J. Walter Kutz, M.D.

Meet Dr. Kutz

J. Walter Kutz Jr., M.D., appreciates how the sense of hearing enriches our lives. He loves playing and listening to classical music. He also enjoys the fine detailed work required for microsurgery.

"I’m invested in my patients’ health.”

So it’s perfect that Dr. Kutz helps patients hear better as an otolaryngologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Specializing in otology and neurotology, he treats diseases of the ear, temporal bone, and skull base.

Much of his practice involves care for both adult and pediatric patients with chronic ear disease, including cholesteatoma (a skin cyst located in the middle ear and temporal bone). He also treats complex skull base tumors such as acoustic neuroma, meningioma, and glomus tumors.

Dr. Kutz is one of few neurotologists in Texas who performs auditory stem implant surgery, a treatment for neurofibromatosis type 2. In the procedure, he works with colleagues in neurosurgery to place an implant into the brain stem. Without the implant, the patients would be completely deaf.  

For children and adults who are profoundly deaf or hard of hearing, he performs cochlear implants, which use an electronic device to provide a sense of sound.

He says cochlear implants for children may be the most rewarding procedure he performs. “They can’t hear – and will not be able to hear – unless they have a cochlear implant. It’s exciting to see those children one to two years after surgery and they’ve started to develop speech.” 

Dr. Kutz is also active in clinical research and deeply involved with medical education at UT Southwestern as Director of the Neurotology Fellowship Program and Associate Residency Director of the Otolaryngology Residency Program.