Dr. Megan E. Ballard

Diego Preciado, MD, PhD, FACS, FAAP, is a fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) and serves as division chief of Otolaryngology at Children’s National Hospital. He holds the Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Otolaryngology and is a professor (with tenure) of surgery and pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He is board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and holds subspecialty certification in Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology. Born in Minneapolis and raised in Panama, Dr. Preciado returned to the United States after high school and graduated cum laude from Georgetown University in 1992. He earned both his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Minnesota (1998–2002), followed by a fellowship in Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (2002–2004). Dr. Preciado joined the faculty at Children’s National in 2006, where he leads complex tertiary referral surgical programs in pediatric airway reconstruction, childhood hearing loss and cochlear implantation, and velopharyngeal dysfunction. In addition to his clinical work, he directs a translational research program focused on pediatric otolaryngologic disease. His research has been supported by numerous intra- and extramural funding sources, including NIH R01, U01 and R21 grants. He has authored more than 175 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, 25 book chapters and three edited volumes. In 2020, he received the Robert Ruben Scientific Achievement Award from the Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children. He has served as president of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (2020–2021) and the International Society for Otitis Media (2019–2023). He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Preciado has been married to Argentinian architect Magali Remudo since 2004, and together they are the proud parents of four children. In his spare time, he enjoys running, grilling over wood flame and reading contemporary fiction. Dr. Preciado is highly rated in 9 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Otitis Media with Effusion, Laryngomalacia, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Myringotomy, and Adenoidectomy. Dr. Preciado is board certified in Otolaryngology: American Board Of Otolaryngology, 2003 and American Board Of Otolaryngology, 2021. Dr. Preciado is currently accepting new patients.

George H. Zalzal, MD, FACS, FAAP, is the emeritus division chief of Otolaryngology at Children’s National Hospital. He is a fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) and a tenured professor of surgery and pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He is board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and holds subspecialty certification in Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology. Dr. Zalzal is internationally recognized for his expertise in pediatric airway management and is considered one of the world’s pioneering leading experts in pediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction and endoscopic management, such as supraglottoplasty for the treatment of severe laryngomalacia. He provides complex pediatric ENT care at Children’s National as well as general ENT services at affiliated ambulatory sites. He earned his medical degree followed by residency from the American University of Beirut in 1983. Then did a two-year fellowship in Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (1983–1985) and stayed on staff for one year. He joined the faculty at Children’s National in 1986 and served as division chief for 28.5 years (1994–2022), during which time he expanded the division into a nationally and internationally recognized leader and training center in complex pediatric otolaryngology. Dr. Zalzal has trained over 60 fellows and many more residents over the years. Dr. Zalzal has authored more than 160 peer-reviewed publications and presented research at over 250 national and international meetings. He served as associate editor of JAMA Archives of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery for 10 years and currently serves on editorial review boards for multiple specialty journals. He also served as president of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (2003–2004). In recognition of his many contributions, Dr. Zalzal received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology and the Gabriel F. Tucker Award from the American Laryngological Association. Dr. Zalzal is highly rated in 5 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Laryngomalacia, Stridor, Micrognathia, Adenoidectomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Zalzal is board certified in American Board Of Otolaryngology, 2022 and Otolaryngology: American Board Of Otolaryngology, 1996. Dr. Zalzal is currently accepting new patients.

"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 highly rated in 5 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Tongue Tie, Infant Hearing Loss, Laryngomalacia, Adenoidectomy, and Myringotomy. Dr. Walsh is board certified in Head And Neck Surgery. Dr. Walsh is currently accepting new patients.