Skip to main content

Otolaryngology | Head and Neck Surgery

  • Patient Care
    • Adult Ear, Nose, and Throat
    • Airway, Voice, and Swallowing
    • Cancers and Tumors
    • Facial Plastic Surgery
    • Hearing and Balance
    • Nose and Sinus
    • Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat
    • Sleep Surgery
  • Research
    • Clinical Trials For Patients
    • Clinical Research
      • Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat
    • Laboratory Research
      • Auditory and Speech Research
      • Head and Neck Oncology Research
  • Education
    • Residency Program
      • Getting to Know Us
      • Application Procedure
      • Meet Our Residents
    • Fellowships
      • Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
      • Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice
      • Pediatric Otolaryngology
      • Bryan Hemming Endowed Fellowship in Head and Neck Cancer
      • Meet Our Fellows
    • Clerkships
    • Supporting Diversity
    • Alumni
    • Events/Education (CME)
      • CME Conferences
      • Endowed Lectures
      • Grand Rounds
    • Education Videos
  • About
    • Chair's Address
    • Commitment to Diversity
    • People
    • News
      • HeadsUp! Newsletter
    • Events
    • Locations
    • Contact Us
      • Make a Gift
      • Make an Appointment
  • Make a Gift
  • Search
  • Adult Ear, Nose, and Throat
  • Airway, Voice, and Swallowing
  • Cancers and Tumors
  • Facial Plastic Surgery
  • Hearing and Balance
  • Nose and Sinus
  • Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat
  • Sleep Surgery
  • HeadsUp! Newsletter
  • Make a Gift
  • Make an Appointment

Take Action

Schedule an Appointment

Refer a Patient

Make a Gift

Take Action

Schedule an Appointment

Refer a Patient

Make a Gift

Airway, Voice, and Swallowing

Division of Laryngology

Visit Our SiteFor more information

The Airway, Voice, and Swallowing Center is world renowned as a leading multidisciplinary center designed to serve patients with voice, airway, and swallowing disorders. We provide advanced medical, surgical, and behavioral services for the accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of a wide range of voice and speech complaints, swallowing complaints, and other disorders of the upper airway, including larynx and trachea.

Nationally and internationally, we are recognized for our fellowship-trained otolaryngologists (laryngologists) and speech-language pathologists who are voice and swallowing specialists. Our team also includes an Advanced Healthcare Provider (AHP) team comprised of Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who work collaboratively with physicians to provide excellent patient care. We work closely with neurologists, pulmonologists, and physical therapists to care for the entire patient and manage their voice and swallowing difficulties in a holistic environment. Together, we strive to provide personalized, comprehensive care for each patient that enters our center.

Visit our Voice and Swallowing Center website to learn more!

See how the UCSF Voice and Swallowing Center partners with the San Francisco Opera to keep singers healthy.

Airway Disorders

Breathing is an essential activity for living. As a result, any restriction in breathing can be distressing and at worst, life-threatening. At our Center we routinely evaluate and treat upper airway disorders including:

  • Bilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis
  • Irritable Larynx
  • Laryngotracheal Stenosis
  • Posterior Glottic Stenosis

Voice and Speech Disorders

Regardless of whether one is a world class opera singer, an attorney, a teacher or a parent, everyone depends on his or her voice in the course of everyday life. Voice problems are disabling and the diagnosis and treatment of voice complaints can be challenging. Our team is dedicated to moving through this process with you.

Hoarseness can be the result of a vast diversity of conditions. Problems treated at our Center include:

  • Benign Vocal Fold Lesions
  • Early Larynx Cancer
  • Larygopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)
  • Muscle Tension Dysphonia
  • Neurological Voice disorders
    • Parkinson’s Disease
    • Spasmodic Dysphonia
    • Vocal Tremor
  • Papillomatosis
  • Professional Voice
  • Transgender Voice and Communication
  • Vocal Fold Motion Impairment

Additionally, we treat patients with neurological speech difficulties related to demyelinating and basal ganglia disorders such as ALS, PLS, Pseudobulbar palsy and Parkinson’s disease.

Swallowing Disorders

Swallowing, like breathing, is yet another vital function of the larynx. Yet, beyond just the sustainment of life, swallowing also contributes to the quality of life. One cannot fully experience a delicious holiday dinner or a special glass of wine without good swallowing function. We work with patients presenting with a range of swallowing complaints including:

  • Cricopharyngeal Bar
  • Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
  • Zenker’s Diverticulum

After head and neck cancer treatment, one’s ability to swallow is the most important factor in determining overall happiness. Our team of board certified otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons and specialized speech language pathologists work with cancer survivors who have impaired swallowing as a result of their disease or treatment. If recurrent or persistent cancer is identified by a member of our team, we will work with the patient to identify optimal oncological treatment, while preserving the best speech and swallowing function possible.

Speech and Language Pathologists

  • Sarah L. Schneider, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Rachel Argon, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Meg Cafferkey, MA
  • Cara Evans, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Brittany L. Mitchell, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Alyson Pappas, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC
  • Erik Steele, MFA, MA
  • Zoe Weston, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Sky Yang, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Desi Gutierrez, MA, CCC-SLP
  • Lois L Chen, MS, CCC-SLP
 

Contact Us

Phone: (415) 885-7700
Fax: (415) 885-7800

2330 Post Street, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94115

Meet Our Team

Clark Rosen, MD
Clark Rosen, MD
VyVy Young, MD
Yue Ma, MD
Sarah Schneider
Rachel Agron
Margaret Cafferkey
Cara Evans
Brittany Mitchell
Alyson Pappas
Alyson Pappas
Erik Steele
Matthew Stephen
Zoe Weston
Sky Yang
Airway, Voice, and Swallowing Clinical Trials
A Randomized Study of Mitomycin-C Application in the Endoscopic Surgical Treatment of Patients With Laryngotracheal Stenosis
REVIVE trial
Stem cell clinical trial for swallowing disorders that occur after treatment for tonsil or tongue cancer. This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial with two clinical sites: UCSF and UC Davis.

Make Appointment Make a Gift Refer a Patient

  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Contact Us