Urgent Availability: Tomorrow Next Routine: Tuesday

Ear, Nose & Throat Surgeon for Adults & Kids in Seattle

Thirty unrushed minutes, not the usual in-and-out. Be heard and get help from the surgeon, scientist, and advocate who has been the patient.

Click to Get seen in days

Board Certified ENT4.8 Stars (260+ Reviews)16+ Years ExperienceResearch-Backed InnovatorSurgery Last, Not First

Care for Adults & Kids

A smiling child holding two model ears up to his own

Ears, Hearing & BalanceHearing loss, cochlear implants, ear infections, dizziness, tinnitus.See conditions & treatments →

A woman pinching the bridge of her nose with sinus pain

Nose, Sinus & AllergySinus infections, blocked nose, allergies, nosebleeds, smell loss.See conditions & treatments →

Dr. Ruffin examining a patient with a microscope

Throat, Voice & SleepHoarseness, swallowing, reflux, tonsils, snoring and sleep apnea.See conditions & treatments →

A seated patient having his neck examined

Neck, Thyroid & FaceNeck lumps, thyroid, salivary glands, facial skin and facial paralysis.See conditions & treatments →

How We’re Different

Step	The usual path	Here
Getting in	Referral from your primary doctor, then a wait of months.	No referral. Urgent problems seen the same day.
The visit	15 minutes, often with a nurse practitioner first.	30 unrushed minutes with the surgeon.
Follow-up	A second appointment for every question. Maybe you get to see a doctor.	Questions already answered. Fewer visits.
Surgery	Weeks for an OR date, general anesthesia, days off.	In the office, under local, when it’s safe. Often sooner, back to your day.
The bill	No idea what you'll owe. It arrives months later, $100s more than expected.	Transparent, accurate estimates before you book.
Your family	Kids go to a separate pediatric ENT.	Adults and kids see the same surgeon.
The surgeon	Treats ENT conditions, but has never lived them.	Hears with and performs cochlear implant surgery. Is a hearing scientist and internationally known advocate.

Dr. Ruffin is a rare kind of physician.
His gift is rooted in his consideration of each patient in the full context of their lives and in his goal to ‘make lives better’.
Care this complete and nuanced cannot fully develop without a personal mission to help people and a deep commitment to being of service to humanity.”
Lora Hebert, MD
Surgeon and Patient of Dr. Ruffin

You'll Be Heard

30 unrushed minutes with the surgeon. Real answers, the whole picture, and the simplest fix.

The whole picture, one doctor
Ears, nose, throat, sleep, hearing and balance are connected. One surgeon looks at all of it, so you are not bounced between specialists.
Simplest fix first
Most problems do not need surgery. We start with the least invasive option that works, and reach for the operating room only when it is the right answer.
Easy to reach
Text the office and hear back in minutes. The same doctor at every visit, and you leave with a written plan. No call center. No AI.

Dr. Chad Ruffin in scrubs in the exam room

ResearchPressFunding

American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

What other patients are saying...

“Dr.Ruffin was great. He made me feel like he actually cares about my concerns during the consultation and was taking his time when assessing. I appreciated that. Great experience. Thank you Dr. Ruffin and your team.”

Dennis Solomes

“For almost a year I was struggling to breathe through my nose to where I had to breathe through my mouth. Once I found Dr. Ruffin he gave me all the help I needed before even suggesting surgery, it was a dead last option, he is very nice, explains everything thoroughly and make sure all my questions were answered. I would absolutely recommend him as your doctor if you are having sinus issue, also to add one last thing even after surgery and before checked on me multiple times if I was okay and how I am doing.”

Senait Tekle

“Dr. Ruffin has been phenomenal to work with on my hearing journey. As I have navigated the choices available to me in getting an implant and how to best set myself up for success, Dr. Ruffin has provided the utmost care to answer my questions and support me in receiving the best benefit I can from my implant. I am beyond impressed by his dedication and commitment to his patients, and the skill and knowledge he has to help them exceed their own expectations and goals.”

Benjamin Case

“Having a health care professional especially a surgeon who understands where you're coming from, what you've been through and may go through is gold. Chad strives to see where you're coming from, provides empathy and evidence to help you make choices confidently and is fully committed to quality patient care and outcomes!”

Michelle Hu

See More Reviews

Common Questions

Do I need a referral?

No. Book directly.

Is my problem urgent?

Urgent means a problem that can change your life if it is not treated quickly, like sudden hearing loss. Urgent does not mean miserable. Feeling awful is real, but it can wait for a regular visit. See the urgent conditions we see the same day.

Do you take my insurance?

Most plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. If we are out of network, our transparent pricing often beats in-network costs, with no facility fees. Book and we send you an estimate before the visit. Check your plan.

Will I see Dr. Ruffin, or someone else?

Dr. Ruffin. Every visit, every follow-up. There is no physician assistant or nurse practitioner step before you see the surgeon.

Do you treat children?

Yes. Ear infections, ear tubes, tonsils, sinus and hearing problems. Kids see the same surgeon their parents do. Pediatric ENT.