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RALPH F. NAUNTON,
M.D.
Ralph F. Naunton, M.D., a charter
member and strong supporter of the ARO,
died peacefully on February 28th, 2004
of heart failure at Suburban Hospital,
Bethesda, MD.
Dr. Naunton served as a director of
the Division of Communication Sciences
and Disorders, National Institute on
Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes
of Health (NIH) where, under his
leadership, the NIDCD began supporting
research in the development of cochlear
implants, the neural prosthesis used by
some deaf people to hear.
"He was a great champion of our
research discipline, and his leadership
and support will be greatly missed by
an adoring research community," said
James F. Battey, M.D., Ph.D., Director
of the NIDCD, NIH.
Born in London, Naunton received
graduate training at University College
and University College Hospital,
University of London. From 1945 to 1947
he earned graduate degrees from the
Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal
College of Physicians in London and the
University of London. He was certified
by the American Board of Otolaryngology
in 1965 and the American Speech and
Hearing Association in 1969.
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Leaving England in 1954, Naunton began an
illustrious career in the Department of Surgery
(otolaryngology) at the University of Chicago. Dr.
Naunton served as Chairman, Section on
Otolaryngology from 1966 to 1978. He left the
University of Chicago as Professor Emeritus of
Surgery (Otolaryngology) in 1979 to join the NIH.
It was during his sixteen years at NIH, first with
the National Institute of Neurological and
Communicative Disorders and Stroke and, then, from
1988 to his retirement with the NIDCD that he
supported research to improve the clinical utility
of the cochlear implant. It remains the most
successful neural prosthesis today. He also
encouraged the early identification of hearing loss
in infants and research to prevent noise-induced
hearing loss.
Dr. Naunton received international recognition
for his contributions to the science of hearing and
balance. He served as President of the American
Auditory Society. He was a fellow of many
prestigious professional associations including the
American Academy of Opthamology and Otolaryngology
- Head and Neck Surgery and the American College of
Surgeons. He was on the Boards of many
organizations, including the Deafness Research
Foundation, the American Otological Society, the
Better Hearing Institute, and the International
Hearing Foundation. He was a member of the
prestigious, international Collegium
Otorhinolaryngologicum Amicitiae Sacrum, as well as
numerous other professional organizations.
Dr. Naunton is survived by his beloved wife,
Natasha. He is also survived by 2 sons, Phillip and
David Naunton, both of Chicago, Illinois and a
daughter, Angelique Cofield of Chevy Chase,
Maryland.
A memorial service for Naunton was held on
Wednesday, March 3, 2004 in Bethesda, MD. Memorials
may be made to further the research and education
that was Dr. Naunton's life work and passion. If
you would like to make a contribution, please send
it to the Deafness Research Foundation, 1050 17th
Street, NW, Suite 701, Washington, DC 20036,
www.drf.org.
202 289-5850.
(Prepared by Amy Donahue)
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