Skilled Otolaryngologists Serving Residents of Minnesota and Western Wisconsin

Eric T. Becken, M.D.
Joseph L. Campanelli, M.D.
V. Stuart Cox, M.D.
Kristin B. Gendron, M.D.
Richard G. Karlen, M.D.
Barbara N. Malone, M.D.
Thomas L. Okner, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Inell C. Rosario, M.D.
Robert W. Smith, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Christopher J. Tolan, M.D.

What Do the Otolaryngologists, or Ear, Nose and Throat Doctors at Our Minnesota and Western Wisconsin Clinics Treat?

Our physicians have advanced training in the diagnosis, management and treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, and throat and associated disorders and diseases of the head and neck. An otolaryngologist must complete a minimum of four years of college, four years of medical school, a one-year internship and a four-year residency program. Subspecialists must complete an additional one to two years of fellowship training.

Our board-certified doctors at Midwest ENT place the health needs of our Minnesota and Western Wisconsin area patients above all else.

Eric T. Becken, M.D.

Eric Becken is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School and Saint Olaf College. He completed his otolaryngology residency at the University of Minnesota. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, and is an active member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and the Minnesota Medical Association. Dr. Becken's practice includes the medical and surgical management of pediatric and adult ear, nose and throat disorders with a special interest in ear disease and hearing loss. Dr. Becken joined Midwest Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists in 2005. He sees patients in Eagan, St. Paul, Woodbury and Maplewood offices.

Joseph L. Campanelli, M.D.

Dr. Campanelli is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School. His residency was at Loma Linda Medical Center in California where he completed advanced training in microvascular free flaps and cancer reconstruction. He is board certified in both facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology. Dr. Campanelli specializes in aesthetic and functional nasal surgery. Prior to joining Midwest ENT Specialists, Dr. Campanelli was the Chief of Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida and spent two years in Maui with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group. Since joining Midwest ENT, he has taken an active role in developing quality health care initiatives and pay for performance principles with the Minnesota Medical Association. Nationally, he serves on the Infectious Disease Committee for the American Academy of Otolaryngology. When not practicing, Dr. Campanelli enjoys golf, hiking and soccer.

V. Stuart Cox, M.D.

Dr. Cox is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his otolaryngology and head and neck surgery residency at Yale University. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. He was president of the East Metro Medical Society in 2007 and is active in the Minnesota Medical Association. Special interests include sinus and nasal disorders, voice problems, and pediatric ENT. He joined Midwest ENT Specialists in 1999.

Kristin B. Gendron, M.D.

Dr. Gendron completed both medical school and residency in otolaryngology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine after graduating cum laude from Dartmouth College. Medical school honors include membership in Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society and the Spencer Morris Award. Following residency she completed subspecialty training in head and neck oncology at the University of Pittsburgh. She has published work on clinical pathways for head and neck cancer inpatients, peptide-based tumor vaccines for HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma, and management of the neck in cancer of the salivary glands. Special interests include treatment of head and neck tumors (squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and neck, thyroid and salivary gland masses) and management of sinus disease. She joined the practice in 2007.

Richard G. Karlen, M.D.

Dr. Karlen joined our outstanding team of otolaryngologists in 2001. He has dedicated his practice to the subspecialty of pediatric otolaryngology with special interest in disorders of the pediatric airway, pediatric head and neck tumors and pediatric otologic problems. Dr. Karlen graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota and received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Minnesota. During his junior year of medical school, Dr. Karlen was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. After completing his residency in otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics, Dr. Karlen served four years in the United States Air Force as chief of otolaryngology at Sheppard Air Force Base. Upon returning to Minnesota, Dr. Karlen completed advanced training in pediatric otolaryngology under the direction of Dr. Barbara Malone at Children's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. Dr. Karlen is a member of the Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children; a fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology; and a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology's Committee on Pediatric ENT.

Barbara Newman Malon, M.D.

Barbara Newman Malone, M.D. is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and served her residency at the University of Minnesota Hospitals. She completed a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at Children's Hospital of Michigan. Dr. Malone practices the subspecialty of pediatric otolaryngology. She is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Malone has been chief of staff at St. Paul Children's Hospital (1993), chief of surgery for Children's Hospital and Clinics (1996 - 1999), and chief of peer review of the Anesthesia, Surgical Pathology Division (2000 - 2004). Dr. Malone served as a director of the board of Children's Hospital of Minnesota (2000 - 2006), and is a member of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology; the Society of Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children; the American Medical Association; and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. She joined Midwest Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists in 1988.

Thomas L. Okner, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Okner is a graduate of New York Medical College. He completed his residency at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York City. He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is a fellow in both the American Academy of Otolaryngology and the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Okner is an active member of the Minnesota Academy of Otolaryngology as well as a member of the East Metro Medical and American Medical Societies. He is on staff at all of the St. Paul area hospitals and his practice includes all aspects of ear, nose, throat and head and neck surgery. He has been with Midwest ENT Specialists since 1985.

Inell C. Rosario, M.D.

Dr. Rosario completed her otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in June, 1997. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School and Macalester College. Dr. Rosario is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the Triologic Society, and the American Medical Association. Special interests include pediatric otolaryngology, sinus surgery, laryngology and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Rosario is originally from the Bahamas and is married with two children. When not practicing she enjoys running and watching basketball, football and volleyball. She joined Midwest ENT Specialists in 1997.

Robert W. Smith, M.D., F.A.C.S

Dr. Smith graduate from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed his residency at the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining this practice, he served as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. His special areas of interest are diseases of the ear and head and neck surgical oncology. He joined Midwest Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists in 1992.

Christopher J. Tolan, M.D.

Dr. Tolan obtained his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1991. He completed his residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Tolan completed a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. Dr. Tolan is board certified in both facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and otolaryngology. His primary interests are cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. He is a member of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the Minnesota Medical Association, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the Ramsey Medical Society. He joined Midwest ENT Specialists in 1996.