
Overview
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 highly rated in 14 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy.
Dr. Best is board certified in Head And Neck Surgery and The American Board Of Otolaryngology - Head And Neck Surgery, 2012. Dr. Best is currently accepting new patients.
Specialties
Licenses
Board Certifications
Fellowships
Hospital Affiliations
Languages Spoken
Gender
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MEDICARE PDP
- PPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- EPO
- POS
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- HMO
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MANAGED MEDICAID
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- PPO
- OTHER MEDICAID
- STATE MEDICAID
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
Locations
6420 Rockledge Drive, Suite 4920, Bethesda, MD 20817
Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center — Bethesda
Nyall London has a unique clinical practice focused on the care of patients with sinonasal and skull base cancers. As one of the few surgeons trained in both head and neck cancer surgery, as well as rhinology and skull base surgery, he offers patients comprehensive sinonasal tumor surgical care, including open and endoscopic approaches as well as neck dissection surgery. Dr. London has developed notable patient education events about the multidisciplinary and long-term care of patients with sinonasal malignancies. Additionally, he is an innovator of clinical trials for these rare tumors, with open clinical trial options available and multiple others in development. Internationally recognized for his expertise in the care of patients with sinonasal and skull base cancers, Dr. London was an associate editor for the first international consensus statement on sinonasal tumors, and was appointed president of the International Network for Sinonasal Cancer Research (2024–26). He directs a research laboratory at the National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health focused on therapeutic advances and mechanisms of sinonasal tumorigenesis. Dr. London has published more than 130 peer-reviewed research articles, reviews and book chapters, including co-first author publications in Nature, Nature Medicine, Science Translational Medicine and Nature Cell Biology. He earned his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of Utah, and completed his residency in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at Johns Hopkins. He also accomplished a fellowship in open and endoscopic head and neck and skull base surgery at The Ohio State University, under the direction of Dr. Ricardo Carrau. Dr. London is highly rated in 13 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Olfactory Neuroblastoma, Sinus Cancer, Teratocarcinosarcoma, Endoscopy, and Craniectomy. Dr. London is board certified in Head And Neck Surgery. Dr. London is currently accepting new patients.
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Head and neck surgeon David Eisele specializes in surgery for malignant and benign tumors of the head and neck, with a focus on salivary gland neoplasms and disorders of the salivary glands that can be treated surgically. He is an expert in minimally invasive surgical approaches, including sialendoscopy. Salivary gland neoplasms and disorders are also the focus of Dr. Eisele’s research. He has published more than 300 research papers and edited multiple books related to head and neck surgery. Dr. Eisele earned a medical degree from Cornell University Medical College and completed residency training in general surgery and in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Washington. From 2012 to 2025, he served as director of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Eisele is highly rated in 15 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Salivary Duct Stones, Salivary Gland Tumors, Throat Cancer, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Eisele is board certified in Head And Neck Surgery. Dr. Eisele is currently accepting new patients.
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
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 highly rated in 18 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngitis, Perichondritis, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy. Dr. Akst is board certified in Head And Neck Surgery. Dr. Akst is currently accepting new patients.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Simon R. Best
How do I make an appointment with Dr. Simon R. Best?
You can book an appointment with Dr. Simon R. Best by calling their office at 443-997-6467. MediFind provides direct contact information so you can schedule visits, second opinions, or consultations without navigating third-party calendars.
Is Dr. Simon R. Best a top-rated expert for Laryngeal Nerve Damage?
MediFind is an objective health platform that identifies experts based on real-world data. Dr. Simon R. Best is classified as an Distinguished expert for Laryngeal Nerve Damage, meaning they are among the top experts in the country for this condition. This ranking is based on their volume of patients, published research, and peer connections.
What conditions does Dr. Simon R. Best specialize in?
While Dr. Simon R. Best is a Otolaryngology, they have specific expertise in Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, and Spasmodic Dysphonia. MediFind analyzes a doctor's articles and referral patterns to identify their specific areas of focus within Otolaryngology.
Does Dr. Simon R. Best accept my insurance?
Dr. Simon R. Best accepts most major insurance plans, including Aetna and Anthem BCBS. We recommend calling the office directly at 443-997-6467 to verify that your specific plan is currently accepted before your visit.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Distinguished
- Laryngeal CancerDr. Best isDistinguished. Learn about Laryngeal Cancer.
- Laryngeal Nerve DamageDr. Best isDistinguished. Learn about Laryngeal Nerve Damage.
- LaryngitisDr. Best isDistinguished. Learn about Laryngitis.
- Recurrent Respiratory PapillomatosisDr. Best isDistinguished. Learn about Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis.
- Spasmodic DysphoniaDr. Best isDistinguished. Learn about Spasmodic Dysphonia.
- Throat CancerDr. Best isDistinguished. Learn about Throat Cancer.
- Vocal Cord DysfunctionDr. Best isDistinguished. Learn about Vocal Cord Dysfunction.
- Advanced
- Acquired TracheomalaciaDr. Best isAdvanced. Learn about Acquired Tracheomalacia.
- LaryngectomyDr. Best isAdvanced. Learn about Laryngectomy.
- Painful SwallowingDr. Best isAdvanced. Learn about Painful Swallowing.
- Palatopharyngeal IncompetenceDr. Best isAdvanced. Learn about Palatopharyngeal Incompetence.
- PerichondritisDr. Best isAdvanced. Learn about Perichondritis.
- Swallowing DifficultyDr. Best isAdvanced. Learn about Swallowing Difficulty.
- TracheobronchomalaciaDr. Best isAdvanced. Learn about Tracheobronchomalacia.
- Experienced
- Autonomic NeuropathyDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Autonomic Neuropathy.
- Chronic CoughDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Chronic Cough.
- DFNB1Dr. Best isExperienced. Learn about DFNB1.
- Dry MouthDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Dry Mouth.
- DysarthriaDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Dysarthria.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- GastrostomyDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Gastrostomy.
- Glossopharyngeal NeuralgiaDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia.
- HyperventilationDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Hyperventilation.
- Infant Hearing LossDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Infant Hearing Loss.
- Jones SyndromeDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Jones Syndrome.
- LaryngoceleDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Laryngocele.
- LaryngomalaciaDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Laryngomalacia.
- NeurofibromatosisDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Neurofibromatosis.
- Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2)Dr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2).
- RASopathiesDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about RASopathies.
- TrachomaDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Trachoma.
- VertigoDr. Best isExperienced. Learn about Vertigo.


