restore or replace functional hearing, limiting the negative impact of hearing loss on quality of life.

By reducing appointments that require travel, new methods for health care delivery may reduce the cost and inconvenience of getting care. Eliminating this barrier may also allow others to take advantage of cochlear implant technology.