John Niparko

John K. Niparko (1955 – April 25, 2016) was an American surgeon, scientist and otolaryngologist who specialized in cochlear implants. Niparko edited and wrote several chapters of Cochlear Implants: Principles & Practices.

Early life Niparko was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. There, he served as the inaugural George T. Nager Professor and director of the Division of Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery from 2009 to 2012.

Niparko was recognized as an authority on cochlear implants, having implanted Cochlear brand Nucleus implants on former Miss America Heather Whitestone in 1995 and 1999. He led efforts to establish a new national organization to focus on the underutilization of cochlear implants in the United States. This led to the founding of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance in 2011 with a mission to focus on access to cochlear implants.

The John Niparko Lecture at the annual Cochlear Implant Symposium was established by the American Cochlear Implant Alliance in his honor, with ARPANET (Internet) co-inventor Vint Cerf delivering the Inaugural

On April 25, 2016, Niparko died of complications from treatment from a rare genetic-based form of lymphoma at the University of Southern California's Keck Medical Center. He was 61.

Awards Hearing Research Award (2001) - Deafness Research Foundation