Voice is central to human communication, social interaction, identity, and may be critical for professional success. Many professionals depend on having a good voice, including teachers, singers, clergy, attorneys, and call center operators. Swallowing and breathing are also vital life functions and problems in either area can lead to significant reduction in quality of life. I am grateful to have the opportunity to help people every day who are experiencing voice, breathing or swallowing problems. My goal is to collaborate with patients in a team-based, interdisciplinary approach to restore patients' voices and ability to communicate and perform, swallow, and breathe. I work with patients to personalize treatment decisions to fit their individual needs. This may include medical treatments and/or surgical interventions, as well as voice and swallowing therapy in collaboration with my speech-language pathology and singing voice specialist colleagues. Dr. Cohen is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngitis, Perichondritis, Glossectomy, and Endoscopy.

Alissa Collins is an Otolaryngologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Collins is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Her top areas of expertise are Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Swallowing Difficulty, and Laryngectomy. Dr. Collins is currently accepting new patients.

Robert Buckmire is an Otolaryngologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Buckmire is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Laryngectomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Buckmire is currently accepting new patients.

Rupali Shah is an Otolaryngologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Shah is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Her top areas of expertise are Subglottic Stenosis, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Laryngectomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Shah is currently accepting new patients.

I am a surgeon who specializes in treating both children and adults of all ages for conditions affecting the ears, nose and sinuses, and neck and throat. I am a general Otolaryngologist who treats a wide variety of medical and surgical diseases. This includes everything from ear infections to sinus infections and some head and neck cancers. I do my best to be accessible to my patients, call them personally with results and updates, and have same-day clinic availability. My goal is to have a team approach with high quality and individualized care while staying at the forefront of current research and treatment plans. Patients may work with our audiologists or speech-language pathologists to help treat their conditions as well. When I’m not at work, I’m usually out with my Great Dane or trying a new food scene in Durham and Chapel Hill. Dr. Oberman is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, Salivary Duct Stones, Angiomyoma, DFNB1, and Parathyroidectomy.

David Witsell is an Otolaryngologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Witsell is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Hearing Loss, Balloon Sinuplasty, and Myringotomy.

Jeffrey Blumberg is an Otolaryngologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Blumberg is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Acinic Cell Carcinoma of Salivary Glands, Salivary Gland Tumors, Laryngeal Cancer, Thyroidectomy, and Laryngectomy. Dr. Blumberg is currently accepting new patients.

Trevor Hackman is an Otolaryngologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Hackman is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), Salivary Gland Tumors, Sialadenitis, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Hackman is currently accepting new patients.

Lauren Leeper is an Otolaryngologist and a Pediatric Otolaryngologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Leeper is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Her top areas of expertise are Palatopharyngeal Incompetence, Syngnathia Cleft Palate, Autosomal Cleft Palate, and Laryngeal Cleft. Dr. Leeper is currently accepting new patients.

We live in a noisy world, one in which sound and our hearing abilities shape the way we communicate and interact with one another. As an ear, nose, and throat doctor and otologist, I am privileged to provide medical and surgical care to patients with ear diseases and disorders of hearing and balance, including cochlear implants and other implantable hearing devices. Every patient presents their own unique circumstances and challenges, and I am committed to providing empathetic and individualized care to meet a patient’s unique needs. I value a strong relationship with my patients and try to treat every patient as I would my own family. As a clinician-scientist with interests in the fundamental mechanisms of hearing and verbal communication, I try to bring the same level of inquisitiveness to solving my patient’s problems that I use in all aspects of my professional life. When not seeing patients, I spend my research time trying to better understand how we hear and finding better ways to improve hearing and communication. Dr. Eliades is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, Vertigo, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, DFNB1, and Myringotomy.

I feel very blessed to have a profession that allows me to serve patients with both cancerous and non-cancerous diseases of the head and neck. As a head and neck surgeon, I carefully weigh the risks and benefits of treatment — working with our team to maximize the chance for cure while maintaining the highest quality of life. As a physician, my approach to patient care includes addressing one's physical, emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual needs and well-being. My research endeavors strive to improve the care we provide to patients with head and neck cancers. I have had a research program in tumor immunotherapy. I am active in addressing global health needs, being involved with regular humanitarian mission trips throughout the world. I am also active in training the next generation of surgeons that are able to address and solve challenges in an ethical and virtuous way. I have, along with my colleagues, developed and instituted a virtue-based approach to residency training that will meet this need. When not at work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and four kids in a variety of activities. Dr. Lee is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Angiosarcoma of the Scalp, Melanoma, Tongue Cancer, Tissue Biopsy, and Myringotomy.

I focus on treating patients with head and neck cancer, thyroid and parathyroid disorders, and maxillofacial trauma. I also have interests in microvascular (free flap) reconstruction, transoral robotic surgery, salivary endoscopy and medical education. I was privileged to do my residency training here at Duke and look forward to bringing my energy, dedication and leadership to our group. Dr. Kahmke is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Laryngeal Cancer, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Throat Cancer, Laryngectomy, and Tissue Biopsy.

I found myself fascinated by otolaryngology early in my medical school training because of the wide variety of patients and procedures we get to manage. I have always enjoyed technology and thinking outside of the box, which is a perfect match for this specialty. Additionally, I really love working with children and their families; it is a privilege to play a small role in a child's growth and development. I am drawn to surgery because it epitomizes the combination of art and science in medicine allowing for creative solutions to complicated problems. In my free time, I also pursue creative hobbies. I play the piano, and I still take lessons weekly. I started piano with my daughter when she was four and both my children are in musical fields now. I also make jewelry, enjoy learning languages, such as Spanish and Russian, reading, traveling, and practicing photography with my husband. We both like being with friends and family whether we are cooking at home or checking out new cuisine. Dr. Raynor is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Her top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, Otitis Media with Effusion, Hearing Loss, Myringotomy, and Adenoidectomy.

Sean Johnson is an Otolaryngologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Johnson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Palatal Myoclonus, Ozena, Nonallergic Rhinopathy, and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP). Dr. Johnson is currently accepting new patients.

Sheila Ryan is an Otolaryngologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Ryan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Her top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, DFNB1, Jones Syndrome, and Ruptured Eardrum.