# In memoriam: Joseph B. Nadol, Jr., MD August 14, 2025 ![Dr. Nadol Banner](/sites/g/files/omnuum8391/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-08/_Nadol%20banner.jpg?itok=HeMrXFLr) On August 2, Joseph B. Nadol, Jr., MD, Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Emeritus at Harvard Medical School and Director Emeritus, Otopathology Laboratory at Mass Eye and Ear, passed away. For those who knew renowned otologist Dr. Nadol, his influence ran deep, both professionally and personally. For many, he began as a mentor and became one of their closest friends. Everyone who worked with him felt the impact of his extraordinary kindness, integrity and unwavering dedication to the field. Dr. Nadol became Interim Chief of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery in 1984 and was officially named the fifth Chief on June 5, 1985. At the time, there were only five full-time physicians in the department. Under his remarkable leadership over nearly three decades, the department grew to 49 full-time physicians across the Boston campus and 21 full-time physicians across a dozen clinical sites. In recognition of his academic and clinical excellence, he was promoted to Professor of Otology and Laryngology at Harvard Medical School in 1985, and in 1987 became an incumbent of the Walter Augustus Lecompte Professorship of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Nadol was more than a leader. He was a coach, a mentor and a steadfast source of support. He cultivated a culture that celebrated curiosity, creativity and excellence. The values he championed—compassion, generosity, collegiality and humility—continue to define the department to this day. He cared greatly about his faculty and trainees. He provided advice that was well thought out and always aimed to facilitate the academic growth of his mentees. As a result, he helped to develop many of the most influential leaders of our specialty. Dr. Nadol also loved the staff who worked closely with him, and they loyally stayed by his side, becoming like family to him and his wife, Ruth. Many of these members of his staff spent 40 plus years working for Dr. Nadol and the department. He developed this devotion by the way he interacted with those close to him. A pioneer in the surgery of the ear and temporal bone, Dr. Nadol performed the first-ever cochlear implant surgery in New England. He was an exceptionally skilled surgeon and often was called upon to assist with the most complex ear-cases, a responsibility he embraced without hesitation. Dr. Nadol was a career long student of the pathology of the ear and temporal bone. His scholarly impact across the course of his career was profound. Over the course of his career, he published extensively, with more than 5,000 citations. In 2012, the year before he stepped down as Chair, Mass Eye and Ear received more NIH research funding than any other otolaryngology program in the country. Throughout his tenure, the department was consistently ranked in the top five nationwide, often #1. Dr. Nadol’s research passion was human otopathology. He was the first to apply transmission electron microscopy to the study of pathologic human temporal bones. This led to a complete change in our understanding of Meniere’s disease, where he demonstrated the loss of terminal dendrites which you could not see on the light microscopic level. Later in his career, he focused on the histopathology of cochlear implant recipients, reshaping how we understand what happens following implantation. Dr. Nadol served as the Director of the Otopathology Laboratory at Mass Eye and Ear, where he and his team reviewed every set of pathological temporal bones that were available with hope to improve the diagnosis and treatment of disorders causing hearing loss, balance dysfunction and facial paralysis. These findings were shared regularly at otopathology conferences and shaped the education of countless trainees. One of his lasting contributions was the creation of The Joseph B. Nadol, Jr., MD, Otolaryngology Surgical Training Laboratory, which is a state-of-the-art facility offering advanced instruction capabilities for a variety of subspecialties of otolaryngology. Dr. Nadol brought this project to life from the ground up, and his dedication helped shape many young surgeons who trained under his guidance. Over the course of his career, Dr. Nadol mentored more than 100 research fellows and numerous residents. His dedication to excellence, his generosity of spirit and his unwavering commitment to the people around him have left a legacy that will continue to shape the field for generations to come. Many of those that worked at Mass Eye and Ear knew him well and came to understand the personality of this incredible man. He freely shared his opinion, regardless of whether you agreed with him or not. He could be intimidating based on his incredible intellect, but he always treated others as equals. His broad knowledge of the field was impressive; he was able to comment on any aspects of our field during any Morbidity and Mortality conference or any other conference for that matter. He was famous for his absolute love for the operating room as it was his refuge and escape from all the challenges of leading the department. He liked to laugh and have fun, and he had incredible wit—as an example, he could train his dogs to growl at the mention of his current political nemesis. Dr. Nadol was generous. He and Ruth would open their home for faculty parties, lobster bakes and the annual skating party each winter when their pond froze. He loved being outside and gardening was one of his favorite pastimes. The Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery will deeply feel the loss of Dr. Nadol, who played a foundational role in shaping who we are today. As Jeffery P. Harris, MD, PhD, a Mass Eye and Ear alumnus and a close friend of Dr. Nadol’s for 46 years, so aptly said, “My brother in otolaryngology has passed away. It is a truly sad day for all of us who knew him, and for me personally it leaves a huge empty hole in my heart.” Dr. Nadol's remarkable legacy will live on—carried by the many he trained, mentored and influenced over the years. He will be profoundly missed. Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)