Principal Investigator -
Alexander "Zandy" Hillel, MD

I am a Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Originally from New York, I graduated from Dartmouth College and went to Tulane University School of Medicine. After completing residency in the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, which included a three-year research fellowship in biomedical engineering, I finished my training with a Laryngology fellowship at the Emory Voice Center in Atlanta.

I joined the faculty at Hopkins in 2013 and established our laboratory investigating laryngotracheal stenosis. My current clinical and surgical expertise focuses on airway and voice disorders, including endoscopic and open treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis, treatment of professional voice, and spasmodic dysphonia.  I am also the Medical Student Director for the Department of Otolaryngology and am passionate about facilitating medical student education in Otolaryngology.

Kevin Motz, MD

I am an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. As part of my residency training, I completed a NIH-funded T32 training fellowship and spent 2 years in the Hillel Lab. After completing residency training, I pursued a fellowship in Laryngology at the Vanderbilt Medical Center with the hopes of advancing my career as a surgeon-scientist.  

I was born and raised in Hagerstown, Maryland and graduated from Villa Julie College in 2009 with a degree in Biology. Afterwards, I received my medical degree from Georgetown University in 2013, and began my Otolaryngology training at Johns Hopkins the same year. As I have transitioned in my career, I have cultivated my own laboratory investigating immunologic mechanisms and biomarkers associated with idiopathic subglottic stenosis and iatrogenic laryngotracheal stenosis.

I am an avid golfer, love my dog, and am a big Ravens and Orioles fan!!

Ioan Lina, MD

I am currently an instructor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a recent graduate of the residency program’s NIH T32 research track. My research interests are focused on animal models, acoustic biomarkers, and development of novel therapeutics to treat laryngotracheal stenosis.

I was born and raised in Sudbrook, Maryland and have stayed local since. I went on to graduate from Johns Hopkins University in 2012 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. After graduating from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2017, I began my Otolaryngology training shortly thereafter.

In my free time, I love to hike, play pickle ball, and enjoy the amazing food around Baltimore!


​Samuel Collins, PhD

Dr. Samuel Collins received his Ph.D. in immunology from Johns Hopkins University in 2008.  During his Ph.D. he studied the signaling mechanisms of CD4+ T cell activation and how to enhance T cell function to fight cancer cells more effectively. As a post-doctoral fellow, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Maureen Horton, a clinician researcher interested in understanding the role of the immune system in the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). During his time in Dr. Horton’s laboratory, they published several papers which identified pulmonary vaccination as an effective method for the generation of CD4+ tissue resident memory cells which were effective in halting fibrosis in a mouse model of IPF. In 2021 Dr. Collins joined the laboratory of Dr. Alexander Hillel, where he studies the mechanisms of spontaneous fibrosis in idiopathic subglottic stenosis and works to develop therapies for use in Dr. Hillel’s clinical practice.  

Yee-Chan Li, BS

I am a research specialist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.  I joined Dr. Hillel’s lab in otolaryngology after 18 years in Pathology and Pulmonary Medicine at Hopkins, where I worked in biomedical research, on biomarker discovery, immune dysfunction, and lung fibrosis using preclinical models. I was responsible for maintaining daily lab operations and assisting with scientific research activities.

My earlier career included research assistance in the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and Medical College of Virginia (VCU).

Laura M. Mafla, BS

Laura M. Mafla is a dedicated fourth-year medical student researcher within the Department of Otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins. Currently investigating the pathophysiology of iatrogenic Laryngotracheal Stenosis (iLTS) and idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis (iSGS), Laura collaborates closely with Dr. Kevin Motz to elucidate the role of S100A8/A9 in these complex disease states. With a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Theatre from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Laura brings a diverse academic background to her research pursuits. Her primary research interest lies in wound and scar healing, reflecting her passion for addressing clinical challenges with innovative solutions. Beyond her academic pursuits, Laura enjoys reading, sketching, painting, and spending time with her two beloved cats. With aspirations to specialize in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Laura looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in her residency journey.

Raymond J. So, AB

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I am a third-year medical student at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. I joined Dr. Hillel's lab in 2023 as a part of a Dean's funded pre-doctoral research year. I graduated from Harvard College in 2021 with degrees in chemistry and neuroscience. My research interests include understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning laryngotracheal stenosis as well as developing metrics for healthcare quality and hospital safety. I plan to apply to Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery residency following medical school in pursuit of a career as an academic physician. 

​Past Members

Alexandra Berges, MD

Ruth Davis, MD

Dacheng Deng, MD PhD

Hsiu-Wen (Irene) Tsai, PhD

Michael Murphy, MD

Linda Yin, MD

Madhavi Duvvuri, Mphil MD

Michael Feeley, BS MS

Idris Samad, MBBCh

Daryan Namba, BS
​
Garret Ma, BS MS

​Rafael Opsino, BS

Collaborators

Maureen Horton, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine​, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Co-director, Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic

Jonathan Powell, MD, PhD
Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Professor of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Jennifer Elisseeff, PhD
​Professor, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering
Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering and Orthopedic Surgery
Director, Translational Tissue Engineering Center (TTEC)

Susan Thibeault, PhD, CCC-SLP
​Professor, Diane M. Bless Endowed Chair in Otolaryngology
Associate Vice Chair of Research, Department of Surgery
Director, University of Wisconsin Health Voice and Swallow Clinics
Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

Alexander Gelbard, MD
Professor of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

The North American Airway Collaborative (NoAAC)