President & Founder

About Dr. Silverstein

Vice President & Director of Education

Seth I. Rosenberg, MD, FACS, a specialist in ear disease and sinus disorders, adds a valuable complement to the services provided at the Florida Ear & Sinus Center. His special interests include surgical hearing restoration, balance disorders and sinus surgery.

A native of Poughkeepsie, New York, he completed a BS in chemistry, cum laude, at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before obtaining his MD at the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. His surgical and otolaryngology residencies were also served at SUNY.

Following the completion of his internship and residency, Dr. Rosenberg spent one year of specialized study in otology and neurotology at the Ear Research Foundation. Upon graduating from the Fellowship, he was asked to join the staff of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, as an Assistant Professor. During this time, he quickly developed new surgical techniques and established a national-level practice in ear and skull base surgery. At the same time, the University of Pennsylvania was an early center for endoscopic sinus surgery in the United States. Hence, Dr. Rosenberg also developed a special interest in treating paranasal sinus disease. He brought this technique to Sarasota in 1991. He then went on to develop methods for using the same endoscopes for minimally invasive ear surgery. In 1994, recognizing a need in the community, Dr. Rosenberg introduced various techniques for treating snoring and sleep apnea. One method, the CO2 LASER, is also used for minimally invasive ear surgery.

Since 1991, Dr. Rosenberg has collaborated with Dr. Silverstein in many productive research endeavors. He serves as Vice President and Education Director for the Ear Research Foundation and has co-authored over 70 scientific publications. He is still a clinical assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He is also a clinical assistant professor at USF Medical School, Division of Otolaryngology.

Dr. Rosenberg is Board Certified in Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat) and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He holds membership in many medical organizations, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. In 2000, he became a member of the prestigious Triological Society, receiving the Mosher Award for his thesis “The Natural History of Acoustic Neuromas”. The following year, he became one of the youngest members of the exclusive American Otological Society. Dr Rosenberg is on the staff of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Venice Regional Medical Center, and Doctors Same Day Surgery Center.

Volunteer Coordinator

Mary Jane (MJ) is a 2018 transplant from New Jersey. After a successful 38-year career in the New Jersey State Government serving as executive assistant at the executive level, she retired and relocated to sunny Sarasota. MJ joined the ERF Volunteer Team in 2022.

Executive Director

Christina DeFrancisco, a New York native, who settled in Bradenton during 2020, brings a multitude of experience to the Foundation.  Her previous positions were in development and communications within the nonprofit sector in the New York metro area.  Christina obtained her bachelor of arts in Communications and Journalism from St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Administrative Coordinator

Mirav Steckel was born and raised in Florida and is currently a student at the University of South Florida. She is currently working towards her bachelor’s in health science. In her free time, she likes to visit the beach and try out new restaurants.