Professional Training Programs

Programs and Services

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

The Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery provides tertiary care to patients with diseases of the Ear, Nose and Throat. The staff includes highly specialized physicians, audiologists, physiologists as well as speech and swallowing therapists. The department participates in a multitude of programs in conjunction with other departments within Montefiore Medical Center. The distinguished research faculty has contributed significantly to the world of science and brought both national and international attention to the department.

Head and Neck Surgery

Richard V. Smith, M.D., Director
Bradley A. Schiff, M.D.
Andrew B. Tassler, M.D.
Thomas J. Ow, M.D., M.S.

The Head and Neck service of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery offers comprehensive care to all patients with head and neck cancers. We specialize in offering individualized, multidisciplinary care to patients with complicated head and neck cancers. We are a true multi-disciplinary service working closely with physicians from other services including radiation and medical oncologists, oral and plastic surgeons, speech-swallow pathologists and nutritionists. To foster comprehensive multidisciplinary care of all patients with head and neck cancer the department chairs weekly head and neck tumor board meetings. We also have a weekly multidisciplinary clinic, where patients with head and neck cancer can meet with surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, dentists and nutritionists in one visit.

Surgeons in the department are among a handful of surgeons in the New York Tri-state area who specialize in endoscopic laser partial laryngectomy, a procedure which allows selected patients to undergo minimally invasive laryngeal surgery. This procedure allows preservation of  the larynx, maintenance of speech and swallowing function, and avoiding the complications associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

In addition, surgeons at Montefiore are among a handful in the world using the DaVinci robot to perform selected procedures on the tonsil, tongue base and larynx. This can potentially reduce complications associated with such surgery and minimize side effects from radiation and cheomotherapy.
In addition to excellent care and treatment of cancers of the head and neck, surgeons in the department excel in endocrine surgery including surgery of the parotid and thyroid glands, and minimally invasive surgery of the parathyroid glands.

Otology and Neurotology

Elizabeth Dinces, M.D., M.S.
Howard Moskowitz, M.D., Ph.D

The Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery brings together an outstanding team of physicians and audiologists for the treatment of otologic and skull base disorders. Extensive evaluation is available for disorders of hearing, the facial nerve, Méniére's syndrome, acute and chronic ear problems, and acoustic neuromas and skull base tumors for all age groups. Advanced surgical and non-surgical treatment options, and the latest in microsurgical techniques are used. Hearing restoration and intra-operative monitoring are also available from our multi-disciplinary team.

Pediatric Otolaryngology

Jonathan Bent, M.D., Director
Maha Bassila, M.D.
Robert J. Ruben, M.D.
Mona Gangar, M.D.
Michel Nassar, M.D.
Cheryl Bailey, N.P.
Christina Yang, MD

The Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery offers treatment for all pediatric ear, nose and throat conditions. Areas of interest include major airway and larygneal surgery, cochlear implantation, innovative techniques for tonsillectomy, head and neck tumors and masses, and computer-guided sinus surgery. The Division collaborates with pediatric sub-specialists to develop national centers of excellence for pediatric head and neck tumors and masses (cancer, vascular anomalies, thyroid surgery), pediatric airway surgery (reconstructive and restorative tracheal/laryngeal surgery) and pediatric cochlear implantation (restorative hearing surgery).

Rhinology, Nasal and Sinus Diseases and Surgery

Marvin P. Fried, M.D.
Waleed Abuzeid, M.D.
Akbar, Nadeem A., MD

Specialized treatment is provided for patients suffering from acute and chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, allergies, septal deformities and other problems leading to nasal airway obstruction. The service also addresses reconstructive problems, as well as neoplastic disease. As a referral source for the region, we see patients with the entire gamut of nasal and paranasal disorders,  collaborating closely with our colleagues in Allergy and Immunology. Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS) is employed to help those patients who do not respond to medical therapy. This approach to sinus surgery emphasizes restoration of normal sinus physiology and drainage with limited surgery, performed by direct visualization using telescopes using minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Fried has helped develop navigation technology for computer assisted surgery and this is used in most of our procedures. We work closely with our physicians in the Department of Neurosurgery in the care of patients with pituitary tumors for transnasal endoscopic hypophysectomy and the removal of skull base tumors.

Laryngology and Voice Disorders

Marvin P. Fried, M.D.
Melin Tan-Geller, M.D.
Grete A. Fries, M.S., CCC-SLP

Hoarseness and vocal problems are quite common and we care for patients with these symptoms in a comprehensive fashion. Experienced laryngologists see all patients and many patients have laryngeal videostroboscopy and voice assessment to assist in their diagnosis and therapy. Often patients with voice complaints require consultation with physicians specializing in neurology, gastroenterolgy and other disciplines who are similarly expert in laryngeal concerns. Therapies for voice professionals and others, as well as the newest in surgical techniques are available for our patients.

Audiology

Laura Tocci, Au.D., CCC/A, Director
Sharon Ripinsky, M.A., CCA/A
Lisa Zeitoun, Au.D., CCC/A
Mariana Urbina, Au.D., CCC/A/SP
Mahindra Ramdhanie, M.S., CCC/A
Randi Kirschner, M.A., CCC/A
Rosemary Seplowe, M.A., CCC/A
Peter Adamson, Au.D., CCC/A
Marisa Bellotti, Au.D., CCC/A
Brit Boyarsky, Au.D., CCC/A
Leah Hill-Richardson, M.S. CCC/A
Swapna Nataraj, Au.D., CCC/A
Claudyne Vielot, Au.D., CCC/A

Comprehensive services are available for the assessment and rehabilitation of hearing and balance disorders. The Division is staffed by highly trained Audiologists who hold advanced degrees, national certifications, and New York State Licenses. A complete range of diagnostic and rehabilitative services are available to patients of all ages. These include: diagnostic audiometric evaluation of adults, children and infants; acoustic immittance assessment; site of lesion evaluation (including Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) assessment, Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs), vestibular evaluation (Electronystagmography-ENG), and electrocochleography (EcoG). Our hearing aid dispensary provides state-of-the-art hearing aid evaluation and selection.

Speech & Swallow

Melissa Cronin, MS, CCC-SLP
Nicole Free, CCC-SLP
Ann Rooney, MS, CCC-SLP
Emily Stoddard, MS, CCC-SLP
Lindsay Murray-Keane, MS, CCC-SLP
Gina Palma, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Monica Walchak, MA, CCC-SLP
Grete Fries, MS, CCC-SLP
Amy Kantor, MS, CCC-SLP

Working with the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, our speech and swallow experts provide diagnostic and treatment services to patients with swallowing and voice disorders. State of the art procedures including videofluororadiography are utilized in the diagnosis of dysphagia (swallowing disorders). We specialize in adult patients with neurophysiological and structural deficits, including those with resection, reconstruction, and/or radiation for head and neck cancer, and pediatric patients with neurologic deficits and craniofacial malformations. Dysphagia care and physiologically-based treatment of pediatric patients tracheotomies is provided through our internationally-renown Little Tykes with Trach Program. Our Voice Laboratory is dedicated to the care of the voice with state of the art instrumentation, including videostroboscopy and videofiberoptic endoscopy. We treat common and uncommon voice disorders such as hoarseness, vocal cord immobility, and laryngeal neoplasms. Comprehensive voice restoration services are offered to post-surgical laryngeal cancer patients.