About University Voice Center

The University Voice Center, with Dr. Daniel Deems, MD, PhD, FACS and Larry DeWitte, PA-C was established for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of voice disorders and is associated with University Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates. They utilize state of the art equipment for visualization of the larynx, enabling them to diagnose and treat lesions not visible with traditional medical equipment. The Sarasota Voice Center provides a wide variety of services for the patient with voice problems, both professional voice users and lay persons.

Daniel A. Deems, MD, PhD, FACS

Dr. Deems is an Otolaryngologist who also has a PhD in Neuroscience.  He received his Bachelors in 1982 from Occidental College in Los Angeles, graduating with departmental honors.  From there he developed a great interest in research.  This ambition led him to University of California where he obtained his  Masters Degree and Ph.D. in 1986 in Neuroscience focusing on brain-body and neuroanatomical circuitry.    

He then joined the faculty in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in the School of Medicine.  He taught in the medical school and maintained an active research program as a Principal Investigator of several National Institute of Health Research Grants. Simultaneous with his faculty appointment he completed his MD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992, followed by a General Surgery internship in 1993 and Otolaryngology Residency, in 1997. 

In 1997 he brought his program to Sarasota, now known as University Ear, Nose and Throat Associates. Dr. Deems is actively  involved at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, one of the top 50 hospitals in the US by US News and World Report.  He has been a long term member of the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee, Section of Otolaryngology and more recently served as Chief of Surgery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.  Dr. Deems is actively involved with the hospital’s pro bono Community Medical Clinic. He is currently on faculty at Florida State University School of Medicine as a medical educator. Dr. Deems is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and a Fellow of the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Deems has received departmental honors from Occidental College, a commendation for outstanding teaching from the University of Pennsylvania and the Edgar J. Sacher Award for outstanding research in neurobiology at Pennsylvania.  He has more than forty research articles and book chapters.

Larry DeWitte, PA-C

Larry DeWitte is a Certified Physician Assistant with over 22 years of experience in the healthcare industry with 12 years of experience in Ear, Nose, and Throat medical/surgical practice.

Mr. DeWitte completed his undergraduate studies in Microbiology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He completed his Physician's Assistant training with departmental honors at Emory University School of Medicine's Physician's Associate Program, Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. DeWitte is a Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants.

He has held multiple positions in the pharmaceutical industry to include account management, reimbursement and business consultant, sales training and product advisory boards.

He is an active musician and has a passion for assisting vocalists achieve and maintain their optimal voice quality.

John W. Ferreira

John W Ferreira was born in Newport, Rhode Island, where he later studied piano, voice and organ under Carroll W.J. Ball. He is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ.

Mr. Ferreira sang with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestras und the batons of Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormondy, Sir Malcolm Sargent, and Leopold Stokowski. Ferreira is in his 18th year as Director of Music and the Arts for the Church of Palms Presbyterian Church in Sarasota.

Through University Voice Center Mr. Ferreira is presently engaged in the study and rehabilitation of patients that have experienced voice difficulties.

 

 

Dr. Daniel A. Deems, MD, PhD, FACS

 Larry DeWitte, PA-C

John Ferreira