Pediatric Airway, Swallowing and Voice Center

A collaborative program of Mass. Eye and Ear and Mass. General Hospital for Children,  the Pediatric Airway, Swallowing and Voice Center was conceived for the very special needs of children with airway, swallowing and voice problems.

Managing airway, swallowing and voice disorders in children requires the skills of a variety of specialists across different disciplines – including ear, nose and throat, gastroenterology (the digestive system), and pulmonology (breathing and respiratory).

For many families dealing with airway problems, that has traditionally meant making multiple appointments at multiple locations. This is not just inconvenient for busy parents – but can also interfere with the goal of providing significant cohesive coordination in the care of such children.

The Center aims to put all the pieces together – focusing and coordinating care across all the different specialties. Families have direct access to a multidisciplinary team of experts best equipped to investigate, diagnose and treat complex airway problems in children all under one roof.

The team includes Christopher J. Hartnick M.D. - a pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist from Mass. Eye and Ear; Stephen Hardy, M.D. - a pediatric gastroenterologist from Mass. General; and Kenan Haver, M.D. - a pediatric pulmonologist from Mass. General; as well as speech pathologists, nurses and other experts with specific training and experience related to the pediatric airway.

Hours and Services:

Outpatient care: The team of combined specialties sees children every Tuesday morning on Mass. Eye and Ear's 2nd floor.  Call (617) 573-4206 for more information.

Endoscopies: Combined procedures such as rigid bronchoscopy, flexible bronchoscopy, and/or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) are done in the coordinated setting at Mass. Eye and Ear

A full spectrum of care

The Pediatric Airway, Swallowing and Voice Center’s daily mission is to provide coordinated care to meet the total needs of both child and caregiver. That includes careful diagnosis and the best possible medical and surgical therapies – plus help with comprehensive after-care support, including skilled nursing and other specialized home care.

As a leader in pediatric airway care, the Center also serves as an important knowledge clearinghouse – a means for families dealing with airway issues to connect with other families in similar circumstances. This is an extremely valuable resource, since the availability of specialized resources differs significantly in different geographic areas.