Al Merati, MD

My feeling is that 'the secret to caring for the patient is caring about the patient...' Or my favorite from a professor in medical school: 'If you listen to the patient, they will tell you what the problem is.

Dr. Merati is an internationally recognized leader in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Following medical school at the University of Washington under Charlie Cummings, he completed his otolaryngology training at the University of California at San Diego, including one year of NIH research training. From there, Dr. Merati went to Vanderbilt to study laryngology with Robert Ossoff at the premier training institution for academic laryngologists. This time at Vanderbilt included work with Jim Netterville on laryngeal framework surgery. Following very productive years at Kansas University and at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Dr. Merati returned to his native Seattle in 2007 to head up the Laryngology program at the University of Washington, now widely recognized among the leaders in clinical care, scholarship, and training in the nation.

He has over 135 peer reviewed publications and also is the lead editor for the Textbook of Laryngology. He co-founded the Laryngology Education Foundation, the force behind the growth of the Fall Voice Conference, the largest conference of its kind in the world. Dr. Merati’s career focus in laryngology was to demystify the field and work with others to advance candor, reflection, and communication. Dr. Merati has served as Senior Examiner for the American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and as a Vice President of the Triological Society. Dr. Merati has earned two Distinguished Service awards from the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery and is Past-President of the AAO-HNS as well as of the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, one of only a few who have held both posts. After serving as service chief for Otolaryngology-HNS at UW Medical Center for five years, Dr. Merati is now the associate medical director for Perioperative Quality and Safety for the UW Medical Centers. In 2023 Dr Merati was selected to join the AAOHNS Hall of Distinction as a “Living Legend” for his contributions to the field of Otolaryngology – HNS in general.

Undergraduate Education: University of Washington, 1987, B.A. in English, with distinction

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine, 1991, M.D., with honors

Internship: University of California - San Diego, 1991-92, General Surgery

Residency: University of California - San Diego, 1992-97, Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

Fellowship: Laryngology & Care of the Professional Voice, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1997-98

Other Training: NIH Research Training, Neuromuscular Lab, Department of Orthopedics, UCSD, 1993-94

Board Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology, 1998

Memberships: American Laryngological Association, American Broncho-Esophagological Association, American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

2023: AAOHNS Hall of Distinction “Living Legend”

2021-present: Councilor, American Laryngological Association

2019-2020: President, American Broncho-Esophagological Association

2019-2020: Vice-President, Western Section Vice-President, Triological Society

2018-2019: President, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)

2016: Distinguished Service Award, American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. Second career award; the first was awarded in 2008.

2014-2018: Secretary/Treasurer, Western Section Triological Society/Council of the Triological Society

2014-present: Editor/Council American Bronchoesophagological Association 

2012-present: Senior Examiner, American Board of Otolaryngology 

2012-present: Associate Editor - JAMA OTO-HNS 

2011-2013: Board of Directors, AAO-HNS

2012-13: Chair, Surgical Speciality Advisory Council AAO-HNS 

2008-2011: Founding Chair, Airway and Swallowing Committee, American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 

2008: Distinguished Service Award, American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery 

2007-present: Honorary Member, Panamanian Otolaryngology Society 

2006-2008: Chair, Neurolaryngology Subcommittee, American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 

2006: Outstanding Service Award, Wisconsin State Speech and Hearing Association

2005-present: Best Doctors in America ® (peer election) 

2005: Honor Award, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 

2001: "Top Doc" Award, Kansas University Medical Center 

2000: "Top Doc" Honorable Mention, Kansas University Medical Center 

1997: Department of Surgery Teaching Award, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine 

1997: Department of Medicine "Golden Flea" Award (most outstanding surgical consultant), University of California at San Diego 

1996: Housestaff Teaching Award, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine 

1995: Housestaff Teaching Award (Honorable Mention), University of California at San Diego School of Medicine 

1991: James Haviland Award, University of Washington School of Medicine 

1990: Alpha Omega Alpha 

All medical and surgical aspects of office-based and operative laryngology, including complex airway, voice, and swallowing. This includes vocal fold paralysis, surgery for dysphagia/aspiration (including Zenker's), and endoscopic and open surgery for airway stenosis and laryngeal cancer.