As a physician, Dr. Sunny Sharma has spent his career advising his patients to follow the science and research. When he experienced sudden hearing loss, he found that following his own advice put him in the best position to thrive.
Sharma had caught a viral infection from his son, and it caused a rapid decrease in hearing in his left ear. He sought care in his hometown of Chicago, and his symptoms improved with intratympanic steroid injections, oral steroids and antivirals.
"Because my hearing responded, I was told an MRI probably wasn't necessary," Sharma said. "But I chose to get one out of an abundance of caution. That decision changed everything."
The scan revealed a 3-centimeter non-cancerous tumor on his right side. The tumor was an acoustic neuroma, also known as a vestibular schwannoma, and was entirely unrelated to the symptoms that brought him in.
"I had no symptoms from the tumor at all," Sharma said. "It was discovered because I followed my instincts."
Choosing UC San Diego Health for Acoustic Neuroma Treatment
Sharma approached his next steps with the same rigor he applies to his own patients' treatments. He found research articles, met with several local doctors for referrals and also joined support groups, including the Acoustic Neuroma Association and Facebook communities, to hear from others living with acoustic neuromas.
Dr. Sunny Sharma and his wife at UC San Diego Health following acoustic neuroma surgery.
"Over and over, one name kept coming up: UC San Diego Health's program with surgeons Dr. Friedman and Dr. Schwartz," he said. "What stood out was that they had a truly comprehensive, multidisciplinary acoustic neuroma treatment approach and were consistently recognized as one of the best hospitals for acoustic neuroma surgery. That combination of expertise, experience, and patient feedback is ultimately what led me to UCSD."
The top-rated acoustic neuroma program at UC San Diego Health is led by Rick Friedman, MD, PhD, a neurotologist, and Marc Schwartz, MD, a neurosurgeon, who have performed over 3,000 surgeries together for over two decades. The care team also includes specially trained nurses, therapists, medical assistants and treatment coordinators.
High-Volume Acoustic Neuroma Program
Our expert team at UC San Diego Health performs the most vestibular schwannoma surgeries in the nation. Studies show that patients treated at high-volume centers have superior outcomes.
Acoustic Neuroma Surgery and Early Recovery
Sharma traveled to San Diego in September 2022 for a translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma surgery. While the entire tumor was not able to be removed and he did experience some hearing loss, his recovery exceeded his expectations.
"Taking my first steps was a milestone. Each moment was about learning how to live again in a new body with new limitations," Sharma said. Within a week, Sharma was walking five miles a day. Three months later, he returned to full-time work as a physician, a powerful example of what life after acoustic neuroma surgery can look like.
Life After Acoustic Neuroma, Returning to the Marathon Dream
Sharma had always wanted to run the Chicago Marathon. He saw it as more than a race — it was a symbol of possibility, and part of his recovery. Despite having had brain surgery, he remained determined to achieve his goal.
"Training was grueling. My hearing loss made running near traffic and in unfamiliar areas difficult, even dangerous. I had to adapt where and how I trained, staying alert in ways most runners don't have to think about," he said. "Each step forward reminded me of how far I'd come."
On October 13, 2024, two years after surgery, Sharma crossed the finish line in Chicago and experienced a wave of emotions. His story is one of many acoustic neuroma success stories that highlight how people can rebuild balance, confidence and quality of life after treatment.
Dr. Sunny Sharma celebrated finishing the Chicago Marathon in 2024.
"Joy, gratitude, disbelief, pride. In that moment, I carried with me not only the 26.2 miles of the marathon, but also the 25 months of recovery, determination and perseverance that had led me there," he said. "It was about reclaiming a dream and proving, to myself most of all, that life after brain tumor could still hold extraordinary possibilities."
For patients newly diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, Sharma advises finding a surgeon and team you're comfortable with, looking for honesty and transparency, and then looking at the evidence, including surgical volumes, survival rates, outcomes and other data.
Recently, after a slight tumor regrowth, Sharma underwent gamma knife radiation under the guidance of UC San Diego Health's team.
"I've been doing very well," he said, adding that what has defined his experience at UC San Diego Health is expertise, honesty and exceptional care. "Their team gave me the best chance to heal and keep moving forward, even into a marathon."
"We are grateful to Sunny for his support, and it warms all our hearts to see him thrive," Friedman said.
According to the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" survey, UC San Diego Health ranked No. 1 in San Diego. Neurology and neurosurgery care ranked 28th out of more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide.
Marc S. Schwartz, MD
- Neurosurgeon
- Co-director, Acoustic Neuroma Program
- Chief of Skull Base Surgery
- Professor of Neurological Surgery
Rick A. Friedman, MD, PhD
- Neurotologist
- Vice Chair, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
- Director, Acoustic Neuroma Program
