Physicians
Paul W. Flint, M.D., Cummings Professor and Director
Clinical interests include phonosurgical procedures, professional voice, tumors of the airway, management of patients with movement disorders (including laryngeal and oromandibular dystonia), neuromuscular disorders affecting laryngeal function, such as Parkinson's Disease and Tremor.
In addition, Dr. Flint has experience with dysphagia including management of Zenker's diverticulum and other disorders of the cervical esophagus. Research interests include neuroanatomic and physiologic changes occurring with laryngeal injury, use of prosthetic materials for laryngeal implantation in patients with laryngeal paralysis, gene therapy for local delivery of growth factors to enhance nerve regeneration in the paralyzed larynx, and application of micro-robotics for laryngeal surgery.
Charles W. Cummings, M.D., Professor
Dr. Cummings is dedicated to organ conservation surgical procedures for cancer of the larynx. He has been instrumental in the development and implementation of surgical and non-surgical methods for rehabilitation of the paralyzed vocal fold. He is also investigating methods for improving the impaired airway.
David Tunkel, M.D., FAAP, FACS, Associate Professor
Dr. Tunkel is a pediatric otolaryngologist-head & neck surgeon with many clinical interests including the management of subglottic stenosis, specifically the surgical treatment of intubation injuries; congenital lesions, and the evaluation, preservation, and restoration of voice related to laryngotracheal reconstruction. Additionally, he is interested in the natural history and outcomes analysis of vocal cord paralysis in young children. He is involved in the evaluation of chronic aspiration in infants and the management of complex/multifactorial airway obstruction including sleep apnea, and the craniofacial and neuromotor populations.
Speech-Language Pathologists
Donna C. Tippett, M.P.H., M.A., CCC-SLP
Particular clinical and research interests are the facilitation of speaking and swallowing in individuals with tracheostomy and ventilator dependency, dysphagea associated with neurologic disorders and head and neck cancer, and neurologic communication disorders.
Kim Webster, M.A., CCC-SLP
Clinical interests include evaluation and treatment of adult and pediatric speech and language disorders with special interest in pediatric speech-language delay, and voice and swallowing rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients.
