Rate My Professor Stephanie Misono

Stephanie Misono, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Twin Cities, and Chief of the Division of Laryngology. She leads the University of Minnesota Laryngology Research Program, which investigates normal and disordered voice production. Dr. Misono earned her MD cum laude from Harvard Medical School and a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of Washington School of Public Health. She completed residency training in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, and subspecialty fellowship training in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice at the Vanderbilt Voice Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, in Nashville, Tennessee. She is board-certified through the American Board of Otolaryngology.

Dr. Misono’s clinical and academic interests in laryngology include voice, swallowing, and airway problems, as well as early laryngeal cancer. Her research specializations encompass optimizing treatment outcomes in patients with laryngeal disorders, psychological factors in voice outcomes, dysphagia, spasmodic dysphonia, chronic cough, neuromodulation technology, and stigma and voice-related life impact in transgender and gender diverse adults. As principal investigator, she has received funding from the National Institutes of Health for projects including vibrotactile stimulation for refractory chronic cough (2024–2027), psychological factors in voice outcomes (2017–2023), and others. She has authored or co-authored 73 research outputs, including "Dysphagia Characteristics in High Versus Low Vagal Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis" (Laryngoscope, 2026), "Ecological Momentary Assessment of Voice & Psychological Factors: Group & Individual Mechanisms" (Laryngoscope, 2026), "Stigma and voice-related life impact among transgender and gender diverse adults" (International Journal of Transgender Health, 2026), "Characterization of upper esophageal sphincter pressures relative to vocal acoustics" (Journal of Applied Physiology, 2025), and "Evidence-Based Practice: Evaluation and Management of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis" (Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, 2012). Dr. Misono has been named a Top Doctor by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and Minnesota Monthly (2025). She serves as Associate Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program and participates in Northern LITeS: Leadership for Innovative Team Science.