VOICE DISORDERS

Voice is a unique and integral part of each person’s identity, impacting virtually every aspect of our daily lives. A Voice Disorder is any abnormality of the voice production system that results in a change in your voice. Voice disorders can be caused by a variety of factors, and different types of voice disorders can have similar symptoms.

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SWALLOWING DISORDERS

Swallowing is a highly complex process that takes the effort of more than 30 muscles.  It is often taken for granted, until one has a Swallowing Disorder. Difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia, occurs in 40% of people over the age of 60. In addition to the significant social impact of being fearful of eating, it may result in life-threatening effects such as malnutrition, asphyxiation or aspiration pneumonia.

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AIRWAY DISORDERS

While many of the problems of breathing and coughing are issues associated with lungs, they can also be due to Airway Disorders.  These are disorders of the upper airway, the larynx and trachea, where air is blocked from passing to the lungs making it difficult to breath or resulting in noisy breathing.   The airway can also be hypersensitive, causing a chronic dry cough.

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Michael Pitman, MD

Chief, Division of Laryngology at the Columbia University Medical Center. Director of the Voice and Swallowing Institute of Columbia Doctors.

Michael J. Pitman MD is the Lawrence Savetsky Professor of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center, where he is the Chief of the Division of Laryngology and the Director of The Center For Voice And Swallowing.

Dr. Pitman is an internationally recognized expert in voice restoration, conservation and care of the professional voice as well as in the care of swallowing and airway disorders. Dr. Pitman is also a biomedical developer and NIH funded clinician scientist. He has numerous publications, grants, and patents for pioneering research in the field of Laryngology. His contributions have significantly impacted the care provided to laryngology patients.  Dr. Pitman lectures extensively both nationally and internationally, and he has been voted by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America”, New York Magazine “Top Doctors” and New York Times “SuperDocs”.  He has served as President of the New York Laryngological Society, Secretary and President of the American Broncho-Esophagological Society, and Chair of the Airway and Swallowing Committee for the American Academy of Otolaryngology.

Dr. Pitman’s areas of clinical expertise includes care for the professional voice  and illnesses such as vocal fold paralysis, early laryngeal cancer, cricopharyngeal dysfunction, spasmodic dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux, chronic cough, laryngotracheal stenosis, vocal fold polyps, nodules and cysts. Dr. Pitman is also known for the treatment of many of these disorders with minimally invasive, in-office procedures without the need for general anesthesia.

Dr. Pitman received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he graduated as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his otolaryngology residency at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and was a fellow in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

MICHAEL J. PITMAN, MD

Chief, Division of Laryngology at the Columbia University Medical Center. Director of the Voice and Swallowing Institute of Columbia Doctors.

IN THE NEWS

MICHAEL J. PITMAN

Chief, Division of Laryngology at the Columbia University Medical Center. Director of the Voice and Swallowing Institute of Columbia Doctors.

Dr. Pitman is an internationally recognized expert in voice restoration, conservation and care of the professional voice as well as in the care of swallowing and airway disorders. These areas include illnesses such as vocal fold paralysis, cricopharyngeal dysfunction, spasmodic dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux, chronic cough, laryngotracheal stenosis, vocal fold polyps, nodules and cysts.

He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he graduated as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his otolaryngology residency at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and was a fellow in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 

Dr. Pitman has been voted by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America”, as well as to New York Magazine “Top Doctors” and New York Times “SuperDocs”. Dr. Pitman has received numerous grants for pioneering research in the field of Laryngology. He has authored many articles for peer reviewed journals as well as book chapters, and he lectures extensively both nationally and internationally.
Curriculum Vitae