Laryngologist Simon Best specializes in voice and airway disorders, including the comprehensive care of professional voice-users and performers. He treats patients diagnosed with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), vocal cord paralysis, laryngeal cancer, precancerous vocal cord dysplasia, benign laryngeal lesions (polyps, cysts, nodules), and laryngeal and tracheal stenosis. He has expertise in the operative management of vocal cord disorders, including Blue Light laser surgery and office-based management of vocal cord papilloma, dysplasia and vocal cord paralysis. Dr. Best earned a medical degree from the Yale School of Medicine and completed residency training in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He undertook fellowship training in laryngology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Best has a particular clinical and research interest in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and sees patients from across the country for specialized care for this disorder. He offers operative and office-based laser for papilloma, utilizing the Blue Light laser, which allows for precise excision of papilloma while preserving underlying vocal function. Dr. Best is also a pioneer in the adjuvant use of bevacizumab for RRP, helping many patients break the cycle of repeated surgeries. The Best Laboratory studies RRP and the development of novel immunotherapies to target the underlying viral infection. This research is conducted in collaboration with the head and neck cancer and cervical cancer research groups at Johns Hopkins, which also study human papillomavirus-related diseases. In addition, Johns Hopkins is a site for ongoing clinical trials in DNA immunotherapy, the goal of which is to eliminate the causative viral infection that leads to RRP. Dr. Best is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy.

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 a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngitis, Perichondritis, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy.

Alexander Hillel specializes in the medical and surgical management of patients who have scar tissue blocking their larynx and/or trachea, a condition called laryngotracheal stenosis. This condition occurs in patients who have had prolonged intubation, an autoimmune disease or a rare disease called idiopathic subglottic stenosis. He also treats patients with voice and throat problems, including spasmodic dysphonia and swallowing difficulty. After he earned his medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Hillel completed his residency in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a fellowship in laryngology and airway surgery at the Emory Voice Center. Dr. Hillel directs a laboratory that seeks to better understand why scar forms in the larynx and trachea. In an effort to improve treatment, he and his team investigate the relationship between the immune system, bacteria and other antigens and scar formation in the airway. He has led a number of clinical trials to improve treatment for subglottic stenosis, including the first interventional study for idiopathic subglottic stenosis. Researchers in Dr. Hillel’s lab are also testing drugs that may halt the progression of, or reverse, scar formation, and they have engineered a drug-eluting stent that is being tested to translate to patients with subglottic stenosis. He holds sponsored grants to conduct his research from the National Institutes of Health, surgical foundations and the medical device industry. In addition to clinical and research work, Dr. Hillel has a leadership role within the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, serving as the vice director of education. Dr. Hillel is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Subglottic Stenosis, Perichondritis, Laryngectomy, and Endoscopy.

Pediatric otolaryngologist David Tunkel specializes in the treatment of airway disorders in children, including obstructive sleep apnea, congenital or acquired abnormalities of the larynx and trachea, and infections of the upper airway, as well as common infections of the ears, nose and throat. He also treats children who need surgery for chronic otitis media, conductive hearing loss and cholesteatoma, and is nationally known for treating children with special needs, including those with cleft palate, Down syndrome, short-stature skeletal dysplasias and neuromotor diseases. A leader in developing evidence-based guidelines to provide optimal care for children with ear, nose and throat diseases, Dr. Tunkel has conducted research that showed the success of new methods of subtotal tonsillectomy in treating sleep-disordered breathing, with improved recovery for many children. Dr. Tunkel earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he remained for residency training in otolaryngology. He completed fellowship training in pediatric otolaryngology at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., and served as the director of pediatric otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins for 30 years. He is chair of the Guideline Taskforce for the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and was the lead developer for guidelines on tinnitus and nosebleed management. In addition, he is an editorial board member for JAMA Otolaryngology. Dr. Tunkel has served as chair of the Pediatric Otolaryngology Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and was the chairperson of the otolaryngology section of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has been a board member for the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, and has participated in clinical practice guideline development for major national organizations, recently serving on committees for acute otitis media and the use of tympanostomy tubes. Dr. Tunkel has been recognized by Baltimore magazine as a “Top Doctor,” and has received various accolades, including honor awards from the Maryland Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Tunkel is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Tongue Tie, Otitis Media with Effusion, Otitis, Myringotomy, and Adenoidectomy.

"Pediatric otolaryngologist Jonathan Walsh specializes in head and neck masses, thyroid disorders, vascular malformations, tracheostomy, tracheal stenosis, aerodigestive disorders, chronic ear disease (ear infections), sinus disease (sinusitis), hearing loss, ankyloglossia (tongue-tie), sleep apnea and laryngeal cleft, as well as the full spectrum of pediatric head and neck disorders. He offers minimally invasive endoscopic ear surgery and minimally invasive surgeries of the airway, ear and sinus. Dr. Walsh earned a medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and completed residency training in otolaryngology at University of Rochester Medical Center. He served two years of active-duty service as a major in the U.S. Army at Fort Gordon in Georgia, after which he completed fellowship training in pediatric otolaryngology at the University of North Carolina. His research interests are in novel imaging technology applications for head and neck disorders; outcomes and health care disparities; ankyloglossia and lip tie; head and neck masses; and airway imaging and modeling. Dr. Walsh is director of the Johns Hopkins pediatric aerodigestive team and surgical director of the pediatric thyroid team. Additionally, he is an active participant in the vascular anomalies team, fetal therapy multidisciplinary team and pediatric sarcoma tumor board. Dr. Walsh is also the residency program director for the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Videos Meet Our Expert - Dr. Jonathan Walsh Recent News Articles and Media Coverage More babies getting their tongues clipped to help breastfeed. But is it necessary? Today Show (7/11/2019) To Improve Breastfeeding, Babies Get Their Tongues Clipped, Is it Necessary? Podast WYPR (3/19/2019) Snipping an infant's ""tongue tie"" can improve breastfeeding. But is surgery being overused? The Inquirer (3/12/2019) Why so Many Babies are Getting Their Tongues Clipped Atlantic, (3/12/2019) The Tongue Tie Conundrum, Slate (2/6/2018) An Incisionless Approach to Ear Drum Repair, Johns Hopkins Medicine (10/2/2018)". Dr. Walsh is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Tongue Tie, Infant Hearing Loss, Laryngomalacia, Adenoidectomy, and Endoscopy.

Wayne Koch is a national and international leader in head and neck oncologic surgery, caring for patients with cancers of the oral cavity, salivary gland, larynx, hypopharynx, oropharynx and thyroid. Among Dr. Koch's landmark publications are studies demonstrating how key molecular events such as p53 mutation and human papillomavirus (HPV) contribute to the development of head and neck cancer. His peer-reviewed publications include six articles in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Koch is also involved in humanitarian outreach focused on training surgeons in several African nations. He has served as president of the American Head and Neck Society, the national organization of head and neck cancer surgeons in the USA. Dr. Koch is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), Tongue Cancer, Human Papillomavirus Infection, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy.

Elizabeth Guardiani is an Otolaryngologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Guardiani is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. Her top areas of expertise are Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Thyroidectomy, and Laryngectomy. Dr. Guardiani is currently accepting new patients.

Enzo Cosentino is an Otolaryngologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Cosentino is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Infant Hearing Loss, Cholesteatoma, and DFNB1.

Andrew Goldstone is an otolaryngologist specializing in evaluation and treatment of ear, nose and throat disorders for adult and pediatric patients. He has been practicing in Baltimore since 1991. Dr. Goldstone takes great pride in providing compassionate and comprehensive ENT care for patients of all ages. Specialty care with attention to cutting-edge therapies and new approaches while ensuring excellence through use of well-established treatments is the principle upon which he practices. His goal is to develop long-term physician-patient relationships that enhance patient satisfaction and the quality and safety of care. Dr. Goldstone is also a member of several national and local medical societies, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Goldstone is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, DFNB1, Jones Syndrome, and Ruptured Eardrum.

Dr. Solowski received her medical degree from MCP-Hahnemann University (now Drexel University College of Medicine) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and did her residency training in the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University in St. Louis. She then completed a laryngology fellowship at Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University in Augusta, Georgia. She sees both pediatric and adult patients with diseases of the thyroid/parathyroid glands, sinonasal diseases, head and neck cancers, and other general Otolaryngologic disorders. She treats skin cancers and performs MOHs surgery reconstructions. Dr. Solowski also specializes in treatment and care of recreational and professional voice users, to include singers, teachers, sales personnel as well as those with swallowing difficulties and reflux disorders. Dr. Solowski is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. Her top areas of expertise are Swallowing Difficulty, Painful Swallowing, Otitis, and Patulous Eustachian Tube.

Nasir Bhatti is an Otolaryngologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Bhatti is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Sinusitis, Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Mastoidectomy, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Bhatti is currently accepting new patients.

Akaber Halawi is an Otolaryngologist and a Neurosurgery provider in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Halawi is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. Her top areas of expertise are Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Perichondritis, Laryngitis, and Trachoma. Dr. Halawi is currently accepting new patients.

Mohammad Kazemizadeh-Gol is an Otolaryngologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Kazemizadeh-Gol is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Familial Deafness, Laryngitis, Infant Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus. Dr. Kazemizadeh-Gol is currently accepting new patients.

Alan Shikani is a General Surgeon in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Shikani is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Familial Deafness, Trachoma, Sinusitis, Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), and Endoscopy.

Douglas Pinto is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Catonsville, Maryland. Dr. Pinto is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Diabetic Nephropathy, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Cluster Headache, and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Dr. Pinto is currently accepting new patients.

Emily Boss, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S. (nee Rudnick) is director of pediatric otolaryngology and a professor of otolaryngology, pediatrics, and health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Boss's clinical expertise includes pediatric sinus, ear, nose, neck, and throat conditions. Dr. Boss trained at the University of California Los Angeles, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Boss is dedicated to improving health outcomes through enhanced doctor-patient communication and organizational change. She is a federally-funded clinician scientist with research focused on patient and family-centered communication, health disparities, and surgical utilization and outcomes. She is the Medical Director for Revenue Cycle Performance Improvement for Johns Hopkins Medicine and a Physician Advisor for Care Coordination and Clinical Resource Management at Johns Hopkins Hospital. An established surgeon, physician leader, and researcher, she is passionate about performance improvement in healthcare delivery. Dr. Boss is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. Her top areas of expertise are Tongue Tie, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Otitis Media with Effusion, Adenoidectomy, and Myringotomy.

Damian Birchess is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Birchess is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Hemochromatosis, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Bronchitis, and Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young.

Julie Winston is a Plastic Surgeon and an Otolaryngologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Winston is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. Her top areas of expertise are Nasal Polyps, Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Spasmodic Dysphonia, and Vocal Cord Dysfunction. Dr. Winston is currently accepting new patients.

Dario Kunar is an Otolaryngologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Kunar is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Nasal Polyps, Infant Hearing Loss, and DFNB1. Dr. Kunar is currently accepting new patients.

Carla Lawson is an Otolaryngologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Lawson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. Her top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, Familial Deafness, Ruptured Eardrum, DFNB1, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Lawson is currently accepting new patients.