Lee M. Akst, M.D.
Fellowship trained laryngologist
Director, Johns Hopkins Voice Center
Department of Otolaryngology

MD: Yale University School of Medicine
Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Laryngeal
Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation
Residency: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Board Certified:American Board of Otolaryngology

• Member of ASHA SID 2, SID 5, SID 13, SID 15
• Patti's professional interests include pediatrics (speech, language, feeding, and swallowing) and rehabilitation of neurogenic speech and language disorders in adults and children.  She is also an active member of the GBMC Craniofacial team.

Simon Best, MD

MD:  Yale University School of Medicine

Fellowship:  Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation

Residency:  Johns Hopkins Hospital

Board Certified:  American Board of Otolaryngology

Joseph A. Califano, III, MD. F.A.C.S.
Medical Director, Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center
Head and Neck Surgeon
Professor, Johns Hopkins University
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Dr. Califano earned his medical degree from Harvard University, completed his residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and his fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is a practicing head and neck surgeon with an interest in salivary gland tumors, cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, sinuses, thyroid, and skull base. He is active investigator who described the initial genetic progression model for head and neck cancer development. He is currently the principal investigator of multiple multi-institutional trials focused on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and premalignant disease of the head and neck. His current laboratory research interests include the molecular biologic basis of head and neck cancer development, with a particular interest in molecular alterations in premalignant lesions, epigenetic regulation, mitochondrial dysregulation, as well as molecular detection and surveillance.

Gwen Camacho
Administrative Assistant
Milton J. Dance Jr. Head & Neck Center

• Gwen is responsible for managing phone calls, scheduling patient appointments and registering them on the date of their office visit.

Kenneth Charles Fletcher, M.D.
Fellowship trained laryngologist

MD: The University of Alabama School of Medicine
Fellowship: Vanderbilt University
Residency: The University of Virginia
Board Certified:American Board of Otolaryngology

Lisa Clossey

• Member of ASHA
• Certified Brain Injury Specialist
• Lisa's clinical interests are in the areas of adult speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders.

Dorothy Gold, M.S.W., LCSW-C, OSW-C
Senior Clinical Oncology Social Worker
The Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center

• Board certified oncology social worker, member of the Association of Oncology Social Workers, National Association of Social Workers, and the Academy of Certified Social Workers.
• Dorothy has a special interest in assisting head and neck cancer patients and their families with the adjustments related to diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Karen Harrer, MSW, LCSW-C
Clinical Oncology Social Worker
The Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center

• Member of Association of Oncology Social Workers
• Karen has a clinical interest in assisting head and neck cancer patients and their families with the emotional adjustments and practical issues related to diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Bethany G. Hieber, M.A., CCC-SLP
Senior Speech Pathologist

• Member of ASHA, SID 13
• Bethany's clinical interests are in the areas of adult speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders, including head and neck cancer rehabilitation.
• She is actively involved in evidenced-based research looking at swallowing interventions for patients with dysphagia following treatment for head and neck cancer.

Monica Joshi, M.S., CF-SLP

• Monica Joshi, M.S., CF-SLP is currently completing her clinical fellowship at the Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center at GBMC. She received her Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola University Maryland in 2012.
• Monica's training has focused on the diagnosis and treatment of adult swallowing disorders, as well as pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. 
• She also has a clinical interest in the evaluation and treatment of infant swallowing/feeding disorders in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Melissa E. Kim, M.S., CCC-SLP
Clinical Specialist, Head and Neck Rehabilitation
The Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center

• Member of ASHA, SID 3, SID 5, SID 13, MSHA, ACPA
• Melissa's clinical interests are in the areas of voice and swallowing disorders, including head and neck cancer rehabilitation and care and treatment of the professional voice user.  She is actively involved in evidenced-based research with patients undergoing combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy.  She coordinates a community voice screening program and is a member of the GBMC Craniofacial team.

Joanna Lott, M.A., CCC-SLP
Classical Trained Singer
Singing Teacher - Voice Clinician
Speech Pathologist & Voice Specialist

• Joanna Lott received her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from The Ohio State University and was one of the first students to become certified in OSU's Singing Health Specialization program.
• Joanna is a classically trained singer and a Certified Master Teacher of the Estill Voice Training System. 
• She has been teaching singing and instructing students on care of the singing voice for more than ten years.  In the last year she has completed courses in Lessac-Madsen's Resonant Voice Therapy and "Buzzy Voice" (Resonant Voice Therapy for Kids) as well as numerous lectures and seminars in vocal technique and care of the professional singing voice.

• Member of  ASHA, SID 3, SID 13, IAL- certified instructor of alaryngeal speech, MSHA, and DRS (Dysphagia Research Society)
• Barbara has over 20 years of clinical experience in Speech-Language Pathology treating pediatrics through adults.  Her clinical interests are in the areas of head and neck rehabilitation, voice, swallowing and craniofacial disorders.   She is actively involved in evidenced-based research with patients undergoing combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and is a member of the GBMC Craniofacial team.

Keri Ryniak, RD, CSO, LDN, CNSD
Oncology Dietitian

• Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Dietitian
• Certified Nutrition Support Dietitian
• Member of the American Dietetic Association

Keri has a clinical interest in providing support and management of the nutritional needs of cancer patients.

John, R. Saunders, Jr., M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S.
Chief of Medical Staff
Greater Baltimore Head & Neck Associates
The Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center

• Chief of Medical Staff-Greater Baltimore Medical Center, fellow-American College of Surgeons, past president-the Society of Head and Neck Surgeons, past president-the Baltimore Academy of Surgery.
• Dr. Saunders holds academic appointments in Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and in Surgery at the University of Maryland and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.  He is retired from the United States Army Reserve with the rank of Colonel.  His research interests and publications have been in the area of alloplastic mandibular reconstruction, shoulder dysfunction and nutritional support and quality of life issues for patients with head and neck malignancies.

Dr. Sciubba

Dr. Sciubba is a world-renowned Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist, who has published widely and presents nationally and internationally.  He is board certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.  He provides clinical expertise in oral mucous membrane diseases, jaw tumors, odontogenic tumors, assessment and treatment of facial pain and salivary gland diseases. 

Jaclyn Shellenberger, M.S., CCC-SLP
Senior Speech Pathologist
The Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center

• Member of ASHA, SID 3, SID 13.
• Jaclyn has a professional clinical interest in head and neck cancer rehabilitation (speech, voice, swallowing, & olfaction) and adult swallowing disorders. 
• She is actively involved in evidenced-based research with patients undergoing combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Karen M. Ulmer, B.S.N., R.N., C.O.R.L.N.
Otolaryngology Nurse Specialist
Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center

• Karen has 20 years experience working with head and neck oncology patients and their families/friends.  She enjoys helping patients achieve their individual goals during and after therapy.
• Karen has expertise in the management of tracheostomies.  She is available for inpatient and outpatient tracheostomy consultations.
• Karen is certified in Otorhinolaryngology, Head-Neck Nursing (CORLN) care.
• Karen is active in the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses on both the local and national levels.

Lisa Valasek
Senior Speech Pathologist 

Allison Yuse, M.S., CF-SLP

• Allison Yuse, M.S., CF-SLP is currently completing her clinical fellowship at the Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center at GBMC. She received her Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University in 2012.
• Allison's training has primarily focused on the evaluation and treatment of adult swallowing disorders, as well as adult  neurogenic speech and language disorders.
• She has also completed training in her area of special interest, which includes head and neck cancer rehabilitation (speech, voice, and swallowing).

Milton J. Dance Jr. Head and Neck Center at Greater Baltimore Medical Center
6569 North Charles Street, PPW., Suite 401, Baltimore, MD 21204
443-849-2087 | Barbara Messing | Webmaster: Sharon Thielicke

© 2010 The Milton J. Dance Jr. Head and Neck Center. All rights reserved.