Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/111490
++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +++ +CliniCal Spotlight +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Voice Center at Cleveland Clinic Head & Neck Institute S uccessfully performing the world's first total laryngeal transplant put Cleveland Clinic otolaryngologists in the spotlight in 1998. Today, Cleveland Clinic's Head & Neck Institute otolaryngologists maintain their focus on the larynx with a state-of-the-art Voice Center. The Voice Center is a specialty clinic for professionals and nonprofessionals with voice disorders ranging from mild dysphonia to laryngeal cancer. A unique concentration of expertise "Our unique combination of staff, clinical resources and philosophy of care attracts patients from across the country and around the world," says Michael S. Benninger, MD, Chairman of the Head & Neck Institute. Dr. Benninger is immediate Past-President of the American Laryngologic Association and President of the International Association of Phonosurgery. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Voice Foundation and co-author of The Singer's Voice, his sixth book. Four subspecialized otolaryngologists and two PhD speechlanguage pathologists staff the center, which is directed by Douglas Hicks, PhD. Dr. Hicks is also Head of Speech-Language Pathology at Cleveland Clinic. For nearly 40 years, he has been actively involved in clinical care for voice patients and is a popular speaker and author. In addition, he is a company doctor for Cleveland's various performance venues, providing voice care to professional actors, singers and musicians. "There are four options when caring for patients with voice disorders: medical management, surgical management, behavioral management and a combination of the three," Dr. Hicks explains. "The medical and surgical management fall to my ENT colleagues. Behavioral management falls to the speech-language pathologists." The Voice Center's staff members work closely with specialists and have access to the full resources of Cleveland Clinic. Pictured in the back row, left to right are Shirley Petrasko, Quinana Custard, MA, Paul C. Bryson, MD, Tom Abelson, MD, Kim Kilgore, MA, and Joann Kmiecik, MA. In the front row are Claudio Millstein, PhD; Douglas Hicks, PhD, Director, The Voice Center; Michael S. Benninger, MD, Chairman, Head & Neck Institute; and Richard Freeman, MD, PhD. PHoToS CouRTeSy oF CleVelAND ClINIC 28 | Cleveland/akron/Canton md news n mdnews.com n mArch-April 2013