SIU Medicine Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

09/08/2026

It's been one month since we opened our Jacksonville clinic, and we're proud to continue bringing expert ENT care closer to home.

Ashley Little, NP, sees patients every Thursday, providing care for ear, nose and throat conditions in Jacksonville.

09/01/2026

When sinus symptoms persist despite treatment or infections continue to recur, it may be time to consider an ENT referral.

Our rhinology team can take a closer look at what may be contributing to your ongoing symptoms and work to determine the best next steps for each patient's needs.

08/28/2026

Hands-on learning in action! Our new interns recently took part in their first ENT skills lab alongside fellow residents.

Led by Dr. Stacie Gregory, this introductory ENT skills lab gave interns hands-on experience with techniques used in tracheostomy care, ear tube placement, treatment of peritonsillar abscesses and nosebleeds, and frenulectomy procedures.

This is the first of many opportunities for our interns to build their skills through hands-on learning with guidance from our experienced faculty.

08/24/2026

We were proud to sponsor The Lion King Jr. and grateful to everyone who came out to celebrate our local arts community!

Our team cares for patients who rely on their voices every day, including professional voice users, which gives us a unique appreciation for the skill, dedication and passion these performers bring to the stage.

Congratulations to the cast and crew on a wonderful production! And to our SIU Medicine faculty, staff and families who joined us, thank you for helping make it such a memorable evening!

08/20/2026

Exciting recognition for Brandon Cox, PhD and her work to advance our understanding of hearing loss. Her research on the potential to regenerate sensory hair cells in the inner ear was recently featured by National Geographic.

Thank you for all that you do, Dr. Cox. SIU is incredibly lucky to have you!

After decades of dead ends, researchers have discovered a combination of genes that can generate new cells in the inner ear—replacing those that make it possible to hear.

08/20/2026

Our Jacksonville clinic recently welcomed nursing staff from the Illinois School for the Deaf for a tour and training.

Tia, our Department Administrator, led the group on a tour of the clinic space where we are now seeing patients each week. Our neurotologists, Dr. Zaid Al-Zaghal and Dr. Mitchell Heuermann, spent time with the nurses reviewing how to assess the ear and what to look for when identifying different ear conditions.

Thank you for spending the day with us. We enjoyed having you and appreciate the opportunity to learn from one another!

08/18/2026

We are proud to congratulate Dr. Dana Crosby on receiving the 2025 Honor Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).

Presented in 2026 for volunteer service completed through 2025, the Honor Award recognizes Academy members who have demonstrated years of dedicated leadership and service to the specialty of otolaryngology. It is the first and only Honor Award an Academy member can earn in their lifetime.

Dr. Crosby's commitment extends well beyond caring for patients. Through her leadership, volunteerism and dedication to advancing the field, she continues to make a lasting impact on the specialty and the patients she serves every day.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Crosby on this well-deserved honor!

08/17/2026

For more than 12 years, Tia has helped move SIU Medicine forward through her thoughtful leadership and commitment to our patients. We’re so lucky to have her here in our department.

P.S. Today is also her birthday!🎉

Over 12 years at SIU Medicine, Tia Griffitts built a career solving problems, improving operations, and leading with kindness.

08/13/2026

The SIU Medicine Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic now offers in-office CT scans, bringing advanced imaging directly to our patients.

With on-site imaging, our team can provide faster answers, develop treatment plans sooner and make more informed surgical decisions, all while reducing the need for appointments at outside imaging centers. The result is a more convenient experience for patients and the potential for earlier detection and treatment when it matters most.

This is an exciting addition to our clinic and another step forward for providing exceptional patient care.

08/11/2026

Voice matters. For patients living with irreversible vocal cord paralysis, it can mean the difference between struggling to speak and confidently being heard.

Dr. Cindy Moore, a fellowship-trained laryngologist, successfully performs laryngeal reinnervation, an advanced procedure that restores nerve function to a paralyzed vocal cord. After completing advanced training in laryngeal reinnervation in Rouen, France, she brings world-class expertise to patients across central and southern Illinois. By reconnecting a healthy nerve to the damaged one, the surgery helps restore muscle tone, improve voice quality and reduce the risk of aspiration.

This highly specialized procedure offers new hope for patients with irreversible unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Dr. Moore is the only fellowship-trained laryngologist in central and southern Illinois offering laryngeal reinnervation.