Dr. Simon R. Best

Lee Akst, M.D., specializes in treating the larynx (voicebox), in particular the treatment of voice and swallowing disorders. He is a leading laryngologist in office-based procedures such as vocal fold injection augmentation, pulsed KTP laser treatment, and laryngeal botox injection. In the operating room, Dr. Akst specializes in phonosurgery for the treatment of vocal cord disease, with emphasis on voice restoration and improvement. A strong focus of his practice involves the use of pulsed angiolytic lasers, which allow for subspecialized care of laryngeal papillomas, laryngeal dysplasia, and early vocal cord cancers while preserving the quality and strength of the voice. Dr. Akst is a national leader in the field of laryngology and serves in leadership roles for the American Laryngological Association, the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He lectures extensively on the treatment of laryngeal disease, teaching other physicians how to care for patients with voice and swallowing concerns. His research interests include the development of robotic laryngeal surgery, the study of voice and swallowing complaints in the elderly, and the advancement of pulsed lasers for the treatment of laryngeal diseases with a focus on leukoplakia. This provider is registered with the Florida Department of Health to perform telehealth services for patients in Florida. Dr. Akst is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chronic Cough. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngitis, Perichondritis, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy.

Peyapong Patanaphan is an Otolaryngologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Patanaphan is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chronic Cough. His top areas of expertise are Tinnitus, Familial Deafness, Trachoma, and Laryngitis. Dr. Patanaphan is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Andrew Lane is the Director of the Johns Hopkins Sinus Center and performs the full range of endoscopic sinus procedures, including transnasal skull base and orbital surgeries. He is dedicated to providing cutting-edge care to his patients and developing new therapies for chronic rhinosinusitis through his clinical and basic science research. He is the longest practicing sinus specialist with advanced fellowship training in the Baltimore/Washington region, with two decades of experience in the medical and surgical management of challenging sinus disease. Dr. Lane received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his internship in general surgery and residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He came to Johns Hopkins in 2001, after completing a fellowship in advanced endoscopic sinus surgery techniques at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lane maintains a busy clinical practice while also running an NIH-funded laboratory. His research investigates the causes and potential treatments for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, as well as how inflammation affects the sense of smell. An author of over 140 published articles and book chapters, he frequently presents his surgical and research results at national and international meetings. He has earned several prestigious awards for his research about nasal polyps and olfactory loss. Dr. Lane is Editor-in-Chief of Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports, Associate Editor of the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, and an Editorial Board member of the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Rhinologic Society and chaired the Rhinology and Paranasal Sinus Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He is the Rhinology section leader for the Triological Society’s Best Practice committee. Dr. Lane is often invited to speak at outside medical institutions and regularly conducts media interviews about nasal and sinus issues. Dr. Lane is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chronic Cough. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Nasal Polyps, Sinusitis, Endoscopy, and Septoplasty.