Meet The Care Team
At NeuroMed, our team focuses on education and care coordination to support people with chronic tinnitus and related disorders, working alongside medical professionals as part of coordinated care.
If you would like to learn more about our team or how the program works, please call us at 1-888-226-6330 or request an appointment online.
Meet NeuroMed's Chief Medical Advisor
Hamid Djalilian, MD
Dr. Hamid Djalilian is a distinguished leader in otolaryngology, neurotology, neurosurgery, and biomedical engineering, and serves as NeuroMed’s Chief Medical Advisor.
Dr. Djalilian is the Director of Otology and Neurotology and a Professor of Otolaryngology, Neurosurgery, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. His work continues to expand the frontiers of medical science and tinnitus research. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed medical papers, authored multiple book chapters, and contributed to several medical textbooks focused on hearing and balance disorders.
In addition to his academic leadership, Dr. Djalilian is the President of the Migraine in Otolaryngology Society, where he advances innovation at the intersection of neurology and otolaryngology while promoting neurological well-being.
The NeuroMed Solution is informed by clinical research and treatment frameworks developed through Dr. Djalilian’s academic and clinical work. These approaches have helped thousands of patients improve symptoms related to tinnitus, dizziness, migraine-related conditions, long COVID, and other chronic brain sensitivity disorders.
As Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Djalilian provides scientific oversight, protocol development, and provider education. Although he does not provide direct patient care through NeuroMed, the clinical approaches used are informed by the same evidence-based frameworks he applies in his academic practice. Care is delivered by independently licensed healthcare professionals through external clinical services.
Having personally experienced tinnitus, Dr. Djalilian brings more than two decades of clinical and academic insight to his work. His neuroscience-driven and integrative perspective has helped reshape how tinnitus and related disorders are understood and managed, establishing him as a leading authority in this field.
Meet The Care Team
Banu Berkem, MSN, FNP
Banu Berkem is Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a wealth of experience treating tinnitus and related disorders. Banu received her Bachelor's of Science at Indiana University and her Master’s of Science in Nursing from Ball State University. She also received direct postgraduate training from Dr. Hamid Djalilian from the University of California, Irvine, with an emphasis on tinnitus and migraine pathophysiology and management.
Throughout her career, Banu has demonstrated instrumental skills in various roles, including providing care in the fields of pain management, mental health, neurology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. This extensive experience, in conjunction with her personal studies with Dr. Djalilian, makes Banu an exceptionally qualified health care practitioner to treat complex tinnitus patients.
Natalie M. Thon, MSN, NP
Natalie M. Thon is an Advanced Care Nurse Practitioner with more than a decade of experience in neurology treatment and care. She has practiced in leading institutions including Cleveland Clinic, Emory University Hospital, Mischer Neuroscience Associates, Renown Regional Medical Center, and Providence St. John’s. Her clinical background spans migraine care, neurocritical care, and outpatient neurology, with advanced certification as a Stroke Certified Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner.
Natalie is an expert in atypical migraine and its neurological manifestations, in particular its overlap with tinnitus and hearing disorders. Her work integrates advanced training, prescriptive authority across multiple states, and a track record of excellence recognized by a Nurse of Achievement nomination. With her blend of inpatient and outpatient neurology experience, Natalie is uniquely positioned to help patients navigate recovery from severe tinnitus, atypical migraine, neuroinflammation, and brain sensitivity.
Debra England, MSN, APRN
Debra England is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Functional Medicine provider with a strong background in integrative, holistic, and lifestyle medicine. With over a decade of experience in clinical practice, Debra brings a uniquely comprehensive approach to the treatment of tinnitus, migraine, and central sensitization disorders. Her advanced training through the Institute for Functional Medicine, Trauma Research Foundation, and American College of Lifestyle Medicine allows her to address the full spectrum of biological and behavioral contributors to severe tinnitus and related neuroinflammatory conditions.
Debra combines her clinical expertise with her certifications in functional and trauma-informed care to help patients recover from complex brain-body syndromes such as reactive tinnitus, post-concussive symptoms, and stress-related auditory sensitivity. Known for her compassionate, evidence-informed style, she empowers patients to regulate nervous system function, reduce hyperexcitability, and restore long-term sensory stability through a structured, multidisciplinary plan of care.
Maria Mendizabal, MS, RD
Maria Mendizabal is a Registered Dietician and Holistic Health Coach with extensive experience treating patients with neurological conditions such as tinnitus, vertigo, and post-concussive syndrome. Maria has collaborated with Dr. Djalilian on clinical publications and contributed to drafting the optimized nutritional plan. As a key member of the care team from its inception, she focuses on helping patients make sustainable lifestyle changes that lead to long-term health improvements.
With degrees in Biology and Clinical Nutrition, and a Graduate Diploma in Integrative Functional Nutrition, Maria brings deep expertise to her practice. She stays current with the latest research on neurological health, ensuring her guidance is tailored to each client's unique needs. Her holistic approach to coaching blends nutrition, lifestyle modifications, sleep, and stress management, helping clients achieve optimal wellness and sustained tinnitus relief.
Sonja McCord, FMCHC
Sonja McCord, FMCHC, is a Functional Medicine Health Coach and Holistic Nutritionist with a personal understanding of tinnitus, having suffered from and recovered from severe symptoms herself. At a care team member, she uses a Functional Medicine approach to help clients manage and overcome tinnitus. By addressing key factors like nutrition, stress management, sleep, and mental wellness, Sonja offers personalized support to help clients regain control over their health and improve their quality of life.
With extensive training in health coaching, nutrition, and mental health, Sonja has helped numerous clients with tinnitus and other chronic health conditions. Her approach combines motivational interviewing, positive psychology, and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to empower clients to make sustainable lifestyle changes. Passionate about holistic care, Sonja works closely with clients to develop individualized strategies that support both their immediate needs and long-term wellness goals.
Medical Advisory Board
Kasra Ziai, MD
Kasra Ziai completed his medical training at Azad University of Medical Sciences and his Otolaryngology residency at the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine. He also was a Post-Graduate Research Fellow at the University of California, Irvine.
He is now considered an expert in ENT conditions, including tinnitus and migraine-related conditions, and has published close to 40 papers in peer-reviewed medical journals.
Dr. Ziai enjoys martial arts training and has engaged in club-level kickboxing competitions. He also enjoys spending time with his extended family in sunny Southern California.
Rostam Khoshsar, MD
Dr. Rostam Khoshsar is a top-ranked pain management physician providing state-of-the-art care and treatment for patients in and around Torrance, CA. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine, and Director of the anesthesia pain clinic at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Long Beach.
Dr. Khoshsar is nationally renowned for treating patients with chronic pain and has been featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes for his novel methods of treating veterans with chronic problems.
Board-certified in both Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dr.Khoshsar is actively involved in advanced interventional pain medicine research and is the author of numerous publications.
As a leading pain management specialist, Dr.Khoshsar is regularly invited to speak at conferences and courses on chronic pain management.
Ali Djalilian, MD
Dr. Ali Djalilian is an internationally renowned expert in ophthalmology. He specializes in cornea, particularly ocular surface diseases and immunologic diseases of the cornea and anterior segment. He is a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he trains fellows and residents in ophthalmology.
Dr. Ali Djalilian is a leading expert on ocular surface reconstruction and has developed innovative surgical techniques for limbal stem cell transplantation. He regularly performs all types of corneal transplantation and cataract surgery with intraocular lens implants.
Additionally, he is an expert in the effects of migraine and central hypersensitivity on the eye and ocular surface. He has published over 150 papers and book chapters and is the editor-in-chief of the most respected journal in corneal studies, The Ocular Surface.
Dr. Ali Djalilian has published the definitive book on ocular surface diseases, Ocular Surface Disease: A Case-Based Approach.
He has also conducted international clinical trials with sites in multiple countries to treat ophthalmologic diseases and has been an invited lecturer at numerous conferences and universities.
Kanwar Kelley, MD
Dr. Kelley is dedicated to providing personalized and comprehensive care to his patients, utilizing the latest technology and connected devices to monitor them 24/7/365 from the comfort of their own home. He is an expert in the use of Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) to provide optimal care for his patients with chronic medical conditions. Dr. Kelley is known for his compassionate and patient-centered approach to care, and is committed to helping his patients achieve optimal health and wellness.
Get in Touch Today!
If you’d like to learn more about our team and how NeuroMed supports people with chronic tinnitus, call us at 1-888-226-6330 or request an appointment online.
At NeuroMed, we coordinate care and empower people with access to advanced, evidence-based medical protocols, bringing structure, guidance, and support to those who are suffering from tinnitus.
Recent posts
Can dehydration cause tinnitus? Dehydration and tinnitus are closely linked. Dehydration can worsen tinnitus by disrupting brain systems involved in sensory filtering, autonomic regulation, and attention. When these systems are strained, tinnitus becomes louder, more reactive, and more intrusive. Many people tell me they notice their tinnitus gets louder on
What Tinnitus Sounds Like… And Why Tinnitus sounds include ringing, buzzing, humming, or static, each reflecting a different process. Tinnitus sound quality is shaped by the region of damage, central gain, and sensory gating. Tinnitus stability is the key feature guiding treatment. When people search online for what tinnitus sounds
