Head and Neck Surgery

Postgraduate medical education remains a primary focus of The Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery program. In addition to housing an accredited residency program in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the program also interfaces with residents in General Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine.

The Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery faculty members are world-class experts who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the ear, nose, throat and head and neck for adults and children. As sub-specialists, they focus their expertise on a specific aspect of ear, nose or throat health to give their patients the best care possible. Our Centers of Excellence include:

Brown Cancer Center's Multidisciplinary Head & Neck Clinic

The Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery faculty members play an integral role in The Brown Cancer Center's Multidisciplinary Head & Neck Clinic, which was the first of its kind in Kentucky. The team meets regularly to monitor the patient's progress carefully and to adjust the treatment plan as necessary. This approach ensures that patients receive the ideal combination of treatments and therapies. The clinic offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment approaches for advanced head and neck cancers. Ours is the third leading cancer program in the nation in accrual of patients to National Cancer Institute-based clinical trials for head and neck cancer. This means patients have access to the latest head and neck cancer therapies available throughout the country.

Robotic Head & Neck Surgery

Our otolaryngologists were the first in Kentucky to use the daVinci Robot to treat disorders of the head and neck. The robot enables surgeons to perform delicate operations with breakthrough precision. It provides the surgeons with exceptional vision, precision, dexterity and improved access to the treatment site. As a result, patients experience less pain and quicker recovery.

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Dr. Ziad Katrib, board certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, provides all aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. This includes rhinoplasty, facial and nasal soft tissue reconstruction, facial trauma surgery, facial nerve reanimation, and aging face surgery.   

Skull Base Surgery Program

Faculty members from the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery play an integral role in a multidisciplinary approach to treating skull base tumors. This multidisciplinary team includes Rhinology and/or Neurotology from our department, Oculoplastics, Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology, Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, and Pathology. Our faculty were the first in Kentucky to perform endoscopic minimally invasive skull base surgery. We treat benign and malignant tumors of the anterior and lateral skull base with focus on pituitary lesions, vestibular schwannomas (“acoustic neuromas”) and meningiomas, and provide management of cerebrospinal fluid leaks. 

Significant resources are available for rehabilitation after treatment of skull base tumors. We partner with faculty members from the Communicative Disorders branch of our department to provide aural and oral rehabilitation. We also partner with U of L Health - Frazier Rehabilitation Institute to provide unparalleled physical and vestibular rehabilitation.

Louisville Center for Voice Care

Louisville native Dr. Swapna Chandran directs the Louisville Center for Voice Care. It is the only voice disorders clinic in Kentucky, and one of just a few in the region. Dr. Chandran is a fellowship-trained voice ENT who established the center with the goal of addressing these problems for patients throughout the community and region.

Parathyroid Center

For more than three decades, our otolaryngologists have collaborated with surgical oncologists to provide the best possible treatment and care for patients with hyperparathyroidism. This includes using the most advanced, sophisticated technology and techniques to diagnose and treat each patient, as well as maintaining a comprehensive database of all patients treated. We were the first in Kentucky to offer a radio-guided and intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay program for hyperparathyroidism. Many of our patients are candidates for minimally invasive parathyroid surgery.

Hearing and Balance Program

Our faculty partner with audiologists in and outside of our department to provide the most appropriate aural rehabilitation tailored for each patient. We have a robust cochlear implant and osseointegrated implant program that performs over one hundred implants yearly in pediatric and adult patients. We have close working relationships cochlear implant manufacturers, including Cochlear, Med-El, and Advanced Bionics. Dr. Lin, Director of the Hearing and Balance Program, also specializes in other hearing restoration procedures including tympanoplasty, ossicular chain reconstruction, and stapedectomy. 

Our approach to balance disorders is multidisciplinary as well. Team members include faculty from Otolaryngology, Audiology, Neurology, and Rehabilitative Medicine. The vestibular laboratory allows for comprehensive evaluation of patients suffering from dizziness. For surgical treatment of vertigo, Dr. Lin specializes in semicircular canal plugging or resurfacing, perilymphatic fistula repair, endolymphatic sac decompression or shunting, labyrinthectomy and vestibular neurectomy.

As an otologist, Dr. Lin specializes in management of diseases of the ear. Most commonly, surgical treatment of chronic ear infections or cholesteatomas require tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy. Less common diseases include glomus tumors, facial nerve disorders, and temporal bone malignancies.