Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

March 5, 2026

Multidisciplinary clinic improves care for cleft lip/palate patients

A patient care coordinator now works to ensure that families receive a comprehensive care plan rather than needing to coordinate multiple disparate parts of their child’s treatment on their own.

By Evan Dorian
March 5, 2026

Thyroid cancer ‘atlas’ points to cell types that contribute to disease progression

A multi-institutional study led by Vanderbilt Health investigators provides a spatial understanding of thyroid cancer evolution and identifies cell types that may predict aggressive disease in both children and adults.

By Evan Dorian
February 24, 2026

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine ranks seventh in NIH support of disease-fighting research

Six clinical departments and two basic science departments at VUSM ranked in the top 10 among medical school departments nationwide in fiscal year 2025.  

By Bill Snyder
Photo of the exterior of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt shows the four new floors added atop the pediatric facility. (photo by Anne Rayner)
February 24, 2026

Grant supports study to improve detection of parathyroid glands in pediatric endocrine neck surgery 

Researchers will study the validity of near-infrared autofluorescence to improve detection of parathyroid glands during endocrine neck surgery, now looking at pediatric patients.

By Evan Dorian
The device, which is surgically implanted but does not contain an internal battery, allows patients to control it externally without having to undergo subsequent procedures to replace a power source.
December 12, 2025

Vanderbilt Health now offering patients a new treatment for sleep apnea

The bilateral hypoglossal nerve stimulation device is available to qualified patients who have not been able to benefit from CPAP.

By Evan Dorian
From left are are Alexander Gelbard, MD, Eben Rosenthal, MD, and Marc L. Bennett, MD, MMHC. (photo by Erin O. Smiteh)
December 8, 2025

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery advances training of doctors from around the country through strong continuing medical education 

Its residency program was recently recognized by Doximity, an online professional network for U.S. physicians, as No. 1 by reputation for the fifth consecutive year.

By Evan Dorian
October 27, 2025

Macon County father’s voice restored following oral cancer surgery

After surgical removal of a rare tumor left a sizable hole inside Nick Schrock’s mouth, he could only speak in a muffled, lispy whisper. Tyler Ames, a dentist at VUMC, fashioned a prosthetic device to close the hole and allow Schrock to speak more clearly.
By Jill Clendening
October 23, 2025

John Seibert to continue serving community through Department of Otolaryngology’s partnership with Nashville General Hospital

Seibert was officially reappointed to Nashville General in October.
By Evan Dorian
October 20, 2025

Three VUMC leaders elected to the National Academy of Medicine

With more than 2,400 members, the NAM (formerly the Institute of Medicine) collaborates closely with its peer academies, the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering, to provide independent and authoritative advice on matters of science, technology and health nationally and globally.
By Bill Snyder
October 17, 2025

Levi Watkins Jr., MD, awardees show dedication to mission to improve health care for all

Awards were presented during the 24th annual Levi Watkins Jr., MD Lecture.
By Jill Clendening
October 10, 2025

VUMC performs nation’s first surgery using latest generation of intraoperative PET-CT scan technology 

PET-CT combines the functional information gained through PET with the structural details gained by a CT scan, aiding in early detection of recurrent disease.
By Evan Dorian
September 30, 2025

Studies find connection between impaired musical rhythm abilities and developmental speech-language disorders 

Evidence showed that deficiency in musical rhythm perception is a “modest but consistent risk factor for developmental speech, language and reading disorders.”
By Evan Dorian
August 26, 2025

Grant supports development of head-mounted augmented reality system to guide tumor resection 

The technology will allow surgeons to rely less on a fallible mental construction of the resection plane, thereby reducing the risk of human error affecting the procedure. 
By Evan Dorian