Karen Hoffmann, M.D.

Dr. Karen Hoffmann is board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. She completed a fellowship in Otology/Neurotology at the Silverstein Institute in Sarasota, Florida, which is an internationally respected physicians' practice that uses the latest innovative technology in developing minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat ear and sinus diseases. She received hands-on training with renowned ear surgeon, Herbert Silverstein, MD, a pioneer in the treatment of Meniere's disease.

Dr. Hoffmann completed both a residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and an internship in General Surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. During residency, she completed ground-breaking research supported by several research grants, published numerous scientific articles and book chapters, and gave several national and regional presentations. As a native Texan, she received her medical degree from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School, where she was awarded an Alpha Omega Alpha Student Research Fellowship for research in Neurosurgery. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Finance with highest honors.

Dr. Hoffmann has a special interest in treating Eustachian tube dysfunction, which can cause ear fullness and pressure, ear pain when flying or diving, hearing loss, and middle ear fluid. She was one of the top investigators in a recent national multicenter clinical trial of Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty, a novel surgical treatment for chronic dilatory Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Because of the results of this trial, Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty became the only treatment approved by the FDA for treatment of ETD in the fall of 2016. She has received training in the procedure by Dennis Poe, MD, Ph.D., from Harvard Medical School, who is the leader in the development of novel medical and surgical treatments for ETD, including developing the Acclarent AERA Eustachian Tube Balloon System. She was honored to be one of the primary surgeon experts in a panel presentation on Balloon Dilation of the Eustachian Tube at the American Academy of Otolaryngology national meeting in 2017 and has continued to train other surgeons in the performance of the procedure nationally.

Since joining Piedmont Ear, Nose, Throat and Related Allergy in 2007, Dr. Hoffmann has specialized in the medical and surgical treatment of patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction, hearing loss and chronic ear disease, and allergy and sinus disorders. In addition to providing compassionate and innovative care in private practice, she has been a research investigator in two clinical trials and has continued to publish research articles and present at national meetings.

Dr. Hoffmann and her husband are raising twin teenage boys and are avid road cyclists. Their active family also enjoys hiking, camping and repelling, using cell phone photography to capture these moments. Dr. Hoffmann has always been a voracious reader and is writing her first book.

Professional Affiliations:
Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy - Fellow
American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Member