Event Speakers/Presenters

Libby Smith, D.O., FAOCO, is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is the Director of the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center. Dr. Smith received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. She received her Otolaryngology training at Grandview-Kettering Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, and completed a fellowship in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice in Philadelphia, PA. A board-certified Otolaryngologist, she specializes in the treatment of voice, airway, and swallowing disorders. Her research interests include laryngeal electromyography, vocal fold paralysis, and surgical ergonomics.

Dr. Soares is a double board certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon in The Villages, Florida specializing in facial rejuvenation.

Eric Sugihara earned his medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences and completed his residency in Otolaryngology at Detroit Medical Center. He completed an Otology fellowship with Dr. Doug Backous in Seattle, Washington. He currently practices in a private ENT group in Fullerton, California (Greater Orange County Ear, Nose, Throat – Head and Neck Surgeons).

Annalize Sussman is a medical speech-language pathologist specializing in clinical voice and upper airway disorders. She earned her Master of Biobehavioral Sciences at Columbia University. She has a professional performance background with experience singing opera and musical theater across the United States and Europe. She holds a Master of Music and Opera from the University of Kansas. Currently, she works as a clinical voice and singing rehabilitation, chronic cough, and upper airway specialist at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Voice and Swallowing Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Sussman serves as a leadership member of the LGBTQ+ Affinity committee for the hospital and is passionate about policy, advocacy, and reform in the healthcare setting.

Attending Radiologist Envision Radiology PLLC North Ottawa Community Hospital Grand Haven MI

Dr. Vandjelovic is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in Rochester, New York. Dr. Vandjelovic focuses his practice on pediatric otolaryngology, working out of Galisano Children's Hospital. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and graduated with high honors from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Blacksburg, VA. After medical school, he completed his residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, at Detroit Medical Center/Michigan State University, where he served as chief resident. He went on to completed a fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children through Thomas Jefferson University in Wilmington, DE.

After receiving a Bachelor in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida, Dr. Villegas attended the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine with a full academic scholarship. During medical school he won Best National Research in General Ophthalmology at the World Ophthalmology Congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He graduated among the top of his medical school class and was awarded the Academic Research Program Award. Dr. Villegas then pursued an Ophthalmology Residency at the University of Puerto Rico Department of Ophthalmology. He was appointed Chief Resident and graduated with multiple peer-reviewed clinical publications as first author. Dr. Villegas then moved to Miami to continue fellowship training in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami. He then completed a two-year Ocular Oncology and Vitreoretinal Surgery fellowship under the direction of Dr. Timothy G. Murray, Professor Emeritus in Ophthalmology and Radiation Oncology. After completion of training, Dr. Villegas was appointed Assistant Professor in Clinical Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami and Joint Faculty at the University of Puerto Rico. Currently, Dr. Villegas is an Associate Professor and Residency Program Director at the University of Puerto Rico Department of Ophthalmology. He also holds academic affiliations with Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine Department of Surgery and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. In addition, Dr. Villegas is the current president of the Puerto Rico Ophthalmology Society. Over the years, he has helped educate multiple national and international ophthalmologists.

Carissa Wentland is a pediatric otolaryngologist at Children's Hospital of Michigan. She completed her residency through Michigan State University at Genesys Regional Medical Center. She then completed a Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. After 3 years of practice at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, she then completed an Advanced Otology fellowship at the University of Missouri. Her practice focuses on all aspects of pediatric otolaryngology. Special interests include childhood hearing loss, cochlear implantation, chronic ear disease and endoscopic ear surgery.

George A. Williams, M.D. is Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and Director of the Beaumont Eye Institute. He serves as Senior Secretary for Advocacy at the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Williams received her Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University in 2006. She then graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. She finished her internship at Oakwood Southshore Medical Center, and completed her residency in Ophthalmology through Beaumont Health-Oakwood Division from 2012 to 2016. Dr. Williams then attended a fellowship program in the field of Neuro-Ophthalmology and Oculoplastics in Warren, Michigan from 2016 to 2017. She has staff privileges at Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospitals and Ascension Moross Medical Center. Dr. Williams is also teaching faculty for the Ascension Macomb-Oakland Ophthalmology Residency Program. She is board certified through the American Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology.