Our Greenwich-based center offers state-of-the-art care for those suffering from voice and swallowing disorders. The Voice Center provides sophisticated and expert care to all of our patients, including professional and performing vocalists, public speakers, executives, teachers, and clergy as well as to those with more routine or recreational vocal aspirations. Individuals experiencing any of the following symptoms may benefit from an evaluation: raspy or hoarse voice, voice strain, voice spasms, reduced pitch range, voice pitch breaks, aging voice changes, difficulty swallowing, frequent throat clearing, or the sensation of a lump in one’s throat (globus sensation). Receiving the right diagnosis is the most important step on the road to vocal recovery. Our voice experts perform comprehensive evaluations utilizing the latest technologies, including laryngeal videostroboscopy, laryngeal electromyography (EMG), and vocal acoustics analysis software to ensure an accurate and precise diagnosis. Our patients receive coordinated care from a team of voice experts with advanced training in the full spectrum of voice and swallowing disorders. Each patient’s care is led by a laryngologist who works closely with a team of speech-language pathologists. Our laryngologists are Yale Medicine ENT (ear, nose, and throat) physicians with additional specialization in treating the larynx, voice, and related problems such as swallowing. Speech-language pathologists are clinically trained, state licensed, and certified (by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association) in voice and speech analysis. A voice rehabilitation regimen incorporates the principles of vocal hygiene, behavioral modification, circumlaryngeal massage, and alternative therapies. Using the latest technologies, including laryngeal videostroboscopy, our patients can visualize the mechanics of their own larynx in high definition and slow motion, allowing them to more fully understand treatment options and outcomes. We offer voice therapy (exercises) and medical management as an alternative to surgery whenever possible and appropriate. However, if a procedure or surgery is indicated, our surgeons use the most advanced and minimally invasive techniques. Our specialists from Yale Medicine offer several advanced treatments performed in the office. In-office procedures include KTP laser ablation, vocal augmentation injection, EMG (electromyography), and botulinum toxin (Botox®) injections. Patients benefit from effective same-day treatments that require local or no anesthesia. Above all, we treat our patients with dignity and compassion. Conditions we treat: Aging voice: age-related changes such as voice roughness, elevated pitch, and reduced projection or volume Laryngitis: inflammation of the larynx and vocal folds, usually causing hoarseness and sore throat Muscle tension dysphonia: hoarseness or discomfort from improper use of muscles around the larynx during speech or singing Spasmodic dyspho

The Cancer-Infectious Diseases (Cancer-ID) Program is an integrated multidisciplinary clinic that will provide supportive consultative services to people with HIV and cancer. Dedicated HIV/ID specialists from Yale Medicine will work closely with the patient’s oncology care team to manage care for patients with HIV undergoing cancer treatment. A team of providers, including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists, will provide consultative services for people with HIV with hematologic malignancies, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, head and neck, thoracic, dermatologic, and breast cancers, as well as those with Kaposi Sarcoma, liver, gynecologic, and neuro-oncologic malignancies. Access to a wide variety of support services and clinical trials is also available. People with HIV have higher rates of cancer incidence compared to uninfected individuals. In addition, they have worse outcomes after a diagnosis of cancer. Because the majority of cancer clinical trials do not include patients with HIV among their study population, there is little evidence-based guidance with regard to cancer care for these patients. What’s more, the patient experience may additionally suffer because this patient population includes an underserved and understudied group who are often impacted by health inequities and health disparities. With the advent of immune-based therapies and personalized approaches to cancer care, the lack of data within the HIV population to guide treatment decision-making further impacts health disparities among this underserved population. The Cancer-Infectious Diseases, or Cancer-ID program, was established in July 2022 to provide consultative care to patients with HIV who are also diagnosed with cancer. Brinda Emu, MD, serves as the director of the Cancer-ID program. She and Mark Lustberg, MD, are HIV specialists with a specific interest in cancer care and will see patients on a consultative basis. The Cancer-ID program will be located within the Yale Center for Infectious Disease, which is directed by Lydia Aoun-Barakat, MD. The program additionally has the support of Yale Cancer Center leadership. It is led by Jill Lacy, MD, and a large network of consultative affiliated oncology faculty members across all oncology disease areas, who serve as liaisons and ambassadors within the Yale Cancer Center to ensure appropriate and timely care to patients with both HIV and cancer, including access to clinical care and ancillary services. There are three main goals of the Cancer-ID program: Provide consultative care to patients with both HIV and cancer to facilitate and manage both HIV infection and cancer care throughout and beyond cancer treatment Improve the patient experience while receiving cancer care Identify and engage patients in research activities and clinical trials when appropriate The program additionally hopes to build expertise in the clinical care of cancer among people with HIV, provide ou

The Center for Thoracic Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital consists of a multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to providing evaluation of and treatment for patients with a thoracic malignancy, including lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thymoma, or chest wall tumors. Patients in Connecticut and beyond have access to nationally recognized expert clinicians, who provide an organized, collaborative approach to cancer care, as well as the latest technologies and treatments. Our team consists of a collaboration of specialty physicians, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, thoracic surgery, pulmonary medicine, digestive diseases, pathology, diagnostic imaging, and nursing. In addition to our expert clinicians, patients also receive comprehensive care to help with the physical, emotional, and psychological issues that are part of confronting cancer. Patients also benefit from the attention of the team's care coordinators, who make management of even the most detailed multidisciplinary treatment plan less complicated. Our team is active in clinical research, and focuses on developing advances to care in areas of thoracic oncology where the standard treatment needs improvement and where the optimal treatment approach remains unclear. To provide the best care, most of our patients are enrolled in a clinical trial where they can receive innovative therapy for their advanced disease, including immunotherapy, which was first used in clinical trials at Smilow Cancer Hospital. The Center for Thoracic Cancers offers second opinions that are easy, convenient, and all done remotely. Call (203) 200-LUNG for more information and learn how to schedule a second opinion appointment with one of our providers. Medical Oncology Our medical oncologists are nationally recognized for their leadership and expertise in lung cancer treatment and research, and are dedicated to offering personalized treatment options. Biomarker testing is often performed on the tumor to look for specific mutations that can be targeted by medication. There are currently FDA-approved lung cancer treatments for tumors showing abnormalities in EGFR, KRAS, ALK, ROS1, BRAF V600E, MET, RET , and NTRK genes. Recent studies conducted at Yale have led to FDA approval of drugs for the treatment of lung cancer, such as the immunotherapy drug Tecentriq (atezolizumab), which has been proven to improve patient survival for newly diagnosed NSCLC. This drug is designed to block PD-L1, a protein that was discovered by scientists at Yale and that has been instrumental in improving survival for lung cancer patients. Another FDA-approved drug, osimertinib, which stemmed from Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital researchers, was approved for the treatment of adults with early-stage NSCLC with EGFR gene mutations. Surgery Many patients in need of surgery are referred for a minimally invasive surgery known as a video-assisted thoracoscopi