UW News

October 7, 2004

Jay Rubinstein returns to UW as director of Bloedel Hearing Research Center

Dr. Jay Rubinstein has been named director of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center. Rubinstein comes to the UW from the University of Iowa, where he was an associate professor of otolaryngology, physiology, and biomedical engineering.

In 1988 Rubinstein became the first graduate of the UW Department of Bioengineering Ph.D. program. He also received his medical degree from the UW, under the joint M.D./Ph.D. Medical Scientist Training Program.

Rubinstein then went to Harvard Medical School affiliates for his internship and residency. He completed a surgical internship at Beth Israel Hospital, and a residency in otolaryngology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He also completed fellowships in otology and neurotology at the University of Iowa, before joining that university’s faculty in 1995.

Rubinstein researches computational biophysics, electrophysiology, human psychophysics, and cochlear implants. He hopes to expand the Bloedel Center to involve all UW faculty, staff, and students interested in hearing science. His clinical interests include surgery for acoustic neuroma, vestibular and facial nerve disorders, as well as management of tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo and chronic middle ear disease.

Rubinstein succeeds George Gates, professor of otolaryngology, who retired in June from his position as director of the Bloedel Center. Gates became the center’s first permanent director in 1993. He will continue to research presbycusis and Meniere’s disease at the center.