Steven Ezra Sobol

Steven Ezra Sobol, MD, MSc, FRCS(C), FAAP, is Professor of Otorhinolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and an attending pediatric otolaryngologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He directs the Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders and serves as Otolaryngology Site Director as well as Associate Surgery Director for OR Operations and Growth at CHOP’s Middleman Family Pavilion.

Education & Training

• BS – McGill University, Montréal, Québec
• MSc – McGill University, Montréal, Québec
• MD – McGill University School of Medicine, Montréal, Québec
• Residency – Otolaryngology, McGill University
• Clinical Fellowship – Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Research Fellowship – Molecular Biology & Immunology, Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University
• Physician Leadership Program – CHOP & Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania

Research & Clinical Focus

Dr. Sobol’s clinical interests center on general pediatric otolaryngology and complex pediatric airway disorders, including neonatal airway malformations, laryngotracheoesophageal clefts, and the multidisciplinary management of tracheostomy-dependent children. He has built an international reputation for advancing diagnostic and surgical techniques in slide tracheoplasty, tracheostomy care protocols, and dysphagia/aspiration evaluation. His scholarly work explores genetic determinants of childhood hearing loss, evidence-based timing of airway interventions, and consensus-driven training tools for pediatric airway endoscopy.

Scientific Awards & Honors

• George Strawbridge Award (2022) – Outstanding Faculty Contribution, Perelman School of Medicine
• Honor Award (2021) – American Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
• Main Line Today “Top Doctors” – Pediatric Otolaryngology (2018, 2019, 2022)
• Jonathan Rhoads Prize in Surgical Scholarship (2016)

Leadership, Grants & Teams

Dr. Sobol chairs the Section on Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery for the American Academy of Pediatrics and serves on the executive committees of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, and multiple international federations. He leads the Neonatal Airway Program and Infantile Hemangioma Program at CHOP, co-directs quality-improvement initiatives across surgical services, and mentors residents and fellows through simulation-based curricula. Funding sources include internal CHOP grants, industry-supported research consortia, and multi-institutional NIH collaborations focused on pediatric airway genomics and surgical outcomes.

Laboratory & Clinical Teams

He collaborates with the Neonatal Airway Program, Airway Disorders Center, Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology) Division, and Infantile Hemangioma Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, integrating clinical care, translational research, and educational missions.