In 2021, Bill Goodrich went to the doctor with what he described as a “raspy throat.” The symptoms persisted, and eventually he was referred to Blake Simpson, M.D., Abroms Professor of Otolaryngology in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology and co-director of the UAB Voice Center. Dr. Simpson diagnosed him with throat cancer.
“Fortunately, it was very early on, and they were able to actually remove the cancer without any really invasive techniques,” Goodrich recalled. “I didn’t have to have radiation or anything like that, so I was very blessed. I’ll go ahead and just say that what Dr. Simpson has accomplished since he got here is really what we all want to see happen.”
Due to his positive experience with Dr. Simpson and the UAB Voice Center team, Goodrich chose to generously support the center’s mission with a $50,000 gift to the UAB Voice Center Acceleration Fund, specifically in honor of Dr. Simpson and the excellence he represents.
“I think one of the things that needs to be accomplished through this is educating the public about the UAB Voice Center and all it can do for patients,” Goodrich said. “A lot of these conditions are treatable.”
Steady growth
The UAB Voice Center diagnoses and treats patients with voice, swallowing, and airway problems. It opened in March 2020 under the direction of Dr. Simpson and co-director Edie Hapner, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. It has grown steadily, serving over 12,300 patients and handling more than 47,000 appointments since opening.
The center also has grown its staff. Mollie Perryman, M.D., recently joined as its second fellowship-trained laryngologist – an ear, nose, and throat physician who focuses on disorders of the voice box, throat, and upper airway. To meet patient demand, the UAB Voice Center also expanded its team of speech-language pathologists, to improve access and reduce wait times.
“In addition to exceptional patient care, the generous gift from Mr. Goodrich will allow the UAB Voice Center to expand its mission to train early-career physicians and speech-language pathologists in state-of-the-art care, thereby expanding people’s access to world-class medical care,” Hapner said.
The center also continues to expand its range of specialties and services. For example, the UAB Voice Center’s reputation as a care hub for professional voices is becoming widely known.
“We’ve been honored to care for renowned singers and performers, and now we’re expanding that work with a new outreach effort,” said Jacob Wright, M.M., M.A., CCC-SLP, a speech pathologist at the UAB Voice Center. “By partnering with venues across the region, we’re ensuring that when artists face vocal challenges, their first call connects them with an unparalleled team – highly trained, deeply collaborative, and recognized leaders in the field – dedicated to protecting and restoring the voices we all love.”
Laser treatments
In addition, the center increasingly uses laser surgery – specifically, KTP laser treatments for conditions such as vocal fold lesions and papilloma. These minimally invasive procedures are effective for a wide range of patients, helping restore healthy voice function while minimizing the impact on the vocal cords.
“When you see the right team of people, no matter how big or small your voice problem is, there is almost always something that can be done to help,” Dr. Simpson said. “Thanks to Mr. Goodrich’s generosity, we are able to continue to expand and enhance our work at the UAB Voice Center and help more patients in need.”
Thanks to the UAB Voice Center – and Goodrich’s personal experience in overcoming cancer with the help of Dr. Simpson – Goodrich believes the center is poised for success as it continues expanding its services for the community.
“There’s a real opportunity here to see a lot of growth,” Goodrich said. “Smaller universities elsewhere have done well in this field, and I think we have an opportunity with Dr. Simpson to make it a really landmark part of UAB and beyond.”