A photo of J. Paul Willging.

J. Paul Willging, MD

  • Director, Interdisciplinary Feeding Team, FEES Clinic and the Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Clinic
  • Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
  • UC Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
Often, several treatment paths could be followed to get the same result, and I enjoy working with the family to determine the best option to manage their child.

About

Biography

While I practice in all areas of pediatric otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat or ENT), I have a special interest in feeding problems in children (pediatric dysphagia) and abnormal resonance when speaking (velopharyngeal insufficiency).

Often, several treatment paths could be followed to get the same result, and I enjoy working with the family to determine the best option to manage their child. I also feel that many patients are best served by multidisciplinary care teams, and I participate in several multidisciplinary clinics. I direct the Interdisciplinary Feeding Team, the Functional Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES) Clinic and the Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Clinic.

In my research, we seek to the learn the best treatment methods to use when managing patients with feeding and speech resonance problems. Other research interests include hearing loss, cleft lip and palate, and ENT conditions.

MD: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 1985.

Residency: Department of General Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 1985 to 1987; Otolaryngology Residency, Department of Otolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 1987 to 1991.

Fellowship: Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 1991 to 1992.

Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology, 1992.

Interests

Congenital atresia of the ear and pediatric trauma.

Services and Specialties

Feeding and Swallowing Problems, Otolaryngology ENT, Aerodigestive and Sleep, Ear and Hearing, Craniofacial Disorders, 22Q-VCFS, Speech-Language Pathology, Aerodigestive and Esophageal

Interests

Hearing loss issues; cleft lip and palate patients, ear, nose and throat; ENT anomalies

Research Areas

Otolaryngology

Additional Languages

French

Insurance Information

Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.

View Insurance Information

Publications

Evaluating the biomechanical characteristics of cuffed-tracheostomy tubes using finite element analysis. Subramaniam, DR; Oren, L; Willging, JP; Gutmark, EJ. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. 2021; 24:1595-1605.

Management of noncleft velopharyngeal insufficiency. Jefferson, ND; Willging, JP. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. 2021; 29:283-288.

Competency-Based Assessment Tool for Pediatric Esophagoscopy: International Modified Delphi Consensus. Faucett, EA; Wolter, NE; Balakrishnan, K; Ishman, SL; Mehta, D; Parikh, S; Nguyen, LH P; Preciado, D; Rutter, MJ; Prager, JD; et al. Laryngoscope. 2021; 131:1168-1174.

Competency-Based Assessment Tool for Pediatric Tracheotomy: International Modified Delphi Consensus. Propst, EJ; Wolter, NE; Ishman, SL; Balakrishnan, K; Deonarain, AR; Mehta, D; Zalzal, G; Pransky, SM; Roy, S; III, MC M; et al. Laryngoscope. 2020; 130:2700-2707.

The use of videos in preparation for pediatric otolaryngology cases-a national survey. Redmann, AJ; Willging, JP; Roby, BB. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2020; 138.

Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing in Infants and Children: Protocol, Safety, and Clinical Efficacy: 25 Years of Experience. Miller, CK; Willging, JP. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology. 2020; 129:469-481.

How design characteristics of tracheostomy tubes affect the cannula and tracheal flows. Subramaniam, DR; Willging, JP; Gutmark, EJ; Oren, L. Laryngoscope. 2019; 129:1791-1799.

Who Should Pass the Endoscope During a Fiberoptic Evaluation of Swallowing Procedure. Willging, JP. Pediatric Dysphagia. 2018.

Patient Ratings and Comments

All patient satisfaction ratings and comments are submitted by actual patients and verified by a leading independent patient satisfaction company, NRC Health. Patient identities are withheld to ensure confidentiality and privacy. Only those providers whose satisfaction surveys are administered through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are displayed. Click here to learn more about our survey