Our Physicians
Information on this page has been maintained for historical purposes as the clinical practice has been closed as of 2024.
Robert Thayer Sataloff, MD, DMA, FACS, FCPP
Laryngologist - Professional voice specialist
Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA, FACS is Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Academic Specialties, Drexel University College of Medicine. He also holds Adjunct Professorships in the Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; and he is on the faculty of the Academy of Vocal Arts. He serves as Conductor of the Thomas Jefferson University Choir. Dr. Sataloff is also a professional singer and singing teacher. He holds an undergraduate degree from Haverford College in Music Theory and Composition; received his MD from Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University; received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from Combs College of Music; and he completed Residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and a Fellowship in Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sataloff is Chair of the Boards of Directors of the Voice Foundation and of the American Institute for Voice and Ear Research. He also has served as Chair of the Board of Governors of Graduate Hospital; President of the American Laryngological Association, the International Association of Phonosurgery, the Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and the American Society of Geriatric Otolaryngology; Vice President of the Eastern Section of the Triological Society, and in numerous other leadership positions. Dr. Sataloff is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Voice; Editor Emeritus of Ear, Nose and Throat Journal; Associate Editor of the Journal of Singing; on the Editorial Board of Medical Problems of Performing Artists; and he is a reviewer for numerous otolaryngology journals. He is a member of the Editorial Panel of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment until 2025 when the panel was dissolved; and the fourth edition (2025) of his book “Occupational Hearing Loss” remains a standard reference on the topic. Dr. Sataloff has written over 1,200 publications including 79 books, and he has been awarded more than $5 million in research funding. His h-index is 51 (as of July 2026). He has invented more than 75 laryngeal microsurgical instruments distributed currently by Integra Medical, and ossicular replacement prostheses produced by Grace Medical. He holds two patents. His medical practice has been limited to care of the professional voice and to otology/neurotology/skull base surgery and he stopped routine clinical practice in 2024 to focus on education, research, administration and other Department Chair priorities. Dr. Sataloff has developed numerous novel surgical procedures including total temporal bone resection for formerly untreatable skull base malignancy, laryngeal microflap and mini-microflap procedures, vocal fold lipoinjection, vocal fold lipoimplantation, and others. Dr. Sataloff is recognized as one of the founders of the field of voice, having written the first modern comprehensive article on care of singers, and the first book on care of the professional voice (now in its fourth edition), as well as having influenced the evolution of the field through his own efforts and through the Voice Foundation for over 4 1/2 decades. Dr. Sataloff is the physician member of Pennsylvania’s State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Dr. Sataloff was recognized by Best Doctors in America (Woodward White Athens) every year beginning in 1992, Philadelphia Magazine since 1997, and Castle Connolly’s “America’s Top Doctors” since 2002. ScholarGPS has ranked Dr. Sataloff as the number 5 scholar in the world overall, including all fields (not just medicine). Expertscape has ranked him as the number one otolaryngology expert in the world from 2013 to present. (Updated 7/20/2026)
Karen M. Lyons, MD
General otolaryngologist
Dr. Lyons is Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1979, after having received her undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Connecticut. She completed her residency in Otorhinolaryngology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 1983. Dr. Lyons became Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. In 1985, she returned to Philadelphia and has practiced at Pennsylvania Hospital, Northeastern Hospital, Graduate Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. She has been associated with our office since 1996. Her publications include works on evaluation of flap perfusion and on vocal fold physiology.