UT Physicians opens new clinic
dedicated to ears, nose and throat care
HOUSTON – (May 22, 2009) – To best serve its patients, UT Physicians has relocated its UT Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery clinic to the 27th floor of the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza, 6400 Fannin Street. The clinic is staffed by faculty members from The University of Texas Medical School at Houston who specialize in the evaluation and treatment of diseases and disorders of the ears, nose, throat (ENT) and related structures.
Clockwise from front center, Drs. Amber Luong, Martin Citardi,
Samer Fakhri and Ronda Alexander gather in the reception
area of UT Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at
Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza. The clinic overlooks the
downtown skyline. Photo by Jennifer L. Canup
The high-tech clinic offers patients advanced medical care at its three Centers of Excellence – the Texas Sinus Institute, the Texas Voice Performance Institute and the Texas Skull Base Institute. It includes 16 fully equipped exam rooms, a voice laboratory, a nasal physiology laboratory, audiology booths and two outpatient procedure rooms.
Unique features of the fully computerized exam rooms allow healthcare providers to quickly archive and retrieve patient records. These records, including high-quality still images and motion video of endoscopic exams, can be projected on a 32-inch flat panel screen for the patient to view.
“The office has been thoughtfully designed to collect and manage healthcare information and optimize it for better patient outcomes,” said Martin J. Citardi, M.D., professor and chair of the UT Medical School at Houston’s Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and chief of otorhinolaryngology at Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center. “Our aim is to integrate technology into our central mission of providing compassionate care.”
The Otorhinolaryngology Team currently includes four specialists. All are attending physicians at Memorial Hermann – TMC, where they perform surgery.
Citardi is an internationally recognized rhinologist who specializes in the medical and surgical management of refractory rhinosinusitis, endoscopic management of sinonasal neoplasia, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leak diagnosis and repair, revision sinus surgery, computer-aided surgery and minimally invasive skull base surgery.
Samer Fakhri, M.D., associate professor, is a specialist in the medical and surgical management of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis and sinonasal polyps, image-guided surgery, endoscopic lacrimal and orbital surgery, CFS leak repair and minimally invasive skull base surgery.
Ronda E. Alexander, M.D., assistant professor, is a fellowship-trained laryngologist. The former singer specializes in the evaluation of hoarseness, management of the injured voice, spasmodic dysphonia and vocal tremor, vocal fold paralysis and weakness, neurologic diseases of the head and neck, office-based procedures of the larynx, extra-esophageal reflux and swallowing disorders.
Amber Luong, M.D., assistant professor, completed her fellowship training in nasal and sinus disorders at the Cleveland Clinic Head and Neck Institute. Her specialty interests include medical and surgical management of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis, endoscopic management of sinonasal tumors, CSF leak repair, endoscopic orbital and dacryocystorhinostomy surgery and computer-aided surgery.
Citardi said there are plans to add five more physicians to the medical team, including pediatric ENT specialists and a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
For an appointment or more information, call 713-486-5000 or visit www.ut-ent.org.