Bio
Dr. Kristen K. Steenerson is a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, specializing in vestibular neurology and neuro-otology. She directs clinical care within the Vestibular Neurology Clinic at the Stanford Ear Institute, where she focuses on the diagnosis and management of complex dizziness and vestibular disorders, including vestibular migraine, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Ménière disease, bilateral vestibulopathy, and persistent postural-perceptual dizziness.
Her academic program integrates translational research with clinician education to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular disorders. Her research focuses on the development and validation of objective, technology-enabled tools to measure vestibular function in real-world settings. She leads initiatives evaluating wearable electro-oculography platforms for ambulatory nystagmus detection, as well as sensor-based systems using inertial measurement units to assess mobility, fall risk, and functional engagement. Her work leverages multidisciplinary collaboration across neurology, otolaryngology, audiology, engineering, and data science, with the goal of establishing scalable digital biomarkers and vestibular-specific clinical trial endpoints.
In parallel, Dr. Steenerson is deeply engaged in national and international clinician education. She serves as course director and faculty for multiple continuing medical education programs in vestibular neurology and neuro-otology, with a focus on bedside examination skills, acute dizziness evaluation, and diagnostic reasoning. She has developed interdisciplinary curricula and clinical training pathways designed to expand vestibular expertise among neurologists, otolaryngologists, advanced practice providers, and trainees.
Her scholarly work also includes clinical outcomes research and care delivery innovation, particularly in vestibular migraine and episodic vertigo disorders. She has led initiatives to standardize triage, referral pathways, and multidisciplinary care models for patients with dizziness, translating evidence into practical frameworks that improve access, diagnostic accuracy, and patient outcomes.
Through the integration of clinical innovation, translational research, and clinician education, Dr. Steenerson’s work aims to modernize vestibular care and expand the reach of specialized expertise beyond tertiary referral centers.
