Maria Caruso Machala
About Maria Caruso Machala
Maria Caruso Machala serves as the Director of the University of Colorado Dizziness and Balance Clinic, where she collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to enhance patient care. With a background in nursing and a focus on vestibular disorders, she is also an educator and presenter on various related topics.
Director of University of Colorado Dizziness and Balance Clinic
Maria Caruso Machala serves as the Director of the University of Colorado Dizziness and Balance Clinic, a position she has held since 2023. In this role, she collaborates with a multidisciplinary team that includes neurotologists, neurologists, audiologists, and physical therapists. This collaborative approach aims to enhance patient care and outcomes for individuals experiencing dizziness and balance disorders.
Education and Expertise
Maria Caruso Machala has a strong educational background in nursing and healthcare. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2008. She furthered her education at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where she completed a Master of Science in Nursing as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner in 2014. Additionally, she studied Psychology at Clemson University from 2004 to 2007.
Professional Experience at University of Colorado
Prior to her current role, Maria Caruso Machala worked as a Registered Nurse in the Burn/Trauma ICU at the University of Colorado Hospital from 2012 to 2015. She also served in the Medicine Sub-Specialties Unit at the same hospital from 2009 to 2012. Her extensive nursing experience has contributed to her expertise in managing complex patient cases.
Lectures and Presentations
Maria Caruso Machala provides lectures at the University of Colorado's Physician Assistant and Nursing schools, sharing her knowledge and experience with students. She has presented on various topics, including Ménière's disease, vestibular migraine, hearing loss, and pulsatile tinnitus, both locally and nationally, contributing to the education of healthcare professionals in these areas.
Research Interests and Patient Care Philosophy
Maria Caruso Machala has a particular interest in conditions such as Ménière's disease, vestibular migraine, persistent postural perceptual disorder, BPPV, and mal de debarquement. She emphasizes the importance of learning from the patient experience to provide comprehensive and individualized care, reflecting her commitment to patient-centered healthcare.