Meet Sebastian Jara, MD, MPH

Dr. Jara is an otolaryngologist at Keck Medicine of USC who specializes in treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Here’s what you won’t find on his resume.

Exploring the city is how he enjoys spending his time away from work.

“When I’m not working, I can usually be found on an ‘urban hike’ in Los Angeles with my soon-to-be wife and our Australian Labradoodle puppy, Canela. We love walking around and exploring tasty new restaurants, coffee shops and our local beaches. We are always looking for recommendations for new spots to see!”

Travel and sports top his to-do list.

“Traveling to Peru to hike Machu Picchu and attending the Super Bowl live in person to watch my favorite football team play are both on my personal bucket list, as well as starting a family in the near future.”

His patients inspire him to provide the best possible care.

“I believe it is a privilege to take care of patients and have them entrust you with the most personal aspects of their lives. This honor is something I never take for granted.”

His relationship with his patients plays a critical role in helping them with their health issues.

“My calm, attentive and patient bedside manner helps bolster a strong connection with my patients. I strive to ensure my patients feel heard, that their issues are addressed and that we partner together to pursue a course of treatment that best suits their needs.”

Providing relief to his patients is deeply rewarding.

“Sometimes, providing relief comes in the form of curing my patients of their medical problem. Other times, it involves explaining the cause of their symptoms and our plan to tackle them head on. Providing this relief, and helping my patients move in a positive direction, is what I love best about working as a surgeon.”

His research aims to help patients with sleep-related illnesses.

“The focus of my practice is treating obstructive sleep apnea — a condition that involves breathing pauses during sleep — snoring and other sleep-related illnesses. My research helps to understand why these breathing pauses occur and how we can use this information to improve our treatments. I am currently working on a study of the use of MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, as a tool for further research into obstructive sleep apnea. I welcome volunteers who would like to learn more about participating in these studies.”

Keck Medicine offers many opportunities for better patient outcomes through research.

“I chose to practice at an academic research center to have the opportunity to push the boundaries of science to improve medicine through research. When I started as a doctor, it became clear to me that our true understanding of many diseases and treatments is limited. As a surgeon-scientist, I am committed to better understanding of these diseases and using this understanding to develop better treatments for my patients.”

Keck Medicine’s team spirit and commitment to excellence sets it apart.

“Coupled with a wonderful staff, the team at Keck Medicine strives to provide the best patient experience possible. My inspiring colleagues are committed to providing the latest, cutting-edge treatments and improving the practice of medicine through research. It is a privilege to be a part of this team.”

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