Matthew L. Bush

Dr. Matthew L. Bush serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He practices at UK HealthCare's Kentucky Clinic and Kentucky Children's Hospital, specializing in Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology) with expertise in Head and Neck Surgery and Cochlear Implant programs.

Dr. Bush earned his medical degree from Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, completed his residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Kentucky, and pursued dual fellowships in Neurotology Research and Neurotology and Cranial Base Surgery at The Ohio State University Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital Research Institute.

His research program focuses on hearing healthcare disparities in underserved rural populations, particularly in Appalachia. Dr. Bush has published multiple peer-reviewed papers on this topic and secures significant research funding, including NIH support and a $3.4 million grant specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Kentucky. His clinical and research efforts emphasize timely identification and intervention for pediatric hearing loss to ensure proper language development.

• American Board of Otolaryngology certification
• American Board of Otolaryngology certification in Neurotology and Cranial Base Surgery
• 2017 Dissertation Fellowship from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi ($10,000)

Dr. Bush maintains an active clinical practice with consistently high patient satisfaction ratings (4.97/5 based on 50 reviews), demonstrating exceptional bedside manner and thorough patient care. He is deeply committed to extending cochlear implant services to rural Appalachia and conducts humanitarian mission work, traveling twice yearly to Nairobi, Kenya to teach at the University of Nairobi's ENT department and provide specialty care for underserved patients.

As department chair, he leads academic and clinical initiatives while mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows in otolaryngology. His personal philosophy emphasizes the critical importance of early hearing loss intervention in children, noting that 'the thought of living your life without your child saying 'I love you' or 'I do' is tough,' making timely identification and treatment essential.