He attended medical school at The University of Western Australia before undertaking his residency in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. He was the Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery fellow at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (2012), Western Australia before undertaking a three year instructorship at Stanford University in Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery (2015). Clinically, Dr Santa Maria specializes in adult and pediatric surgery for hearing, balance and facial nerve disorders. He has a special interest in the management of cholesteatoma, acoustic neuroma and glomus tumor surgery as well as hearing implants, including cochlear implants. Dr Santa Maria has authored book chapters and published papers and continues his clinical research in these areas, particularly with a focus on hearing preservation.