
Elijah Bell and Dr. Ananth Murthy interviewed with Kendall Forward, reporter for WOIO Channel 19. See video below.
Elijah Bell was born without outer ears, but thanks to Dr. Ananth Murthy, director of pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery and medical director for the Craniofacial Center and Speech Resonance Clinic at Akron Children’s, Elijah has ears crafted from his own rib cage cartilage.

Elijah and his mother, Colleen Bell, visit with Dr. Murthy and discuss the reconstruction of Elijah’s ears using his own rib cage cartilage. Now, Dr. Murthy and his team are researching a new procedure where doctors can grow new ears for patients.
Now, 4 years later, Dr. Murthy and his team at The Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute are blazing a new path and growing ears! This new technique will benefit patients, with a less invasive and time consuming technique that will result in less downtime for the patient.
Watch as Dr. Murthy and Elijah discuss this medical breakthrough taking place at Akron Children’s with Kendall Forward, a reporter for WOIO Channel 19. For more info on Elijah, Dr. Murthy, and the procedure, read this blog post.