Benjamin Laitman, MD, PhD

Benjamin M. Laitman, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in the Mount Sinai Health System, and member of the Grabscheid Voice and Swallowing Center of Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai’s Institute for Airway Sciences. He received his medical degree and PhD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he graduated with honors (Alpha Omega Alpha) and a distinction in medical education and research. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery at Mount Sinai, and then stayed on as fellow in Laryngology to pursue advanced training in the care of voice, airway, and swallowing conditions.

Dr. Laitman’s primary clinical focus and expertise includes the medical and surgical management of complex airway stenosis (airway scarring or narrowing) and vocal fold paralysis, with a specific focus on tracheal stenosis, idiopathic subglottic stenosis, and posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) secondary to autoimmune disease or damage from intubation trauma or head and neck surgery. He also concentrates on rehabilitation of the paralyzed larynx as a result of surgery to the head, neck, skull base, or chest. Dr. Laitman believes strongly in a multidisciplinary approach, working hand-in-hand with speech language pathologists and other specialists throughout the health system to provide comprehensive care for all voice, breathing, and swallowing conditions. In addition to his focus in airway scarring and vocal paralysis, Dr. Laitman has extensive experience in managing laryngeal cancer, benign vocal fold lesions, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), voice problems in musicians and professional speakers, and neurologic conditions such as spasmodic dysphonia (SD), and swallowing disorders such as Zenker’s Diverticulum.

As a surgeon-scientist in the department, he has received funding from the American Laryngological Association and American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery to investigate novel approaches to prevent or reverse airway scarring, regenerate tissue, and reconstruct the larynx and trachea. He has authored many research articles and textbook chapters and has been invited to lecture on a national level. He is also the recipient of numerous teaching and research awards from local and national agencies. Dr. Laitman serves as a regular reviewer for top research journals in the field, a reviewer for Centralized Otolaryngology Research Efforts grants, an Associate Editor for the journal Otolaryngology Case Reports, and co-editor for 2nd edition of the upcoming Anesthesiology and Otolaryngology textbook.

Read his article, "Mapping the Human Vocal Folds in High Resolution" here. . 

View Dr. Laitman’s research here.