Category Archives: Ear, Nose, and Throat

ACENT’s Blog

Get to Know Christopher Kowalski, MD

Posted on May 24, 2021 by ACENT Admin
Get to know Christopher Kowalski, MD

Where are you from and how did you come to practice in Anchorage? I was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI.  I lived in the Midwest for the majority of my life and hadn’t even considered Alaska until a friend moved to Anchorage for work and suggested I check it out as a potential place for work.  My wife and I really enjoyed the feel of Alaska when we visited and luckily ACENT was looking to add a physician to the practice at the time. What about otolaryngology first piqued your interest? I was lucky to be raised by parents … Continue reading »

Get to Know Caitlin Milligan, Au.D

Posted on January 25, 2021 by ACENT Admin
Q and A with Caitlin Milligan

Where are you from and how did you come to practice in Anchorage? I was born and raised in the interior of Alaska in a small town called Delta Junction.  I knew I wanted to return to Alaska after finishing my education, so I strove to incorporate clinical rotations during my training that would help me become proficient in multiple specialties, many of which were not available in Alaska previously.  After graduation, my husband and I were so excited to return to Anchorage, and ACENT seemed like a great place to begin my career.   What about audiology first peaked … Continue reading »

Virtual Consultations Available at ACENT

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Dr. John Kokesh
Group of doctors and team in blue scrubs

When Covid-19 hit, we immediately realized that we had to operate differently. We needed to continue to provide care to our patients but needed to keep our patients and staff safe and do all we could to prevent spread of the virus. Telemedicine had been a consideration for us for some time; it seemed like a perfect way to reach patients in more distant regions of the state. Covid-19 made telemedicine an urgent priority. Our staff did an incredible job of standing up a working videoteleconference (VTC) platform in a matter of days. It took a total team effort, as … Continue reading »

What Is a VNG Test?

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Stefan Harris, BC-HIS
Woman with goggles over her eyes

A videonystagmography, or VNG, is a procedure to evaluate dizziness and more accurately determine if the inner ear is causing it. This procedure typically requires a referral by an ear, nose, and throat specialist (also known as an ENT) such as our Anchorage physicians or a neurologist or physical therapist. You’ll also need to have a hearing evaluation prior to the procedure. What happens during a VNG test? During the procedure, the patient will wear a pair of virtual reality-like goggles with cameras to measure eye movements. These eye movements are called nystagmus, and they are related to the inner … Continue reading »

Earwax: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Tammie Taylor
Close up of woman sticking a swab in her ear

Being ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists in Anchorage, we need to broach the topic of earwax with our patients from time to time. It always starts with a simple truth: We all have earwax, some more than others. Is earwax bad for your ears? Earwax is actually good for your ears, and it keeps your ears clean. Earwax, or cerumen, traps dust, dirt, and sometimes bugs. It’s held together by oil and wax from glands living in your ear canal. The wax also protects the inner ear and can stop bad bacteria from growing in the ear. (And you … Continue reading »

Meet Our Physicians

Each of our physicians is board certified in Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery; in addition, Dr. Ellerbe is board certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.