About

Professor Daniel J. Philippon regularly advises M.F.A. and Ph.D. candidates in English, as well as undergraduate Honors English majors who seek to graduate summa cum laude. He also serves on the examining and dissertation committees of students with an interest in the environmental humanities in a variety of fields, such as Writing Studies, American Studies, Communication Studies, and Conservation Biology. His work involves using the tools of the humanities to interpret and address environmental problems, demonstrating a focus on interdisciplinary approaches that connect environmental issues with humanities scholarship.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Audiology
• Pediatrics
• Immunology
• Surgery
• Internal medicine

Selected publications

• Cochlear Reimplantation Following Device Dysfunction: A Retrospective Cohort Study

  Otology & Neurotology · 2025-12-16

  article

  OBJECTIVES: To describe the reasons leading to cochlear reimplantation and discuss implications related to technological failures and manufacturer recalls. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study over a 40-year period. SETTING: Tertiary academic referral center. PATIENTS: Children and adults who underwent cochlear reimplantation between May 1, 1984, and May 1, 2024. Patients were evaluated, treated, and followed at our center. INTERVENTION: Cochlear reimplantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of cochlear reimplantation, reasons for explantation, and delay between implantation and reimplantation, stratified by age and device manufacturer. RESULTS: A total of 3885 cochlear devices were implanted (66% adults). We report 257 reimplantations, including 86 (33%) pediatric cases at a mean age of 9.6 years. Patients were affected by 4 industry-issued recalls. The overall reimplantation rate was 6.6%, with comparable rates in children (6.5%) and adults (6.7%). Manufacturer-specific reimplantation rates were 12.6% for Advanced Bionics, 3.4% for Cochlear, 8.9% for Oticon, and 1.8% for MED-EL. Recalls and hard failures equally accounted for 70.8% of reimplantations. On average, reimplantations occurred 6.5 years after implantation, and 5.8 years in pediatric cases. Reimplantation delays were significantly reduced for recalls compared with hard failures (-3.7 y; P <0.01) and other causes (-4.7 y; P <0.01). About half (50.4%) of reimplantations occurred within 5 years, and 80.2% within 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the complexity of cochlear reimplantation from both technological and human perspectives in a large population. Given the multifaceted burdens of cochlear reimplantation, future efforts should focus on improving device reliability and care pathways to reduce the need for reimplantation.

  PublisherDOI

• Hearing Rehabilitation in Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type 2: The Quebec's Experience With Auditory Implants

  Otology & Neurotology · 2023-08-03 · 2 citations

  articleCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: To review a single-center experience with hearing rehabilitation in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and to describe the auditory outcomes of cochlear implants (CIs) and auditory brainstem implants (ABI) in this population. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Twelve adult patients with NF2 who received a CI (n = 10) and/or an ABI (n = 5) between 2000 and 2021. INTERVENTIONS: Insertion of a CI and/or an ABI in NF2 patients with bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' demographic data, treatment history, hearing evolution, hearing rehabilitation methods, implant details, and auditory outcomes after implantation. RESULTS: Among those who received a CI, five patients had a stable untreated VS, one patient underwent a cochlear nerve preserving surgery, and four patients received radiotherapy treatments. Six patients became regular users of their device. The median open-set sentence recognition scores were as follows: 0.5% preoperatively, 60% at 1 year postoperatively, and 80% on the most recent audiological evaluation. All patients with an ABI were implanted concomitantly with VS surgical excision, and three of them also received radiotherapy treatments. The median open-set sentence recognition scores were as follows: 4% preoperatively, 26% at 1 year postoperatively, and 0% on the most recent evaluation. Three patients became regular ABI users. CONCLUSION: Despite major technological advances, auditory outcomes with ABIs remain deceiving. Considering the overall improvement in postoperative auditory performances provided by CIs compared with ABIs, cochlear implantation standouts as a primary mean of hearing rehabilitation in NF2 patients.

  PublisherDOI

• The Correlation of Congenital CMV Infection and the Outcome of Cochlear Implantation

  The Journal of International Advanced Otology · 2021 · 10 citations

  • Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Audiology

  OBJECTIVES: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common intrauterine viral infection, affecting approximately 0.5-2.5% of all live births in the world. The majority of patients are asymptomatic at birth, but several clinical consequences are related to this infection, including neurosensory hearing loss. The cochlear implant is the treatment of choice when the hearing loss is severe to profound. Compare the audiological evolution after cochlear implant surgery in a group of children born with congenital CMV infection compared to a control group of children born with a genetic cause of congenital hearing loss. Determine prognostic factors predicting the outcome of patients with congenital hearing loss secondary to CMV infection following cochlear implantation. METHODS: Our retrospective study aimed at the analysis of 48 patients with cochlear implants, 25 patients with congenital CMV, and 23 patients in the control group with cochlear cause of hearing loss, who were matched for gender, age of onset, and type of hearing loss. Primary outcomes are auditory evolution with the Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) and the multimedia audiologic test (MAT). Secondary outcomes are evaluation of prognostic factors for the CMV group, like MRI severity sign, antiviral treatment, and neuropsychological disorder. RESULTS: For the MAT, the results are 73.9% in the CMV group and 81.6% in the control group (P = .03). For the IT-MAIS, the results are 29.3/40 in the CMV group and 29.2/40 in the control group (P = .96). In the CMV group, the children treated with antiviral treatment have IT-MAIS difference of 28.5/40 compared to 23.2/40 for the children without antiviral treatment (P = .03). We found a little trend in the correlation between auditory results and the presence of neuropsychological disorders, but there are no statistically significant results. CONCLUSION: The results of the audiological tests in the CMV group allow an adequate functioning, even if lower than in the control group. There are benefits of implantation in patients with CMV, and audiological results are still satisfactory for proper functioning. CMV patients enjoy superior results in terms of hearing, with antiviral treatment.

  PublisherDOI

• Clinical efficiency and safety of the oticon medical neuro cochlear implant system: a multicenter prospective longitudinal study

  Expert Review of Medical Devices · 2020 · 13 citations

  • Medicine
  • Audiology
  • Surgery

  OBJECTIVE: This prospective longitudinal cohort study at six tertiary referral centers in Canada and Denmark describes the clinical efficiency and surgical safety of cochlear implantation with the Oticon Medical Neuro cochlear implant system, including the Neuro Zti implant, the EVO electrode array, and the Neuro One sound processor. METHODS: Patients were adult cochlear implant candidates with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. RESULTS: The mean HINT scores in quiet pre-operatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-activation were 13%, 58%, 67%, and 72%, respectively, and in noise (+10 dB SNR) 13%, 46%, 53%, and 59%, respectively. The mean improvement from baseline to 6 months post-activation was 54% in quiet and 40% in noise. The surgical major complication incidence rate was 0% and the post-surgical major complication incidence rate (until 12 months post-activation) was 4%. There was no adverse event that was fatal, that required explantation, or that resulted in sound processor nonuse, and no implant failure. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation with the Oticon Medical Neuro system enables speech identification both in quiet and in noise and audiologic outcomes continue to improve in the year following activation. No substantial adverse events occurred during the surgical implantation procedure and during the 12 months post-activation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of trans-tympanic injections of a sodium thiosulfate gel to prevent cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in patients with head and neck cancer

  Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2019-01-01 · 45 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Cisplatin-induced hearing loss is frequent and severe. Antioxidants such as sodium thiosulfate (STS) can neutralize the effects of cisplatin. The objective of the trial was to test the efficacy of trans-tympanic injections of a STS gel to prevent cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. METHODS: at days 1, 22 and 43. A baseline pre-treatment complete audiometric evaluation (pure tone at frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 14 kHz, bone conduction at 0.5-4 kHz and DPOAEs) was performed. Adverse effects were noted according to CTCAE. On the day before the beginning of CCR, eligible and consenting patients were randomized to receive a trans-tympanic injection of the gel either in the left ear or in the right ear. A final post-treatment complete audiometric evaluation was scheduled to be performed 1 month after the end of CCR by audiologists kept blind to the ear assignment. For the main outcome, the permanent threshold shift (PTS) in decibel (dB) was calculated as the difference between the final and baseline measures at all pure tone frequencies at 0.5-14 kHz for each patient and for each ear. The main outcome was assessed blindly in a mixed linear model with the PTS as the dependent variable and intervention, frequency, their interaction and radiation dose to the cochlea as independent variables. RESULTS: Between January 2015 and April 2016, 13 patients were randomized. The trial was stopped in June 2016 for poor accrual. The average loss of hearing over all frequencies was 1.3 dB less for treated ears compared to control ears. Although not statistically (p = 0.61) nor clinically significant, the difference was in favor of the treated ears for all frequencies between 3 and 10 kHz. CONCLUSIONS: Our trial suggests that STS deposited on the round window was safe for the middle and inner ears. More work is needed to improve the efficacy of trans-tympanic injections of cisplatin antidotes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NTC02281006 , Registered 3 November 2014.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Single-sided deaf tactical unit officer treated with cochlear implantation

  Cochlear Implants International · 2018-03-26

  article

  OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the efficacy of cochlear implantation for management of a severe single-sided deaf tactical unit officer. Showing that hearing improvement provided by cochlear implantation was sufficient for him to return to work as a police tactical officer. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 43 years-old man working as a tactical unit officer suffered from a work-related severe single-sided hearing loss. He tried unsuccessfully many types of hearing aids including a contralateral routing of sound (CROS) system and a bone conduction hearing aid with a headband. He was finally treated with cochlear implantation which provided enough localization and hearing abilities for a complete return to work as a tactical unit officer. DISCUSSION: This case report demonstrates that cochlear implantation was very successful for a patient suffering from severe single-sided hearing loss. The current literature demonstrates benefits from cochlear implant over CROS and osseointegrated devices in unilateral hearing loss. Nevertheless, literature does not report any case of patient suffering from single-sided deafness that received a cochlear implant and a complete bilateral hearing rehabilitation that allowed him to return to work as a police tactical officer. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation was the only effective treatment to provide our patient enough localization and hearing abilities for a complete return to work as a police tactical officer. As no consensus has been established about selection criteria for cochlear implantation in single-sided deafness, we suggest that the patient's occupation should be considered when reviewing his candidacy for cochlear implantation.

  PublisherDOI

• Changing food cultures, changing global environments

  Global Environment · 2018-01-01 · 7 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Comparative Impacts of Scala Vestibuli Versus Scala Tympani Cochlear Implantation on Auditory Performances and Programming Parameters in Partially Ossified Cochleae

  Otology & Neurotology · 2018-04-26 · 23 citations

  articleCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: To compare scala vestibuli versus scala tympani cochlear implantation in terms of postoperative auditory performances and programming parameters in patients with severe scala tympani ossification. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: One hundred three pediatric and adult patients who underwent cochlear implant surgery between 2000 and 2016. Three groups were formed: a scala vestibuli group, a scala tympani with ossification group, and a scala tympani without ossification group. Patients were matched based on their age, sex, duration of deafness, and side of implantation (ratio of 1:2:2). INTERVENTIONS: Postoperative evaluation of auditory performances and programming parameters following intensive functional rehabilitation program completion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multimedia adaptive test (MAT), hearing in noise test (HINT SNR +10 dB, HINT SNR +5 dB, and HINT SNR +0 dB), impedances, neural response telemetry thresholds (NRT), neural response imaging thresholds (NRI), comfortable levels (C-levels), and threshold levels (T-levels) were compared between groups. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients underwent scala vestibuli cochlear implantation: 19 adults and two children. Auditory performances were similar between groups, although sentence recognition in a noisy environment was slightly higher in the scala vestibuli group. Impedance values were also higher in the scala vestibuli group, but all other programming parameters were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: We present the largest series of patients with scala vestibuli cochlear implantation. This approach provides at least comparable auditory performances without having any deleterious effects on programming parameters. This viable and useful insertion route might be the primary surgical alternative when facing partial cochlear ossification.

  PublisherDOI

• LIKELY BACTERIAL ACUTE CERVICAL LYMPHADENITIS IN CHILDREN: FACTORS PREDICTIVE OF FAVORABLE OUTCOME

  Paediatrics & Child Health · 2018-05-18

  articleOpen access

  Abstract BACKGROUND Cervical lymphadenitis is frequent in the paediatric population and usually the result of infectious agents. Management of likely bacterial acute cervical lymphadenitis (LBACL) mainly relies on expert advice and may vary widely from antibiotherapy to surgery as no official guidelines have been published over the last decade. OBJECTIVES To identify factors associated with favorable outcome in the management of LBACL in children in order to create a decision algorithm and its further evaluation. DESIGN/METHODS This retrospective observational study was based on the review of medical records of patient from 1 month to 18 years old who have consulted for LBACL between July 2010 and July 2015 at a tertiary care paediatric center. LBACL were identified using electronic record databases (hospitalization, emergency). Patients were included if they had acute (≤10 days) episode of unilateral cervical mass of which the final diagnosis was LBACL. Exclusion criteria were: mycobacterial adenitis, Kawasaki disease, Cat-scratch disease, bilateral cervical lymph node involvement, congenital malformation, immunodeficiency or underlying neoplasia. Favorable evolution was defined as outpatient treatment or hospital stay of 48 hours or less without surgical drainage. To identify factors at initial consultation predictive of a favorable outcome, we performed univariate logistic regression models with several potential independent covariates, including, among others, age (years), size of lymph node (mm), fever (38,5°C), an antibiotic use prior to consultation, fluctuation, absolute white blood cell count (x10^9/L), and purulent material at ultrasonography (yes/no). RESULTS Our final study cohort was composed of 166 patients with a mean age of 4,5 years (3,5SD) and 62% male. Ultrasound was obtained in 139(83,7%) patients and cervical tomodensitometry in 31(18,7%). Surgical drainage was performed in 35(21,1%). Overall, 68(41,0%) patients presented a favorable evolution from which 27(16,9%) were treated as outpatient (figure1). Factors associated with favorable outcome were (OR; 95%CI): age (1.17; 1.06–1.29; p=0.002), absolute white blood cell count (0.91; 0.87–0.96; p=0.001), no antibiotic use prior to consultation (0.26; 0.07–0.92; p=0.037) and absence of purulent material on ultrasound (0.07; 0.02–0.29; p&lt;0.001). Size of lymph node (0.98; 0.96–1.00; p=0,057) or fluctuation (0.71; 0.21–2.39; p=0.57) did not achieved statistical significance. CONCLUSION Older patients without prior antibiotic use, those with lower absolute white blood cell count and no purulent material on ultrasound seem to better evolve than other children with likely bacterial acute cervical lymphadenitis. A decision algorithm to identify patients eligible for conservative management should include those predictive factors.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Still 'stuffed and starved', ten years later: A conversation

  Global Environment · 2018-01-01 · 2 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Richard Bussières

  34 shared

• Mathieu Côté

  Université Laval

  24 shared

• Viannique Rolland

  Centre Hospitalier de Perpignan

  9 shared

• François Bergeron

  9 shared

• P. Ferron

  Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement

  9 shared

• Mathieu Trudel

  Salford Royal Hospital

  9 shared

• Noémie Villemure-Poliquin

  Sunnybrook Health Science Centre

  4 shared

• Nathalie Lessard

  Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus

  4 shared

Labs

• Daniel J. Philippon LabPI

Awards & honors

• Arthur "Red" and Helene B. Motley Exemplary Teaching Award,…
• Horace T. Morse–University of Minnesota Alumni Association A…
• Visiting Professor, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France…
• Fulbright Core Research/Teaching Award, University of Turin…
• Senior Fellow, Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Soci…