
Fixing Facial Paralysis with Facial Reanimation and Reconstructive Surgery | Dr. Amit Kochhar & Dr. Tessa Hadlock
by Anthony Effinger
The Think Neuro podcast from Pacific Neuroscience Institute takes you into the clinic, operating room and laboratory with doctors and surgeons who are tackling the most challenging brain diseases and disorders. Host: Anthony Effinger
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Episode 62: Show Notes
This week on the Think Neuro podcast, we welcome Dr. Tessa Hadlock, a leading facial nerve surgeon, educator, and innovator. A Professor of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Hadlock shares her inspiring journey into facial nerve surgery and her commitment to helping patients regain facial control.
Joining her is Dr. Amit Kochhar, Director of the Facial Nerve Disorders Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. Together, they explore groundbreaking advancements in facial reanimation surgery for patients with facial paralysis. Dr. Hadlock is a strong advocate for “open-source” surgical techniques, emphasizing knowledge-sharing among surgeons to accelerate progress in the field—an ethos that resonates deeply with Dr. Kochhar at PNI.
Tune in to discover how these two experts are transforming lives through innovation, collaboration, and a shared passion for restoring function and confidence in their patients.
About Dr. Amit Kochhar

Dr. Amit Kochhar, MD, is double board-certified in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is the director of the Facial Nerve Disorders Program at Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica.
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About the Author

Anthony Effinger
Think Neuro's host is Anthony Effinger, an award-winning journalist who is fascinated with neuroscience and the workings of the brain. Anthony spent 24 years at Bloomberg News, where he covered all aspects of finance, with forays into science and health. In 2006, the Association of Health Care Journalists awarded him first prize for Playing the Odds, an in-depth piece on the changing strategies used to treat prostate cancer. These days, he is a staff writer at Willamette Week, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife and two children.
Last updated: January 29th, 2025