Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Overview
Learn About Velopharyngeal Insufficiency
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Proliance Surgeons
Jonathan Kopelovich, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist, who cares for problems that affect the head, neck, ear, nose and throat. He has additional board-certification and fellowship training in complex pediatric otolaryngology and has extensive experience in airway, craniofacial and ear surgery for children. Dr. Kopelovich believes in a collaborative and holistic approach to caring for every child.Raised on the gulf coast of Florida, Dr. Kopelovich pursued higher education in Philadelphia. He graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, then attended Jefferson Medical College and spent an additional year at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia devoted to cochlear implant research in children.Inspired by these experiences, Dr. Kopelovich completed otolaryngology residency and a neurobiology research fellowship at the University of Iowa, followed by a fellowship year in pediatric ENT at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. While training, he focused on diseases affecting breathing, sleep, facial development and hearing. In addition to a stellar publication record, Dr. Kopelovich is passionate about decreasing the environmental impact of medicine. Since starting in practice with Bellevue Ear Nose and Throat, Dr. Kopelovich has organized and led multiple interdisciplinary provider groups in King County to help coordinate care for children with complicated head and neck issues. Additionally, he serves as the pediatric otolaryngology consultant for four neonatal ICUs.Dr. Kopelovich lives on Mercer Island with his wife, Rachel, a Seattle native and acupuncturist, and their three children. He enjoys hiking and skiing with his family in the Cascades and is an avid fan of all elements of hip hop culture. Dr. Kopelovich is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency. His top areas of expertise are Hearing Loss, Enlarged Adenoids, Stridor, and Low Nasal Bridge.
Jonathan Skirko is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist and an Otolaryngologist in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Skirko is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency. His top areas of expertise are Velopharyngeal Insufficiency, Palatopharyngeal Incompetence, Pierre Robin Sequence, Micrognathia, and Adenoidectomy. Dr. Skirko is currently accepting new patients.
Thomas Sitzman is a Plastic Surgeon in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Sitzman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency. His top areas of expertise are Velopharyngeal Insufficiency, Cleft Lip and Palate, Autosomal Cleft Palate, Osteotomy, and Adenoidectomy. Dr. Sitzman is currently accepting new patients.
Summary: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is the most common congenital malformation, with about one in 500 children born with CL/P in Sweden, corresponding to approximately 175 births annually. Depending on the extent of the cleft palate, the degree of functional loss varies, but both eating, hearing, speech, bite and appearance can be affected. Patients treated for isolated or combined cleft palate may suf...
