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Libby J. Smith, DO, FAOCO

  • Division Chief, Laryngology
  • Director, Voice Center
  • Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Dr. Smith is a board-certified otolaryngologist who specializes in the care of the professional voice and the treatment of voice disorders. She is a member of and serves in different capacities to the American Laryngological Association, American Broncho-Esophagological Association, Triological Society, and Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. She also serves on the ACGME Residency Review Committee (RRC) committee.

    Education & Training

  • Thomas Jefferson University, Fellowship in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice
  • Grandview-Kettering Medical Center, Otolarynology-Facial Plastic Surgery Residency
  • Grandview Medical Center, Otolarynology, Orofacial Plastics Track Internship
  • Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Doctorate of Osteopathy
  • University of California, Santa Cruz, BA in Biology
Awards
Distinguished Service Award, American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, 2024
Faculty Teacher of the Year, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, 2020
Fellow, American Laryngological Association, 2019
Best Doctors in America (Peer-Selected), 2015-2020
Representative Publications

Utility of laryngeal electromyography for establishing prognosis and individualized treatment after laryngeal neuropathies. Smith LJ, Munin MC. Muscle Nerve. 2024 Jul 30. doi: 10.1002/mus.28207.

Technical Challenges for Laryngeal Electromyography. Lin RJ, Munin MC, Belsky M, Smith B, Grose E, Nisenbaum R, Rosen CA, Smith LJ. Laryngoscope. 2024 Feb;134(2):831-834. doi: 10.1002/lary.31035. Epub 2023 Sep 7.

Comparative Treatment Outcomes for Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis: 5-Year Update. Tierney WS, Huang LC, Chen SC, Berry LD, Anderson C, Amin MR, Benninger MS, Blumin JH, Bock JM, Bryson PC, Castellanos PF, Clary MS, Cohen SM, Crawley BK, Dailey SH, Daniero JJ, de Alarcon A, Donovan DT, Edell ES, Ekbom DC, Fink DS, Franco RA, Garrett CG, Guardiani EA, Hillel AT, Hoffman HT, Hogikyan ND, Howell RJ, Johns MM, Kasperbauer JL, Khosla SM, Kinnard C, Kupfer RA, Langerman AJ, Lentz RJ, Lorenz RR, Lott DG, Makani SS, Maldonado F, Matrka L, McWhorter AJ, Merati AL, Mori M, Netterville JL, O'Dell K, Ongkasuwan J, Postma GN, Reder LS, Rohde SL, Richardson BE, Rickman OB, Rosen CA, Rohlfing M, Rutter MJ, Sandhu GS, Schindler JS, Schneider GT, Shah RN, Sikora AG, Sinard RJ, Smith ME, Smith LJ, Soliman AMS, Sveinsdóttir S, Veivers D, Verma SP, Weinberger PM, Weissbrod PA, Wootten CT, Shyr Y, Francis DO, Gelbard A. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Jun;168(6):1570-1575. doi: 10.1002/ohn.190. Epub 2023 Jan 19.

Impact of Serial Intralesional Steroid Injections on Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis. Hoffman MR, Patro A, Huang LC, Chen SC, Berry LD, Gelbard A, Francis DO; North American Airway Collaborative. Laryngoscope. 2023 Sep;133(9):2255-2263. doi: 10.1002/lary.30449. Epub 2022 Oct 26.

Multicenter Development and Validation of the Vocal Cord Paralysis Experience (CoPE), a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis-Specific Disability. Fernandes-Taylor S, Damico-Smith C, Arroyo N, Wichmann M, Zhao J, Feurer ID, Francis DO; CoPE Collaborative. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 Aug 1;148(8):756-763. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2022.1545.

Full list of publications

Research Interests

Dr. Smith's primary area of research is the treatment of vocal fold paralysis, utilizing laryngeal EMG to guide customized patient treatment. Dr. Smith also has a keen interest in the treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis. An on-going passion has been studying and implementing improved surgical ergonomics which optimizes surgeon positioning to reduce musculoskeletal injury.

Research Grants

Utility of laryngeal electromyography for establishing prognosis and individualized treatment after laryngeal neuropathies.