S+S, Fall 2024
The UPMC Voice, Airway & Swallow Center is bolstering and expanding its care for the performing arts community in Pittsburgh. This is largely due to the addition of Chloe Santa Maria, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Dr. Santa Maria came to Pittsburgh following a laryngology fellowship at the USC Voice Center at Keck School of Medicine under the guidance of Dr. Michael Johns III, who is renowned for professional voice care within laryngology. Los Angeles is a hub for professional voice users and singers, so they were privileged to care for a lot of these patients. During her time there, they undertook a formal care relationship with the L.A. Opera, focusing on their new singers. This involved an annual vocal care education session and targeted care for each new singer. It has been a huge success.
“It really helped me to understand the nuances and the language required for taking care of these patients,” Dr. Santa Maria said. “Looking after celebrities is of course a fun little side part of that, but honestly, what it really hit home is that great quality voice care should be the same for all patients.”
Dr. Santa Maria was drawn to laryngology (care for the voice) very early on because of her love of singing and music. Her family is very musical, and she calls herself a very enthusiastic (and also very amateur) singer. When she discovered she could have a career in medicine that was based around this, she was hooked.
After her L.A. fellowship, she joined UPMC because of how dynamic and energizing the team and Department felt. “It is a place where you have an idea and they do everything to support you and make it happen,” she said. “They are driven by providing excellent care and were really excited about my ideas of reforging relationships with the Pittsburgh Opera, the Clear Light Opera, and ultimately expanding this to include musical theatre and Broadway.”
The Department has already started with the Pittsburgh Opera, which has been welcoming. The UPMC Voice, Airway & Swallow Center plans to be the formal vocal health care team for the singers at the Opera. As of now, they will see any of their sick performers within 24 hours. They are in the process of developing a vocal health education day and targeted care program for their new intake of singers, like L.A.
“The hope is that we provide excellent acute care for singers in need, and that can help with reducing injury and stress for both the patient and the opera team,” Dr. Santa Maria said. “By engaging the newer singers early, we also hope to really encourage healthy vocal habits in a group of people who are very attuned to their vocal needs.”
Dr. Santa Maria is looking forward to collaborating with the rich cultural community in Pittsburgh and said the relationship so far has been very rewarding. This arts lover appreciates the joy in music in singing, and how it can evoke many emotions. “It also has the power to unite people,” she said. “Having a job where I get to be a part of that and taking care of people is an absolute privilege.”