University of Pittsburgh / VA Medical Center
- Assistant Professor in Head Neck Surgery
Rohan R. Walvekar, MD, earned his doctoral degree from the University of Mumbai. After graduating in 1998, he completed a residency in Otolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery at the TN Medical College & BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai, India, with triple honors. Subsequently, he completed two head neck surgery fellowships, and trained at at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, which is India’s most prestigious cancer institute. After completing an Advanced Head Neck Oncologic Surgery fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, he became an Assistant Professor in Head Neck Surgery within the Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh/VA Medical Center, prior to joining the LSU Health Sciences Center in July 2008. His clinical interests are head neck surgery and salivary endoscopy. His research interests include evaluating prognostic markers and clinical outcomes of head and neck cancer therapy and treatment of salivary gland disorders.
- Director, Head and Neck Robotic Surgery Program
- Director of the Advanced Head and Neck Oncology, Skull Base, and Rhinology Fellowships
- Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Dr. Adam Mikial Zanation is a tenure tract Associate Professor within the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also the Director of the Head and Neck Robotic Surgery Program and the Director of the Advanced Head and Neck Oncology, Skull Base, and Rhinology Fellowships. He was born on July 11, 1976, in Concord, North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina where he was a three-year graduate with honors and research commendation in 1997. He then matriculated to the University of North Carolina School of Medicine where he graduated 1of 4 students in his class with highest honors. Following residency, Dr. Zanation completed a Cranial Base Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Zanation’s clinical practices focus on cranial base surgery, specifically employing endoscopic and minimally invasive approaches to complex tumor locations. His clinical research focuses on quality of life, neurofunctional, and neurocognitive outcomes, as well as application of new surgical technology such as robotic surgery to reduce patient morbidity. Dr. Zanation’s translational basic research interests focuses on genomic analyses of head and neck tumors and thyroid cancers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Dr. Zanation currently has 70 PubMed Indexed publications and in the last five years has presented at over 60 national and international meetings. Dr. Zanation is married to Jennifer Stegall Zanation who is a Neonatal ICU Pharmacist at UNC Hospitals. They have two young children and enjoy a multitude of outdoor activities.
- Director, Cochlear Implant and Auditory Brainstem Implant Program
- Program Director, Neurotology Fellowship
- Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology
Dr. Ravi Samy was born in Madras (now Chennai), India. He emigrated to the United States in 1973, at the age of 4. The first city in the US in which he lived was Canton, OH. After spending a few years in Connecticut during his father’s psychiatry residency, he moved to Wichita Falls, TX. He spent most of his formative years in Texas and considers himself a Texan. After graduating high school as co-valedictorian, Dr. Samy matriculated at Duke University. He graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Zoology in 1991. He then stayed on at Duke University School of Medicine and graduated in 1995. From 1995-2000, Dr. Samy was an intern and then a resident at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he developed a love for otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. From 2000-2002, he was a fellow in Neurotology at the University of Iowa. After graduating, he was an Assistant Professor from 2002-2005 at UT-Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. Although he never wanted to leave Texas again, he was enamored with a phenomenal academic opportunity in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center. He has been there for almost 8 years. He became an Associate Professor last year. During his time here, he has created an ACGME accredited, two-year Neurotology fellowship, one of only approximately 15 in the country. Dr. Samy serves not only as Program Director for the Neurotology Fellowship but also as the Director of the Cochlear Implant and Auditory Brainstem Implant program. His research interests include cochlear and auditory brainstem implantation as well as acoustic neuromas, neurofibromatosis type 2, facial nerve tumors, and other diseases and disorders of the lateral skull base. Finally, he is interested in using novel techniques and technologies to eradicate tumors, such as the use of surgical robotic systems or synthetic biology in the form of bacterial robotics systems. He is collaborating with researchers in India, including one of his former fellows, to incorporate these technologies and to enhance global health and increase collaboration between UC and international institutions, thus benefiting both US citizens and those of other nations.
Dr. Samy’s website, CiSurgeon.org provides information about Cochlear Implants, including FAQ, Cochlear Implant Surgery, preparation and more.
- Director, Emory Voice Center
- Associate Professor
- Department of Otolaryngology
Dr. Johns is a graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology at the University of Michigan and trained as a research fellow through a National Institute of Health program. He then pursued a fellowship in laryngology and care of the professional voice at the Vanderbilt Voice Center at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Johns was awarded the highest honors during his academic career, including membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He is the director of the Emory Voice Center at Emory University, pursing research, teaching and clinical care, with a specific interest in geriatric laryngology and the aging voice.
- Professor and Vice Chair
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery
Ehab Hanna, M.D., FACS, is an internationally recognized head and neck surgeon and expert in the treatment of patients with skull base tumors and head and neck cancer. He is Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. After earning his medical degree, he completed a surgery internship at Vanderbilt University, and residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at The Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. He received advanced fellowship training in skull base surgery and head and neck surgical oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He joined the MD Anderson faculty in 2004 with a joint appointment at Baylor College of Medicine. He is the medical director of the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Center and co- director of the Skull Base Tumor program at MD Anderson. Dr. Hanna recently served as President of the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS) which was founded in 1989, and is a professional medical society that facilitates communication worldwide between individuals pursuing clinical and research excellence in skull base surgery. Dr. Hanna is leading the development of minimally invasive and robotic applications in skull base surgery. He has consistently been named one of America’s Top Doctors by the Castle Connolly Guide. In addition to patient care, Dr. Hanna is actively engaged in clinical and translational research with emphasis on skull base tumors. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal of Head & Neck, which is the official journal of the International Federation of Head and Neck Societies. He also co-edited a text book on “Comprehensive Management of Skull Base Tumors”.
- Chair, University of North Carolina Department of Otolaryngology
- Thomas J. Dark Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery
Harold C. Pillsbury, III, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the Chair of the UNC Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, as well as the Thomas J. Dark Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Pillsbury earned his B.A. and M.D. degrees from George Washington University in Washington, DC (1970 and 1972, respectively). He completed his residency training in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in 1976. Following six years at the Yale University School of Medicine, he joined the UNC faculty in 1982 as an Associate Professor. He served as Chief of the Division of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery from 1983 to 2001.
Dr. Pillsbury has completed an eighteen year term on the American Board of Otolaryngology where he served as Exam Chair and President. He is also past President of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The American Laryngological Association, The Society of University Otolaryngologists, and the Triological Society. He is also past CME coordinator and Vice-President of the Southern Section Triological Society. He is the past President of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy.
Dr. Pillsbury has written and/or contributed to over 270 publications and over 45 textbooks. He has also given over 326 presentations nationally and internationally. He has been the primary investigator or co-investigator on over 21 grants. His special field of interest is neurotology and, most especially, cochlear implantation.
