Dr. Aaron Friedman

Aaron Friedman, MD, is an otolaryngologist and laryngeal surgeon who treats voice, breathing, and swallowing problems and specializes in voice disorders and airway stenosis.
Following his medical school training at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Friedman did his residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the Cleveland Clinic under the mentorship of the first surgeon in the world to transplant a human larynx (voice box). This piqued Dr. Friedman's interest in the field of laryngology and led to a dedicated year of research in his mentor's laryngeal transplantation laboratory for which Dr. Friedman was awarded a first-place National Resident Research Award. Dr. Friedman then went on to complete a fellowship in Laryngeal Surgery at the Harvard University-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital Voice Center. There, he was mentored by a world-renowned laryngeal surgeon, Dr. Steven Zeitels, who has operated on such famous voices as those of Adele, Sam Smith, Steven Tyler, Lionel Richie and Roger Daltrey.

Together with the UC Health Voice and Swallowing Centers' talented team of voice pathologists, who provide vocal behavioral and rehabilitative therapy, Dr. Friedman specializes in the surgical treatment of laryngeal disorders including phonomicrosurgery, laryngeal framework surgery, and office-based laryngeal procedures (including lasers and vocal cord injections) as well as adult airway reconstruction (endoscopic and open) surgery. He has over 15 years of clinical experience in treating patients with vocal cord cancer and pre-cancer (dysplasia), recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), vocal cord paralysis, benign vocal cord lesions (nodules, cysts, and polyps) laryngeal dystonia (formerly called spasmodic dysphonia), and airway stenosis. In his prior clinical practice, Dr. Friedman drew on this expertise to help save the voice of a beloved Chicago Cubs radio announcer from vocal cord dysplasia. Today, Dr. Friedman continues striving to help all voice users, both professional and casual.

Dr. Friedman's research interests include optimizing voice outcomes in the surgical treatment of early-stage vocal cord cancer. He has been a primary investigator in several ground-breaking clinical trials for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. He has also developed a microlaryngeal surgical instrument holder (US patent pending) and is developing a smartphone app for patients with chronic voice disorders. Dr. Friedman has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles and has lectured both nationally and internationally in the field of laryngology. He also enjoys teaching students, residents, fellows, and patients alike.