Penn Medicine Provider
Otorhinolaryngology
Douglas C Bigelow, MD
4.9
(568)
Accepting new patients
Sees patients age 15 and up
Penn Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Perelman
Make an appointmentCall 800-789-7366

About me

  • Director, Division of Otology/Neurotology
  • Associate Professor of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Douglas C. Bigelow serves as chief of the Division of Otology and Neurotology within the Department of Otolaryngology at Penn Medicine. He has worked in this area for 30 years and has vast clinical expertise in the treatment of ear disorders, hearing loss and skull base tumors.  He has more experience in managing patients with acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas) and other skull base tumors such as glomus tumors (paragangliomas), meningiomas etc. than any other physician in the region. 

He has great expertise in treating patients with chronic ear disease including cholesteatoma and chronic otitis media as well as patients with hearing loss due to otosclerosis, middle ear disease and sensorineural (inner ear or nerve) hearing loss.  He has performed hundreds of stapes surgeries for otosclerosis and cochlear implants for patients with sensorineural hearing loss.  Dr. Bigelow has also been involved in cochlear implant research and clinical trials for many years and has been listed in Best Doctors in America since 1998.

Recognized by America's Top Doctors, 2017

Recognized by Best Doctors in America 2003 - 2023

Recognized by Guide to America's Top Physicians 2004, 2005

Recognized in Philadelphia magazine's annual Top Docs issues, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2018 - 2023

Education and training

  • Medical School: University of Minnesota
  • Residency: Hennepin County Medical Center
  • Residency: Barnes-Jewish Hospital - Washington University, St. Louis
  • Residency: Saint John's Mercy Medical Center

What my patients think about me

Average Rating
4.9

568 reviews

Comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Penn Medicine.

May 2025
5.0
5.0
outstanding doc
May 2025
5.0
5.0
very knowledgeable and professional.
May 2025
5.0
5.0
excellent dr
April 2025
5.0
5.0
great doctor

Insurance accepted

My Locations

Learn about location

Penn Medicine hospital privileges

  • Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania: Has privileges to treat patients in the hospital.
  • Pennsylvania Hospital: Has privileges to treat patients in the hospital.
  • Penn Presbyterian Medical Center: Has privileges to treat patients in the hospital.
Dr. Bigelow is a Penn Medicine physician.

Qualifications and experience

My research

Wolfe S, Lai S, Bigelow DC: Bilateral Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the External Auditory Canals , Laryngoscope, 112: 2002,1003-1005

Ruckenstein MJ, Prasthoffer A, Bigelow DC, von Feldt JM, Kolasinski SL: Immunologic and Serologic Testing in patients with Meniere’s Disease , Otology & Neurotology, 23: 2002,517-521

Ruckenstein MJ, Hedgepeth C, Rafter KO, Montes ML, Bigelow DC: Tinnitus Suppression in Cochlear Implant Patients. , Otology & Neurotology, 22: 2001,200-204

Ruckenstein MJ, Rafter KO, Montes ML, Bigelow DC The Management of Far-Advanced Otosclerosis in the Era of Cochlear Implantation , Otology & Neurotology, 22: 2001,471-474

Grady MS, Judy KD, Bigelow DC, Sinson GP, Rostomily R, Winn HR: Experts Corner: Posterior Fossa Ependymoma , Skull Base, 11: 2001,219-223

Bonhomme GR, Loevner LA, Yen DM, Deems DA, Bigelow DC, Mirza N Extensive Intracranial Xanthoma Associated with Type II Hyperlipidemia. , American Journal of Neuroradiology, 21: 2000,353-355

Anderson TD, Loevner LA, Bigelow DC, Mirza N: Prevalence of Unsuspected Acoustic Neuroma Found by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. , Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 122: 2000,643-646

Bigelow DC: Glomus Jugulare Tumors. , ASNM Monitor, 8: 2000,33-37