Debara L. Tucci is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. She has been on faculty at Duke since 1993.

Her area of subspecialty interest is Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, and her clinical practice is focused on surgical and medical management of patients of all ages with hearing and balance disorders, middle ear disease (including tympanic membrane perforations, cholesteatoma, conductive hearing loss), sensorineural hearing loss (including treatment with cochlear implants and hearing aids), temporal bone trauma, facial nerve injury, and management of middle ear and skull base tumors including glomus tumors and acoustic neuromas.

Training: Dr. Tucci received her MS degree in Audiology at the University of Michigan and worked as an audiologist in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Virginia from 1977 to 1981. She then entered medical school at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1985. Following Otolaryngology residency at the University of Virginia, she completed a fellowship in Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at the University of Michigan, from 1990-1992.

Research: Current research interests include the study of central auditory system development and changes in auditory anatomy and function following conductive hearing impairment, using an animal model. This work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (Clinical Scientist Training Award and current R01), and a publication from this research was awarded the Edmund Prince Fowler award for excellence in basic science research from the Triological Society (1998). Dr. Tucci’s other research interests are primarily in clinical otology and neurotology. One recent study involved a multicenter clinical trial that demonstrated no additional efficacy from the addition of an antiviral medication to a systemic steroid for treatment of sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss.

Professional Activities: Dr. Tucci serves on the Editorial Board and Board of Directors of the journal Otology & Neurotology, and formerly served as Section Editor for otology and medical issues for Ear & Hearing (1994-2000). She has served as a peer reviewer for numerous journals in the fields of otolaryngology, audiology and hearing science. She has served as an ad hoc reviewer for the NIH since 1993, and was named a member of the Communicative Disorders Review Committee for the National Institute on Deafness and other Communicative Disorders (NIDCD) of the NIH in 2001 - 2005. Dr. Tucci is an elected fellow of the Triological Society, the American Otological Society, and the American Neurotology Society, which she currently serves as President. She is currently serving a seven-year term as a Research Fund Trustee for the American Otological Society. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American College of Surgeons, and is Past President of the American Auditory Society. She has served on many committees for the American Academy of Otolaryngology-HNS, most directed at resident education. She has served the American Board of Otolaryngology as an oral board examiner (1997-1999, 2004- present), and was named Senior Examiner in 2006, for a three year term. Other honors include an Honor award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-HNS for service on committees and instructional presentations, and the Resident Research Award, first place, basic science, from that organization in 1989. Current service to Duke University includes elected representative of the medical center to the Duke Academic Council and member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Women.