Dr. Vivek John Joins UTHealth Houston’s Otorhinolaryngology Team
Vivek John, MD has joined the faculty of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston as an assistant professor. Dr. John will see adult and pediatric patients at UT Physicians Otorhinolaryngology-Southeast Houston (external link), which provides comprehensive ENT care to patients in the southeast suburbs.
Dr. John traces his interest in otorhinolaryngology to his childhood in Toronto, Canada. “I had vocal fold nodules removed when I was about nine. The ENT scoped me and I thought it was the most fascinating thing to see the vocal folds and learn how they produce sound,” he says. “I didn’t go to medical school thinking I’d become an ENT, but that experience was always in the back of my mind.”
Dr. John earned his Bachelor of Medical Sciences in physiology at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, and his medical degree at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri, where he was inducted in the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He completed residency training in otolaryngology at McGovern Medical School and was named Resident Educator of the Year in 2022. Following residency, he accepted a position at Indiana University Arnett Ear, Nose & Throat in Lafayette, providing comprehensive otolaryngology care to pediatric and adult patients and serving as an adjunct assistant professor at Indiana University School of Medicine.
“McGovern Medical School was a great place to train, gain experience, and hone my expertise,” he says. “I enjoyed collaborating with the team on complex cases and being able to reach out to senior faculty for guidance. I was very excited to have the opportunity to join the faculty here.”
Dr. John provides general ENT services and highly personalized care to patients of all ages. “What I enjoy most about otorhinolaryngology is the range. I might see an 80-year-old patient with sinus issues and in the next room I’ll see a child who needs ear tubes. Our specialty is unique in that we provide both medical and surgical management of complex conditions of the head and neck, ranging from hearing loss and chronic sinusitis to voice disorders. As medical school faculty, we can make a big difference in the quality of a patient’s life and at the same time make significant contributions to our field,” he says.
He has a particular interest in hypoglossal nerve stimulation using Inspire® upper airway stimulation
for patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and cannot tolerate a CPAP machine. “Many patients with OSA struggle through the day sleep deprived,” he says. “It’s very rewarding to help them get a good night’s sleep and regain control of their lives.”
Dr. John and his wife Manisha, who have two toddlers ages 1 and 2, are happy to be back in Houston, enjoying its diversity. “Being able to spend time with my kids and show them the world gives me a lot of joy,” he says. “Earlier in my life I had time for hobbies, but they’re my world now and I find being a parent very rewarding. I’m pumped to be back in Houston working with former colleagues and rediscovering this great city.”