UH Voice, Airway and Swallowing Center
Part of the University Hospitals Ear, Nose, & Throat Institute
Leadership
Director
Team Physicians/Providers
N. Scott Howard, MD | Division Chief, Laryngology, Voice and Airway Disorders, Laryngeal Cancer Specialist, Neurolaryngology Specialist, ENT Institute, Professor of Surgery and Professor, Department of Anatomy, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Nina Zhao, MD | Dysphagia Director, Swallowing Disorders, ENT Institute, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Nicole Maronian, MD | Director, ENT Institute, Richard W. and Patricia R. Pogue Leadership Chair in OTO-HNS, University Hospitals, Chair, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Julius W. McCall Professor and Endowed Chair, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Bryce Bartch, CNP | Voice and Swallowing Center, ENT Institute
Speech-Language Pathology Team
Tracey Newman, CCC-SLP | Senior Clinician, Voice Team Lead | Clinical partner to Nicole Maronian, MD
Lex Rakowski, CCC-SLP | Clinical Specialist, Singing Voice, TG care | Clinical partner to N. Scott Howard, MD
Alexis Nahra, MA, CCC-SLP | Clinical Specialist, Dysphagia Team Lead | Clinical partner to Nina Zhao, MD
Click here to learn more about our MBS and FEES Specialist
Contact Information
Appointments | Please call Angel Warner at 216-844-5055
Hospital Transfers | For physician-to-physician transfers, call the UH Transfer Center at 216-844-1111.
Conditions We Treat
- Vocal fold paralysis and paresis
- Laryngeal cancer and benign tumors
- Airway stenosis (subglottic, tracheal, and glottic)
- Spasmodic dysphonia and other laryngeal dystonias
- Vocal fold lesions (nodules, cysts, polyps, papilloma)
- Chronic cough and paradoxical vocal fold motion
- Swallowing disorders (oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia)
- Zenker’s diverticulum
Advanced Procedures & Therapies
- Office and OR-based laser therapy (KTP and CO₂) for airway and laryngeal lesions
- Endoscopic Laser and open partial laryngectomy with voice preservation focus
- Complex airway reconstruction, including laser, balloon dilation, airway stents, cricotracheal resection (CTR), segmental tracheal resection (TR), and tissue transfer/expansion
- Botulinum toxin injections for adductor or abductor laryngeal dystonia using BOTOX®
- SLAD/R Surgery for adductor laryngeal dystonia/spasmodic dysphonia
- Office-based flexible transnasal esophagoscopy
- Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)
- Office-based awake bronchoscopy and tracheoscopy
- Office-based injection augmentation for vocal fold paralysis Prolaryn® and Restylane®
- Professional voice therapy and rehabilitation for singers, teachers, executives and vocal athletes
- Endoscopic Zenker’s diverticulotomy and Open Zenker's Repair
- Awake vocal fold medialization laryngoplasty with intraoperative voice tuning
What Sets Us Apart
- Truly multidisciplinary care: otolaryngologists and speech-language pathologists collaborate in joint clinics and modern procedure suites.
- Innovative awake surgery techniques, allowing real-time voice optimization during medialization and injection procedures.
- Leadership in laryngeal papilloma management, integrating KTP laser and adjuvant medical therapy (e.g., bevacizumab/Avastin/Cidofovir/Papzimeos).
- Comprehensive airway management from office-based procedures to open reconstructive surgery.
- Focus on voice and swallow preservation even in complex oncologic and airway reconstructions.
- Personalized rehabilitation plans for professional voice users and post-surgical recovery.