Resources:
- Pediatric Ear Tube Brochure (PDF)
- Pediatric Tonsillectomy: Home Care Information (PDF)
- Pediatric Tonsillectomy: Pain Medication Management (PDF)

The Pediatric Otolaryngology team delivers comprehensive, personalized care for children with disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures.

pediatric otolaryngology uc davis health

Our team is expert in diagnosing, treating and managing conditions that impact the airway, voice, hearing, speech and sinuses, including:

  • Airway obstruction
  • Tracheostomy
  • Obstruct sleep apnea
  • Tonsil and adenoid surgery
  • Hearing loss
  • Cochlear implant (surgically placed devices for hearing loss)
  • Ear infections
  • Cholesteatoma (a growth in the middle ear)
  • Microtia (a small or abnormal outer ear)
  • Nasal obstruction
  • Sinusitis
  • Growth, tumors, or cysts in the face, head and neck
  • Vascular malformations (hemangioma, lymphatic and venous malformation, AVM)
  • Facial injuries and trauma
  • Cleft lip and palate
  • Velopharyngeal dysfunction
  • Craniosynostosis


Our team

The core pediatric otolaryngology team consists of the following specialists:

Professor Emeritus Craig Senders specializes in surgery of congenital anomalies of the head and neck, particularly cleft lip, cleft palate, micrognathia (small jaw), and craniosynostosis (premature fusion of the skull sutures). He is the founder and co-director of the UC Davis Cleft and Craniofacial Program.

Professor Travis Tollefson focuses on reconstruction of the face in children, cleft lip and palate surgery, and restoring ear and facial deformities. He participates in surgical teams around the world to provide surgical care for children with cleft and craniofacial anomalies and co-directs the UC Davis Cleft and Craniofacial Program. 

Associate Professor Jamie Funamura has advanced training in pediatric head and neck conditions. She serves as the Pediatric Otolaryngology division chief and specializes in airway management, hearing loss and chronic ear disease, tumors and cysts of the head and neck, and speech and swallowing disorders in children. She is also the medical director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program and co-founder of the Pediatric Aerodigestive Center.

Assistant Professor Erynne Faucett has advanced training in pediatric head and neck conditions, specializing in head and neck tumors, endocrine surgery, airway management, and speech and swallow disorders in children. She also contributes to curriculum development with the UC Davis School of Medicine with special interests in education and developing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. 

Assistant Professor Aditi Bhuskute is a fellowship trained pediatric otolaryngologist and practices in the full range of pediatric ear, nose and throat disorders. She has special interests in hearing loss, cochlear implantation, chronic ear disease, and aerodigestive disorders. She is interested in quality improvement and resident education, and strongly supports multidisciplinary care for children. 

Professor Debbie Aizenberg is a comprehensive otolaryngologist with subspecialty certification on complex pediatric otolaryngology. She serves as an Associate Chief Medical Officer in addition to being a long-standing provider of comprehensive pediatric otolaryngology care at UC Davis.

Assistant Professor Alexander Martson is a board-certified Otolaryngologist and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon who treats children and adults with broad range of ear, nose, and throat conditions. Dr, Martson's research interests include optimization of aesthetic and functional outcomes in individuals with cleft lip palate, micrognathia, and facial paralysis. 

Audiologists Audrey Bracchi, Samantha McKinney, and Kylie McLaughlin specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders in children. Services they provide include specialized testing and fitting and programming hearing aids, bone anchored devices, and cochlear implants.

Christy Roth is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who evaluates and treats speech, language, and swallowing disorders in children. She is also the clinical coordinator of the UC Davis Cleft and Craniofacial Program.

Adebola Olarewaju is a pediatric nurse practitioner who specializes in airway, development and feeding issues in young infants and children. She monitors children with cleft and craniofacial conditions and airway issues (e.g. tracheostomies) both in the hospital and after discharge.

Michaela Nalamliang is a pediatric nurse practitioner who provides comprehensive pediatric otolaryngology services in our outpatient clinic. 

Our services

Many different services are provided by our pediatric otolaryngology specialty by the team members above as well as in collaboration with pediatric specialists from other departments. Joint specialty clinics include those for children with cleft and craniofacial anomalies, plagiocephaly and craniosynostosis, aerodigestive disorders, hearing loss, and pediatric tracheostomy and feeding clinics.

Pediatric Otolaryngology Faculty