Peter J. Koltai MD, FACS

Pediatric otolaryngologist

Bio:   Peter J. Koltai MD, FACS, member of the Stanford University School of Medicine faculty since 2004, is Professor of Otolaryngology and Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology having recently stepped down as Division Chief (2013). He is currently President of the Medical Staff of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

Born in Hungary and educated in the New York City schools, Peter graduated Albany Medical College in 1975, completed his Otolaryngology residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch (1980) and did a fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology in London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children (1989). Before coming to Stanford, Peter was professor of Surgery and Pediatrics in the Division of Otolaryngology at Albany Medical College (1982 – 1998) and then Head of the Section of Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Cleveland Clinic (1998 – 2004). He is Past President of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (2010 -2011) and Past President of the American Broncho-Esophagological Association (2012 – 2013). He is Past President of the Faculty Organization of the Albany Medical College and the Medical Staff of the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Peter has held other leadership positions in cultural organizations within the scope of his interest.

Author of several books, many chapters, and over a hundred publications, many self illustrated, Peter’s academic and clinical interests have focused primarily on creative solutions to difficult surgical problems. These have included establishing new techniques for the management of pediatric facial fractures, a novel method of tracheostomy, refinements in laryngotracheal reconstruction, the development of microdebrider shaver blades for “powered” adenoidectomy and “partial” tonsillectomy and the design of high pressure airway balloons for dilation. His current focus is on expanding surgical options for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and on the broader public health issue of lithium button battery injuries in children.

Professional Education

  • Medical Education: Albany Medical Center (1975) NY
  • Fellowship: Hospital For Sick Children (1989) UK
  • Internship: Albany Medical Center (1976) NY
  • Board Certification: Otolaryngology, American Board of Otolaryngology (1981)
  • Residency: University of Texas Medical Branch Hospital (1980) TX
  • BA, Queens College, Biology (1971)
  • M.D., Albany Medical College, Medicine (1975)
  • Board Certification, UTMB, Otolaryngology (1980)
  • Fellowship, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Pediatric Otolaryngology (1989)

Honors & Awards

  • Member, National Honor Society (1967)
  • Annual MVP: Captain of Swim Team, Queens College, New York (1971)
  • Third Place Award, Annual Alumni Day Resident Presentation, Department of Otolaryngology, UTMB (1978)
  • First Place Award, Annual Alumni Day Resident Presentation, Department of Otolaryngology, UTMB (1979)
  • First Place Award, Annual Alumni Day Resident Presentation, Department of Otolaryngology, UTMB (1980)
  • Commencement Speaker, Graduating Class, Hudson Valley Albany Medical College Physicians Assistant Program (1985)
  • Commencement Speaker, Graduating Class, Albany Medical Center Nurse Anesthetists Program (1987)
  • Wiggers Travel Award, Faculty Organization, Albany Medical College (1988)
  • Schaffer Faculty Development Scholar, Albany Medical College (1988)
  • Alumni Member, AOA Honor Medical Society (1993)
  • Best Doctors in America, 2nd Edition, Woodward/White, Inc. (1994)
  • Certificate of Honor, American Academy of Otolaryngology B Head & Neck Surgery (1995)
  • Best Free Paper of Conference, Interamerican Association of Pediatric Otolaryngology Buenos Aires, Argentina, (1995)
  • Guest of Honor, Annual Meeting of French Association of Pediatric Otolaryngology (1996)
  • Community Service Award: Annual Humanitarian Awards, Capital District Center for the Disabled (1997)
  • Senior Author: Charles F. Ferguson Clinical Research Award, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (1998)
  • Best Doctors in America, 4th Edition, Woodward/White, Inc. (1999)
  • Senior Author: Charles F. Ferguson Clinical Research Award, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (1999)
  • Invited Guest Speaker, 5th National Congress of the Egyptian ORL Society (1999)
  • Best Doctors in America, 6th Edition, Woodward/White, Inc. (2002)
  • Invited Guest Speaker, 4th Congress of the Argentinean Association of Pediatric Otolaryngology (2002)
  • Top Doctors in Cleveland, Cleveland Magazine (2002)
  • Top Doctors in Northern Ohio, Northern Ohio Live Magazine (2003)
  • Best Doctors in America, 7th Edition, Woodward/White, Inc. (2003)
  • Invited Principal Speaker, Annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Stomato-Pharyngology (2003)
  • Annual Achievement Award in Medicine and Health, Northern Ohio Live Magazine (2003)
  • Top Doctors in Cleveland, Cleveland Magazine (2004)
  • Invited Guest Speaker, National Congress of the Hungarian Society of Otolaryngology (2004)
  • Best Doctors in America, 8th Edition, Woodward/White, Inc. (2005-2006)
  • Keynote Speaker, Australo-Asian Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (July 2005)
  • Best Doctors in America, 9th Edition, Woodward/White, Inc. (2007-2008)
  • Honorary Member, Israeli Society of Otolaryngology (2009)
  • Honorary Member, Hungarian Academy of Otolaryngology (2008)
  • Steven Grey Memorial Keynote Lecture, University of Utah (2008)
  • Chevalier Jackson Award, American Broncho – Esophagological Association (2009)
  • Distinguished Service Award,, American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery (2009)
  • Best Doctors in America, 10th Edition, Woodward/White, Inc. (2009-2010)
  • Honorary Lecturer, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (2010)
  • Board of Governors Chair Award, AAO-HNS (2010)
  • Best Doctors in America, 11th Edition, Woodward/White, Inc (2011-2012)
  • Schloss Keynote Lecture, McGill University (2012)
  • Keynote Lecture, Albany Medical College (2012)
  • Best Doctors in America, 12th Edition, Woodward/White (2012 - 2013)
  • 25th Hollinger Lecture, Northwestern University (2014)
  • Keynote Lecture, European Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (2014)
  • Keynote Lecture, 44th Brazilian Congress of Otolaryngology and Cervico Facial Surgery (2014)
  • Keynote Lecture, 13th Asia – Oceania ORL-HNS Congress (2015)
  • Porubsky Keynote Lecture,, Medical College of Georgia (2015)
  • Top Doctors, Castle Connolly (2015)
  • 4th Trevor McGill Lecture, Harvard University (2015)

Administrative Appointments

  • Secretary, American Broncho- Esophagologic Association (2005 - 2009)
  • Secretary, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (2002 - 2006)
  • Trustee, AO/ASIF (2002 - 2006)
  • Chief, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Stanford University (2004 - Present)
  • Chief, Pediatric Otolaryngology Service, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (2004 - Present)
  • President Elect, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (2009 - 2010)
  • President, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (2010 - 2011)
  • President Elect, American Broncho- Esophagologic Association (2011 - 2012)
  • Vice President, Medical Staff, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (2010 - 2012)
  • President, Medical Staff, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (2012 - 2014)
  • President, American Broncho- Esophagologic Association (2012 - 2013)