Department of Otolaryngology Faculty & Providers

Our Mission

To care for patients and educate the Otolaryngologists of tomorrow using the most advanced evidenced based medicine available. To lead the field of Otolaryngology with innovative basic, translational, and clinical research.

Our Faculty & Providers

Faculty & Providers

David Bracken, MD

Dr. Bracken is a Laryngologist, an ENT who specializes in disorders of the voice, swallow, and airway. He is the Director of UTMB Voice and Swallow services and board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

He completed an advanced fellowship in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice at the University of California San Francisco, under the training of three Laryngologists: Drs. Clark Rosen (a U.S. leader in the field of Laryngology), VyVy Young, and Yue Ma. He completed his ENT residency at the University of California San Diego and a year of research with the National Institutes of Health with a focus on neurolaryngology and development of non-invasive skin surface electrode technologies for evaluation of voice and swallow activity. He graduated from the University of Texas School of Medicine in Houston and is thrilled to be back in the Houston area.

Dr. Bracken's understanding of the voice has grown from his perspectives as both a physician and a performing artist himself. He previously performed with Houston Grand Opera and has undergraduate training in vocal performance and choral education (Sam Houston State University). This training and life experiences have led to expertise in developing treatment plans for occupational voice demands of all types, musical genres, age groups, and professional levels.

His care and treatment extend beyond the voice to full-spectrum airway and swallowing complaints as well. His surgical training includes specialization in advanced awake endoscopic procedures, laser microsurgery, delicate vocal fold microsurgery, and throat and tracheal surgeries.

He is moved to help those struggling with consequences of prior therapy and surgery in difficult situations, and this passion focuses on optimizing and restoring quality-of-life losses from impacts of all voice, swallow, and breathing disorders. He practices with an integrated, team-based, and patient-centered philosophy. He works hand-in-hand with UTMB’s expert Speech-Language Pathologists (voice and swallowing rehabilitation specialists). Collaborative care is critical, and he enjoys working with other disciplines in optimizing patient care (Head and Neck Cancer Surgery, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Neurology, Pulmonology, Rheumatology, etc).

For Dr. Bracken, the practice of medicine is a team-based sport, and he would love to help in building your team.

During his free time, Dr. Bracken enjoys music, traveling, and hiking with his lovely wife, a pediatric occupational therapist.

Reasons for Referral

Hoarseness / Dysphonia
Professional Voice Care
Benign vocal fold masses and lesions
Chronic Cough/Throat Clearing
Early Laryngeal Cancer / Transoral Laser Microsurgery
Swallowing Disorders/Dysphagia
Vocal fold weakness/paralysis
Spasmodic Dysphonia
Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis
Zenker’s Diverticulum
Chronis Aspiration/Frequent Pneumonia
Breathing Disorders of Upper Airway/Dyspnea
Airway stenosis
Post-COVID 19 Airway Disorders
Subglottic Stenosis
Posterior Glottic Stenosis

Medical/Professional School:

University of Texas Medical School at Houston,
Houston, TX 2015

Residencies:

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California – San Diego
San Diego, CA, 2021

Fellowship:

Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice, University of California - San Francisco,
San Francisco, CA, 2022

Research Fellow, National Institute of Health,
University of California – San Francisco, 2018

Certification:

Otolaryngology, American Board of Otolaryngology

Deborah Carlson, PhD

Orly M. Coblens, MD, FACS

Yusif Hajiyev, MD, PhD

Charles A. Hughes, MD, MBA, MPH

Kate Kerr, MS, CCC-SLP

Tomoko Makishima, MD, PhD, FACS

Brian McKinnon, MD, MBA, MPH, FACS

Taylor Mitchell, PA-C

Harold S. Pine, MD, FAAP, FACS

Viran Ranasinghe, MD

Vicente Resto, MD, PhD, FACS

Sepehr Shabani, MD

Farrah Siddiqui, MD, FAAOA, FACS

Associate Professor
Director of Otolaryngic Allergy
Department of Otolaryngology

Dr. Siddiqui completed her training in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she also finished her General Surgery Internship. Before joining UTMB in March 2010 as Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, she was in private practice as a general Otolaryngologist in the suburbs of Dallas. Dr. Siddiqui comes to UTMB well-trained, having completed her medical school at the Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. She also speaks English, Urdu, Hindi fluently, basic French as well as some Thai and Arabic.

As a general Otolaryngologist with further interest and training in Allergy, Dr. Siddiqui enjoys seeing both pediatric and adult patients with a variety of ear, nose and throat problems, including allergic rhinitis, nasal obstruction, recurrent and chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, smell disorders, epistaxis, ear infections, eustachian tube dysfunction, tonsillitis, snoring and sleep apnea. She performs in clinic procedures such as allergy testing, allergy shots, sublingual immunotherapy, balloon sinuplasty, radiofrequency ablation for nasal obstruction and drainage, radiofrequency ablation for snoring, as well as surgical procedures in the operating room such as functional endoscopic sinus surgery, septoplasty, turbinate reduction, tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, ear tubes, eustachian tube dilation, minimally invasive balloon sinuplasty. She is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) as well as the American College of Surgeons. Dr Siddiqui teaches Allergy courses nationally with the AAOA and her research interest is also focused on Otolaryngic Allergy. She has been involved in medical student and resident training in Otolaryngology since starting at UTMB in 2010.

Reasons for Referral
Allergic Rhinitis
Nasal obstruction (deviated nasal septum, enlarged turbinates)
Recurrent/Chronic Sinusitis
Nasal polyps
Nosebleeds
Recurrent ear infections/Eustachian tube dysfunction
Recurrent/ Chronic Tonsillitis
ENT problems due to allergy (chronic pharyngitis/laryngitis, eustachian tube dysfunction)

Medical/Professional School:
Aga Khan University Medical College - Karachi, Pakistan, MD

Internship:
General Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)- Little Rock, AR

Residency:
Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, UAMS- Little Rock, AR

Fellowship:
Fellow of American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and American College of Surgeons

Certification:
Otolaryngology, American Board of Otolaryngology

Dayton Young, MD