Dr. DAVID LOTT
Phoenix
Specializing in regenerative medicine, Lott, the Mayo Clinic’s director of its head and neck regeneration program, has developed a process to re-create parts of the voice box and vocal folds using stem cells and 3D printing. Although the technology is still in the investigation stage, he plans to offer the treatment to patients (which includes opera and Broadway stars) in 2016. More recently, a celebrity client was set to accept a lifetime achievement award when an unrelated pain condition left her with a breathy, unsupported voice. “By addressing the physical and mental aspects of the pain in addition to retraining her vocal system, she could speak with confidence,” he says. » 480-342-2983, mayoclinic.org
Dr. GERALD S. BERKE
Related
Los Angeles
“I would not be on the stage tonight if it weren’t for Dr. Berke,” John Mayer told fans at the Hollywood Bowl in 2013, after being sidelined for three years with granuloma, or tissue inflammation of the vocal cords. “He’d failed therapy by other well-known laryngologists,” recalls Berke, professor and chair of the department of head and neck surgery at UCLA, who cracked the problem by paralyzing Mayer’s vocal cords with Botox to allow them time to heal. “When it comes to the voice, less is generally more,” says the doctor, who typically elects for out-patient procedures. » 310-794-0238, uclahealth.org
Dr. SHAWN NASSERI
Beverly Hills
Nasseri’s private practice appointment book reads like an entertainment who’s who — from Ryan Seacrest and Seth MacFarlane to Tom Petty , Carrie Underwood and Stevie Wonder. He credits his continued relationships with his patients as key to their recovery. “These people have excellent voice gifts but hectic lifestyles that provide a challenge to sustained wellness,” he says. “I’m constantly on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat to provide a personal presence.” » 310-289-8200, nasserimd.com
Dr. RANDY SCHNITMAN
Beverly Hills
To keep his A-list clientele — which includes Fetty Wap, Katy Perry and Mariah Carey — out of the OR, Schnitman puts a premium on the less sensational aspects of vocal wellness. “People on tour often complain of sensitive throats,” he says. “Nine times out of 10, it’s acid reflux from late-night eating.” Also key is vocal training. “When you break into the business on your own, you haven’t been trained like an opera singer.” He encourages performers to prioritize warm-ups, hydration and pacing to minimize vocal strain. “When I don’t hear from my patients,” says Schnitman, “I know I’m doing my job well.” » 310-275-5432
Dr. JOSEPH SUGERMAN
Beverly Hills
In the ’70s, when Sugerman was the protege and business partner of the late, great Dr. Ed Kantor, Hollywood’s original voice doctor, he would treat new artists while the boss soothed legends Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland . “By default, I saw the next generation,” he says. Today, Sugerman credits fiber-optic video as the most significant tech advancement. When patient Mick Jagger complained of pain during an Australian tour in November 2014, a local physician emailed him a video of the singer’s larynx. “The video came in at 3 a.m., but I was able to advise from abroad,” says Sugerman. » 310-274-6005