Michael Jay Pitman, MD

Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
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Michael J. Pitman MD is Chief of the Division of Laryngology at the Columbia University Medical Center and the Director of The Center For Voice And Swallowing.

Dr. Pitman is an internationally recognized expert in voice restoration, conservation and care of the professional voice as well as in the care of swallowing and airway disorders. Dr. Pitman is also a NIH funded clinician scientist who has performed and published extensive research. Dr. Pitman has received numerous grants and patents for pioneering research in the field of Laryngology. Dr. Pitman has been voted by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America”, as well as to New York Magazine “Top Doctors” and New York Times “SuperDocs”. He has served as President of the New York Laryngological Society and Secretary of the American Broncho-Esophagological Society and he lectures extensively both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Pitman’s areas of clinical expertise include illnesses such as vocal fold paralysis, early laryngeal cancer, cricopharyngeal dysfunction, spasmodic dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux, chronic cough, laryngotracheal stenosis, vocal fold polyps, nodules and cysts. Dr. Pitman is also known for the treatment of many of these disorders with minimally invasive, in-office procedures without the need for general anesthesia.

Dr. Pitman received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he graduated as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his otolaryngology residency at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and was a fellow in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated

  • Acid Reflux
  • Airway Disorder
  • Airway Reconstruction
  • Care of Professional Voice
  • Chronic Cough
  • Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction
  • Difficult Airway Management
  • Dysphagia
  • Dystonia
  • GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
  • Laryngeal Dystonia
  • Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
  • Laryngotracheal Stenosis
  • Oromandibular Dystonia
  • Singing Voice Specialist
  • Spasmodic Dysphonia
  • Swallowing Disorder
  • Throat & Voice Problems
  • Vocal fold paralysis
  • Vocal fold polyps
  • Vocal nodules and cysts
  • Voice & Vocal Cord Surgery
  • Voice Disorder

Academic Appointments

  • Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at CUMC

Administrative Titles

  • Chief, Division of Laryngology

Hospital Affiliations

  • NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center

Gender

  • Male

Schedule an Appointment

Phone Appointments

New and Existing Patients:
(212) 305-5289

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Location(s)

ColumbiaDoctors - Third Avenue
880 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Primary
Phone:
(212) 305-5289
Fax:
(646) 317-2720
Open location in Google Maps
CUIMC/Harkness Pavilion
180 Fort Washington Avenue
New York, NY 10032
Phone:
(212) 305-5289
Open location in Google Maps

Insurance Accepted

For billing questions, please call (212) 305-1972.

Aetna

  • Aetna Signature Administrators
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • NYP Employee Plan
  • NY Signature
  • PPO
  • Student Health

Affinity Health Plan

  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care

AgeWell

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • Special Needs

Amerigroup of New Jersey

  • New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)

Cigna

  • EPO
  • Great West (National)
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO

Emblem/GHI

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • PPO

Emblem/HIP

  • ConnectiCare
  • EPO
  • Essential Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO
  • Select Care (Exchange)
  • Vytra

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan

Fidelis Care

  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care

Healthfirst

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Leaf (Exchange)
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care

Local 1199

  • Local 1199

MagnaCare (National)

  • MagnaCare

Medicare

  • Railroad
  • Traditional Medicare

Multiplan

  • Multiplan

MVP Health Care

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid Managed Care

Quality Health Management

  • Quality Health Management

RiverSpring

  • Special Needs

UnitedHealthcare

  • Compass (Exchange)
  • Empire Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid (Community Plan)
  • Oxford Freedom
  • Oxford HMO
  • Oxford Liberty
  • POS
  • PPO

VNSNY CHOICE

  • SelectHealth

WellCare

  • Medicare Managed Care

World Trade Center Health Plan

  • World Trade Center Health Plan

*Please contact the provider’s office directly to verify that your particular insurance is accepted.

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • Internship: Beth Israel Medical Center
  • Residency: New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
  • Fellowship: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Committees, Societies, Councils

Professional Organizations and Societies

Local

2016-2017 New York Laryngological Society- President

2015-2016 New York Laryngological Society- Secretary/Treasurer

2015-present New York Laryngological Society – Secretary/Treasurer

2010-present New York Laryngological Society – Member

2007-present New York Singing Teachers’ Association – Member

National

2014- present American Laryngological Association - Fellow
2013-present The Triological Society – Fellow
2011-present American Society of Geriatric Otolaryngology – Member
2009-present American College of Surgeons – Fellow
2009-present American Broncho-Esophagological Association – Member
2009-2014 American Laryngological Association – Post-Graduate Fellow
2004-present The Voice Foundation – Physician Member
2004-present American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery - Fellow

Editorial Board

2014-present Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
2013-present Journal of Voice

Journal Reviewer

Laryngoscope
Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery
Journal of Voice
Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology

Board Certifications

  • Otolaryngology

Honors & Awards

2017 New York Times “SuperDocs”

2016 Research Poster Award- 1st Prize- Presence of Human Papilloma Virus on Single Use EndostatTM Fibers Following in Office-Treatment of Respiratory Papilloma with the KTP laser.

2016 New York Magazine: Top Doctors

2016 America’s Top Doctors – Castle Connolly

2016 New York Metro Area Top Doctor - Castle Connolly

2016 New York Times “SuperDocs”

2015-2016 Peer Election to “Best Doctors in America”

2015 New York Times “SuperDocs”

2015 America’s Top Doctors – Castle Connolly

2015 New York Metro Area Top Doctor - Castle Connolly

2015 New York Magazine: Top Doctors

2014 New York Times “SuperDocs”

2014 New York Magazine: Top Doctors

2013-2014 Peer Election to “Best Doctors in America”

2013 New York Times “SuperDocs”

2013 American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Honor Award

2011-2012 Peer Election to “Best Doctors in America”

2011 The John Kearney Rodgers Physician of the Year Award New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

2009 -2010 Peer Election to “Best Doctors in America”

2010 Peter Schindler Memorial Award for Resident Teaching New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

2008 Research Poster Award – 1st Place Evaluation of Functional Recovery of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Using Transoral Laryngeal Bipolar Electromyography (ToL EMG): A rat model.Triologic Association Annual Meeting

2007 -2008 Peer Election to “Best Doctors in America”

2007 Research Poster Award – 2nd Place Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Recovery Evaluation using Transoral Bipolar Electromyography (ToL EMG): A rat model. American American Laryngological Association Annual Meeting

2003 Resident Research Travel Grant American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

2003 Resident Teaching Award in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

2003 J Swift Hanley MD Memorial Award for Excellence in Research New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

2001 Resident Research Travel Grant American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

2001 Resident Research Grant Thyroid Fluorescence – The use of light to diagnose thyroid nodules American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

1998 Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society Albert Einstein College of Medicine

1998 Medicine International Health Fellowship Malawi, Africa Albert Einstein College of Medicine

1989-1991 Honors Program – College of Literature, Science and Arts University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

1993 Golden Key National Honor Society University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

America's Top Doctor
NY Top Doctor

Research

Selected Publications

Peer Reviewed Research

1. Howell RJ, Pate MB, Ishman SL, Isserof TF, Rubin AD, Soliman AM, Postma GN, Pitman MJ*. Prospective Multi-Institutional Transnasal Esophagoscopy: Predictors of a Change in Management. Laryngoscope. 2016. 2016 Dec;126(12):2667-2671

2. Hernández-Morato I, Tewari I, Sharma S, Pitman MJ*. Blockade of glial-derived neurotrophic factor in laryngeal muscles promotes appropriate reinnervation. Laryngoscope. 2016 Oct;126(10):E337-42.

3. Hernandez-Morato I, Sharma S, Pitman MJ*. Changes in neurotrophic factors of adult rat laryngeal muscles during nerve regeneration. Neuroscience. 2016 Oct 1;333:44-53.

4. Hernandez-Morato I, Pitman MJ, Sharma S. Muscle specific nucleus ambiguus neurons isolation and culturing. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 2016; (273):33-39.

5. Koss SL, Kidwai SM, Pitman MJ*. Contralateral Vocal Fold Reactive Lesions: Nomenclature, Treatment Choice, and Outcome. Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery. 2016; Jun;154(6):1079-83

6. Pitman MJ, Cabin JA, Iacob CE. Small Intestinal Submucosa Implantation for the Possible Treatment of Vocal Fold Scar, Sulcus, and Superficial Lamina Propria Atrophy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2016; Feb 125(2):137-144.

7. Haser GC, Su HK, Pitman MJ*, Khorsandi AS.Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the cricoid cartilage with solitary plasmacytoma of the rib. Am J Otolaryngol. 2015 Jul-Aug;36(4):598-600

8. Hernandez-Morato I, Isseroff TF, Sharma S, Pitman MJ*. Differential expression of glial-derived neurotrophic factor in rat laryngeal muscles during reinnervation. Laryngoscope. 2014 Dec;124(12 ):2750-6

9. Naples J, Isseroff TF, Pitman MJ*. Laryngeal Extramedullary Plasmacytoma in an Adolescent. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. Extra 9. 33-35

10. Born H, Ruiz R, Verma A, Taliercio S, Achlatis S, Pitman M, Gandonu S, Bing R, Amin MR, & Branski RC. Concurrent Oral Human Papilloma Virus Infection in Patients with Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. Laryngoscope. 2014 Dec;124(12):2785-90

11. Pitman MJ. Treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia with a Neuromodulating Electrical Implant. Laryngoscope. 2014 Nov;124(11):2537-43

12. Pitman MJ, Rubino SM, Cooper AL.Temporalis fascia transplant for vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis. Laryngoscope. Jul;124(7):1653-8

13. Ruiz R, Born H, Verma A, Taliercio S, Achlatis S, Sulica L, Pitman M, Kapadia F, Fang Y, Branski RC, & Amin MR. Risk Factors for Adult Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis: A multi-institutional investigation. Laryngoscope. 124(10); 2338-2344.

14. Kuet ML, Pitman MJ*: Photoangiolytic Laser Treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis: a scaled assessment. J Voice. 2013 Jan;27(1):124-8.

15. Alli O, Berzofsky C, Sharma S, Pitman MJ*. Development of the Rat Larynx - A Histological Study. Laryngoscope. 2013. Dec;123(12):3093-3098

16. Pitman MJ, Berzofsky C, Alli O, Sharma S. Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Transection and Anastomosis: Rat Laryngeal Motoneuron Survival and Effect of the Anastomosis Site Survival and Effect of the Anastomosis Site. Ann Otol Rhinol. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2013;122:283-287.

17. Pitman MJ, Berzofsky C, Alli O, Sharma S: Embryologic innervation of the rat laryngeal musculature-a model for investigation of recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation. Laryngoscope. 2013. Dec;123(12):3117-3126

18. Murukutla S, Bhatt VR, Vivekanandarajah A, Pitman MJ, Dhar M. Recurrent Primary Laryngeal Amyloidosis in a 36 Year-Old-Woman. Journal of Medical Cases. 2012. 4(1), 46-48.

19. Pitman MJ, Lebowitz A, Iacob C, Tan M. The Efficacy and Safety In-office KTP Laser Treatment of Reinke's Edema. Laryngoscope. 2012. Dec;122(12):2786-2792

20. Cohen SM, Pitman MJ, Noordzij, P, Courey M: Evaluation of Dysphonic Patients by General Otolaryngologists. J Voice. 2012 Nov;26(6):772-8

21. Cohen SM, Pitman, MJ, Noordzij, P, Courey M: Management of Dysphonic Patients by Otolaryngologists. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012 Aug;147(2):289-94

22. Berzofsky C, Holiday R, Pitman MJ*: Variability of post-operative esophagram after endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy: technique dependence. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2012 Mar;121(3):145-50

23. Halum,SL,1 Ting, JY,Plowman E., Belafsky,PC, Harbarger CF, Postma G, Pitman MJ, MD,5 LaMonica D, Moscatello A, Khosla S, Cauley C,Maronian N, Melki S, Wick C, Sinacori JT, White Z, Younes A, Ekbom DC, Sardesai MG, Merati AL. A Multi-Institutional Analysis of Tracheotomy Complications. Laryngoscope. 2012 Jan;122(1):38-45

24. Weissbrod P, Pitman MJ, Sharma S, Bender A, Schaefer SD: Quantity and 3 Dimensional Position of the Recurrent and Superior Laryngeal Nerve Lower Motor Nuclei - A rat model. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2011;120:761-768.

25. Pitman MJ, Weissbrod P, Roark R, Sharma S, Schaefer SD: Electromyographic and Histologic Evolution of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve From Transection and Anastomosis to Mature Reinnervation. Laryngoscope. 2011. Feb;121(2):325-31

26. Mayerhoff R, Pitman MJ: The Atypical and Disparate Presentations of Laryngeal Sarcoidosis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2010; Oct:119(10): 667-671

27. Rousso J, Pitman MJ*: Enterococcus faecalis Complicating Dermal Filler Injection: A Case of Virulent Facial Abscesses. Derm Surg. 2010 Oct;36(10): 1638-1641

28. Brown DJ, Pitman MJ: Retained Bjork Flap Suture: Nine years of morbidity. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2010; (142): 626-627

29. Tan M, Pitman MJ: A Case of Bilateral Vocal Fold Mucosal Bridges, Bilateral Trans-Vocal Fold Type 3 Sulci and an Intracordal Polyp. J Voice. 2011 Jul;25(4):484-6

30. Tessema B, Roark RM, Pitman MJ, Weissbrod P, Sharma S, Schaefer SD. Observations of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and recovery using a rat model. Laryngoscope. 2009 Aug;119(8):1644-51.

31. Tessema B, Pitman MJ, Roark RM, Berzofsky C, Sharma S, Schaefer SD. Evaluation of functional recovery of recurrent laryngeal nerve using transoral laryngeal bipolar electromyography: a rat model. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2008 Aug;117(8):604-8.

32. Pitman MJ, Weissbrod P: Endoscopic Cricopharyngeal Myotomy: History and Technique. Laryngoscope. 2009 Jan;199(1):45-53.

33. Pitman MJ, Rosenthal J, Savage H, Goupei Y, McCormick S, Alfano R, Schantz SP: The Fluorescence of Thyroid Tissue. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Nov;131(5):623-7.

34. Pitman, MJ, Abdelmonem, E, Moscatello, AL: Xanthoma of the Maxillary Sinus. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. 126(4):426-7, 2002

Book Chapters

1. Karle WE, Pitman MJ*. Management of Sulcus Vocalis. In: Moore JE, Sataloff RT, Hawkshaw MJ eds. Vocal Fold Scar: Current Concepts and Management. 1st ed. Devon, England: Compton Publishing. 2016

2.Berzofsky CE, Cooper AL, Pitman MJ*. Postoperative Management of Superior Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis In: Randolph G ed, Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve.1st ed. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. 2016. 301-308

3.Berzofsky, Pitman MJ*. Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis In: Sataloff RT, Benniger M ed. Sataloff's Comprehensive Textbook of Otolarynology: Laryngology. JP Medical Publishers, London, England. 2015

4. Pitman MJ. Laryngeal Anatomy In: Sclafani A ed, Total Otolaryngology. 1st ed. New York, NY: Thieme. 2014. 613-617

5. Pitman MJ. Vocal Physiology In: Sclafani A ed, Total Otolaryngology. 1st ed. New York, NY: Thieme. 2014. 618-623

6. Pitman MJ. Spasmodic Dysphonia In: Sclafani A ed, Total Otolaryngology. 1st ed. New York, NY: Thieme. 2014. 687-693

7. Pitman MJ, Kamat AR, Bliznikas D, Baredes S. Spasmodic Dysphonia. In: eMedicine from WebMD. 2009

8. Pitman MJ, Ossoff RH. Airway Stenosis: Diagnosis and Management. In: Merati A, Bielamowicz S, eds. Textbook of Laryngology. 1st ed. San Diego, CA: Plural; 2007. 351-376

9. Pitman MJ, Blixinkas D, Baredes S: Spasmodic Dysphonia. In: Emedicine at www.emedicine.com. 2007

10. Pitman MJ, Pearson JM, Williams, J: Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Skin: M Abraham Kuriakose ed. In: Emedicine at www.emedicine.com. 2006

11. Pitman MJ, Williams, J: Merkel Cell Carcinoma: M Abraham Kuriakose ed. In: Emedicine at www.emedicine.com. 2001

For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov