By David H. Chi, MD, Division Chief, Pediatric Otolaryngology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of PIttsburgh
The Pediatric Otolaryngology Division continues to demonstrate exceptional growth, clinical excellence, innovation, and national leadership. With a robust team of 11 attending physicians, nine advanced practice providers, and a dedicated research professor, the Division delivers comprehensive, high-quality care at the Main Children’s Hospital campus in Pittsburgh and across five satellite clinics (Bridgeville, Erie, Johnstown, Monroeville, and Wexford), ensuring broad access for families throughout the region. This year alone, the team supported more than 32,300 clinic visits and performed 8,745 operative cases—reflecting both the volume and complexity of services provided.
The Division offers truly comprehensive subspecialty care, with recognized expertise in pediatric otology, thyroid disease, rhinology and skull base surgery, vascular anomalies, sleep medicine, and complex airway surgery, allowing patients to receive advanced multidisciplinary care within a single program. In addition to clinical excellence, the Division is a national leader in the field, with faculty serving in prominent roles, including a recent President of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO), the Chair of the ASPO Fellowship Committee, the Chair of the Executive Council for the Section of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Education/CME Coordinator-Elect for The Triological Society.
Educational outreach remains a cornerstone of the Division’s mission, highlighted by the highly successful biannual Pediatric Otolaryngology Update Meeting held in October 2025, which brought together regional and national experts for advanced learning and collaboration. The Division is also deeply engaged in impactful and innovative research, including prospective randomized clinical trials focused on postoperative pain control following tonsillectomy, investigations into tympanostomy tube location and patient outcomes, and pioneering work in 3D printing to support surgical planning, education, and device innovation. To further advance evidence-based care, the Division is developing a dedicated clinical outcomes research core, ENCORe (ENT Navigator: Clinical Outcomes Research), positioning the program as a leader in data-driven innovation and quality improvement.
Looking ahead, the Division anticipates continued expansion of its airway program with the addition of Dr. Gabriela Heslop, a fellowship-trained airway specialist currently completing her training at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, who will join the faculty in October 2026. Her arrival will further strengthen the Division’s expertise in complex airway disorders, enhance multidisciplinary care, and support growing clinical demand—reinforcing the Division’s commitment to advancing pediatric otolaryngology through excellence in care, research, education, and leadership.