Department of Otolaryngology - Affiliated Hospitals

Kings County Hospital Center was founded 175 years ago, when Brooklyn was its own city and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge would not begin for almost 40 years. Over the decades, Kings County has claimed many "firsts" in the field of medicine: it was the site of the first open-heart surgery performed in New York State; Kings County physicians invented the world's first hemodialysis machine, conducted the first studies of HIV infection in women and produced the first human images using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, Kings County was named the first Level 1 Trauma Center in the U.S.

Kings County remains staunchly committed to patient-centered care and is mid-way through a $500 million rebuilding and modernization that is the largest in HHC’s history. The project was launched in 1997 and is scheduled for completion in 2009. Phase I saw the construction of the 340 inpatient-bed New Bed Tower, an inviting, patient-friendly environment equipped with the latest in medical technology. Phase II featured the completion of a state-of-the-art Emergency, Diagnostic and Treatment Pavilion. Phase III centered on the Ambulatory Care Center, a facility housing six stories of modern outpatient suites. Phase IV will bring a new Behavioral Health Center, while Phase V will encompass new facilities for hospital support departments; centralization of key services; demolition of vacated structures; fresh, campus-wide landscaping; and new parking structures.  The Department of Otolaryngology is extremely busy at KCHC and runs an active out-patient facility, in-patient consultation service and surgical schedule.   Four residents cover KCHC and UHB as a combined service, with the assistance of one general surgery resident and a dedicated otolaryngology physician assistant.  The Department of Otolaryngology has scheduled Operating Room activities five days a week.  All otolaryngologic subspecialties are covered with emphasis on head and neck cancer surgery, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, pediatric otolaryngology and maxillofacial trauma.  Matthew B. Hanson, MD is the director of the service and he is assisted by 10 additional part-time and voluntary board-certified otolaryngologists.

KCHC, a member institution of the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation (HHC), is located in the heart of Brooklyn at the juncture of Crown Heights and East Flatbush.  The hospital serves the Brooklyn community as both the family doctor and a major provider of a full spectrum of health care services.  Throughout its history, the hospital has played a major role in meeting the health care needs of its surrounding population.  This role is challenged by the growth of problems with AIDS, drugs, mental health, TB, homelessness, and other epidemics which strain existing resources and means for effective and efficient health care delivery.