PETER BELAFSKY

Peter C. Belafsky, MD, MPH, PhD

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
  • Vassar College, BA Cum Laude | Poughkeepsie, NY – 1994
GRADUATE EDUCATION
  • Tulane University School of Medicine MD | New Orleans, LA – 1994 
  • Tulane University School of Public Health, MPH | New Orleans, LA  – 1994
  • Tulane University Dept. of General Surgery Surgical Internship | New Orleans, LA – 1996 
  • Tulane University Graduate School, PhD Epidemiology | New Orleans, LA – 1997 
  • Tulane University Dept. of Otolaryngology, Board Certified | New Orleans, LA – 2001
  • Wake Forest University Dept. of Otolaryngology, Fellowship Laryngology | Winston-Salem, NC – 2001
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  • Chief – Division of Laryngology, University of California, Davis – 9/04 – present
  • Vice Chair Academic Affairs – UC Davis Dept of Otolaryngology/HNS – 09/19 – present
  • Medical Director – National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders – 07-06 – present 
  • Past President – The Dysphagia Research Society – 01/12-01/13
  • Vice President – American Broncho-Esophagolical Society – 2020-2021
  • President Elect – American Broncho-Esophagolical Society – 2021-2022
  • President – American Broncho-Esophagolical Society – 2022-2023  
  • Past President – American Broncho-Esophagolical Society – 01/22-01/23 
HONORS & AWARDS
  • American Laryngological Association (ALA) Presidential Citation Award. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM), Dallas, TX, April 27 – May 1, 2022.
  • America’s Most Honored Doctors – Top 1% 2021 – 2023.
  • Sacramento Magazine Top Doctors – 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2023.
  • American Bronchoesophagological Association (ABEA) Presidential Citation Award. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM), San Antonio, TX, May 1-3, 2019.
  • American Laryngological Association (ALA) State of the Art Lecturer. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM), San Antonio, TX, May 1-3, 2019.
  • American Laryngological Association (ALA) Presidential Citation Award. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM), San Diego, CA, May 26-28, 2017.
  • American Bronchoesophagological Association (ABEA) Poster Presentation Award. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM), Chicago, IL, May 18-22, 2016.
  • American Laryngological Association (ALA) Poster Presentation Award. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM), Chicago, IL, May 18-22, 2016.
  • American Bronchoesophagological Society (ABEA) Best Poster Presentation. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM), Boston, MA, April 22-26, 2015.
  • First Prize Scientific Presentation Award, Dysphagia Research Society, 2013.
  • The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society.
  • The Honorable Mention Award for Clinical Research, May, 2010.
  • The American Rhinologic Society.
  • The Cottle Centennial Best Research Paper- First prize. June, 1997.
BOOKS
  • Belafsky, PC. (2018). Clinical Esophagology and Transnasal Esophagoscopy. San Diego: Plural Publishing Inc.
  • Belafsky, PC and Kuhn MA (2014). The Clinician’s Guide to Swallowing Fluoroscopy. New York: Springer.
  • Shaker, R, Belafsky, PC, Postma, GN, and Easterling C. (Eds.). (2013). Principles of Deglutition. New York: Springer.
  • Shaker, R, Belafsky, PC, Postma, GN, and Easterling C. (Eds.). (2013). Manual and Therapeutic Techniques for Disorders of Deglutition. New York: Springer.
  • Postma, GN, Belafsky, PC and Aviv, JE (2007). Atlas of Transnasal Esophagoscopy. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
  • Belafsky, PC. Dilation of the Upper Esophageal Sphincter. Foregut. 2024;0(0). doi:1177/26345161241282299
  • Lechien JR, Vaezi MF, Chan WW, Allen JE, Karkos PD, Saussez S, Altman KW, Amin MR, Ayad T, Barillari MR, Belafsky PC, Blumin JH, Johnston N, Bobin F, Broadhurst M, Ceccon FP, Calvo-Henriquez C, Eun YG, Chiesa-Estomba CM, Crevier-Buchman L, Clarke JO, Dapri G, Eckley CA, Finck C, Fisichella PM, Hamdan AL, Hans S, Huet K, Imamura R, Jobe BA, Hoppo T, Maron LP, Muls V, O’Rourke AK, Perazzo PS, Postma G, Prasad VMN, Remacle M, Sant’Anna GD, Sataloff RT, Savarino EV, Schindler A, Siupsinskiene N, Tseng PH, Zalvan CH, Zelenik K, Fraysse B, Bock JM, Akst LM, Carroll TL. The Dubai Definition and Diagnostic Criteria of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: The IFOS Consensus. Laryngoscope. 2023 Nov 6. doi: 10.1002/lary.31134. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37929860.
  • Zhao NW, MacDonald BV, Pietrowski JR, Laus J, Evangelista LM, Joseph I, Rosen CA, Belafsky PC. Clinician accuracy in identifying essential laryngeal landmarks on swallowing fluoroscopy. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2023 Jul 29;8(5):1265-1271. doi: 10.1002/lio2.1127. PMID: 37899869; PMCID: PMC10601579.
  • Rameau A, Postma G, Belafsky Peter. Office‐Based Evaluation and Management of Dysphagia in Otolaryngology. Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports. Epub 2023 Feb https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-023-00439-4.
  • Kamal AN, Dhar SI, Bock JM, Clarke JO, Lechien JR, Allen J, Belafsky PC, Blumin JH, Chan WW, Fass R, Fisichella PM, Marohn M, O’Rourke AK, Postma G, Savarino EV, Vaezi MF, Carroll TL, Akst LM. Best Practices in Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease: A Multidisciplinary Modified Delphi Study. Dig Dis Sci. 2022 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s10620-022-07672-9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35995882.
  • Ullal TV, Marks SL, Belafsky PC, Conklin JL, Pandolfino JE. A Comparative Assessment of the Diagnosis of Swallowing Impairment and Gastroesophageal Reflux in Canines and Humans. Front Vet Sci. 2022 Jun 9;9:889331. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.889331. PMID: 35754550; PMCID: PMC9228035.
  • Rameau A, Andreadis K, Bayoumi A, Kaufman M, Belafsky P. Side Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors: What are Patients’ Concerns? J Voice. 2020 Feb 21. pii: S0892-1997(19)30527-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.01.018.
  • Nachalon Y, Nativ-Zeltzer N, Dhar SI, Mehdizadeh OB, Cassady AT, Belafsky PC. Esophageal A-ring is associated with the severity of gastroesophageal reflux. Laryngoscope. 2019 Jun 14. doi: 10.1002/lary.28143.
  • Garcia RS, Belafsky PC, Della Maggiore A, Osborn JM, Pypendop BH, Pierce T, Walker VJ, Fulton A, Marks SL. Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Cats During Anesthesia and Effect of Omeprazole on Gastric pH. J Vet Intern Med. 2017 Apr 19.
  • Wellenstein DJ, Schutte HW, Marres HAM, Honings J, Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Takes RP, van den Broek GB. Office-based procedures for diagnosis and treatment of esophageal pathology. Head Neck. 2017 Sep;39(9):1910-1919.
  • Lee JW, Randall DR, Evangelista LM, Kuhn MA, Belafsky PC. Subjective Assessment of Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Feb 1.
  • Domer AS, Kuhn MA, Belafsky PC. Neurophysiology and Clinical Implications of the Laryngeal Adductor Reflex. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep (2013) 1:178–182.
  • Zacuto AC, Marks SL, Osborn J, Douthitt KL, Hollingshead KL, Hayashi K, Kapatkin AS, Pypendop BH, Belafsky PC. The Influence of Esomeprazole and Cisapride on Gastroesophageal Reflux During Anesthesia in Dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2012 Apr 10. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00929.x.
  • Pearson JP, Parikh S, Orlando RC, Johnston N, Allen J, Tinling SP, Johnston N, Belafsky P, Arevalo LF, Sharma N, Castell DO, Fox M, Harding SM, Morice AH, Watson MG, Shields MD, Bateman N, McCallion WA, van Wijk MP, Wenzl TG, Karkos PD, Belafsky PC. Review article: reflux and its consequences–the laryngeal, pulmonary and oesophageal manifestations. Conference held in conjunction with the 9th International Symposium on Human Pepsin (ISHP) Kingston-upon-Hull, UK, 21-23 April 2010. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Apr;33 Suppl 1:1-71.
  • Belafsky PC. Contemporary diagnosis and management of reflux and dysphagia. Otorinolaringologia 2010;60:81-91.
  • Belafsky PC. Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: The ENT Perspective. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2009 Jul;7(5):485-6, 506.
  • Belafsky PC, Rees CJ, Rodriguez K, Pryor JS, Katz PO. Esophagopharyngeal reflux. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008 Jan;138(1):57-61.
  • Halum SL, Postma GN, Johnston C, Belafsky PC, Koufman JA. Patients with Isolated Laryngopharyngeal Reflux are not Obese. Laryngoscope. 2005 Jun;115(6):1042-5.
  • McGuigan JE, Belafsky PC, Fromer L, McCarthy D, Nostrant T, Postma GN, Welage LS, Wolfe MM. Review article: diagnosis and management of night-time reflux. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Dec;20 Suppl 9:57-72.
  • Belafsky PC, Rodriguez K. Esophagopharyngeal reflux [abstract]. The Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York, New York, September 19-21, 2004.
  • Westcott CJ, Hopkins MB, Bach K, Postma GN, Belafsky PC, Koufman JA. Fundoplication for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. J Am Coll Surg. 2004 Jul;199(1):23-30.
  • Belafsky PC. Abnormal endoscopic pharyngeal and laryngeal findings attributable to reflux. Am J Med. 2003 Aug 18;115(3 Suppl):90-6.
  • Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Amin MR, Koufman JA. Symptoms and findings of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Ear Nose Throat J 2002 Sep;81(9 Suppl 2):10-3.
  • Postma GN, Belafsky PC, Aviv JE, Koufman JA. Laryngopharyngeal reflux testing. Ear Nose Throat J 2002 Sep;81(9 Suppl 2):14-8.
  • Koufman JA, Belafsky PC, Bach KK, Daniel E, Postma GN. Prevalence of Esophagitis in Patients With pH-Documented Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. Laryngoscope 2002 Sep;112(9):1606-9.
  • Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Koufman JA. Validity and reliability of the reflux symptom index (RSI). J Voice 2002 Jun;16(2):274-7.
  • Belafsky P, Postma G, Koufman J. The association between laryngeal pseudosulcus and laryngopharyngeal reflux. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2002 Jun;126(6):649-52.
  • Postma GN, Tomek MS, Belafsky PC, Koufman JA. Esophageal motor function in laryngopharyngeal reflux is superior to that in classic gastroesophageal reflux disease. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2001
  • Belafsky P, Postma G, Koufman J. Laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms improve before changes in physical findings. Laryngoscope 2001;11:979-981.
  • Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Koufman JA. Subglottic Edema (Pseudosulcus) as a Manifestation of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux [abstract]. Annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Denver, CO, 2001.
  • Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Koufman JA. The validity and reliability of the reflux finding score (RFS). Laryngoscope. 2001 Aug;111(8):1313-7.
  • Postma GN, Belafsky PC, Koufman JA. Distal esophageal diverticulum secondary to a reflux-induced stricture. Ear Nose Throat J. 2001 Aug;80(8):500.
  • Postma G, Tomek M, Belafsky P, Koufman J. Esophageal acid clearance in otolaryngology patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux [abstract]. The 103rd Annual Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM), April, 2001.
  • Belafsky P, Postma G, Koufman J. The validity and reliability of the reflux finding score (RFS) [abstract]. The Southern Section of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc. January 12-14, 2001.Marco Island, Florida.
  • Belafsky P, Postma G, Koufman J. Laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms improve before changes in physical findings [abstract]. The Southern Section of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc. January 12-14, 2001.Marco Island, Florida.
  • Belafsky P. The Epidemiology of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux [abstract]. The 2nd International Symposium on Human Pepsin, September 29-30, 2000, Dundee, Scotland.
SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS
  • Jamie Koufman Invited Panel: Comprehensive Approaches to the Contemporary Reflux Patient
. American Bronchoesophagological Association (ABEA) Presidential Citation Award. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM), San Antonio, TX, May 1-3, 2019.
  • Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. 4th Annual Meeting of The European Society of Swallowing Disorders, October 23 – 25, 2014, Brussels, Belgium.
  • Intraesophageal Reflux: Incidental Finding or Clinical Entity? Presented at the 17th Annual Dysphagia Research Society Meeting, New Orleans, March 5-7, 2009.
  • Laryngopharyngeal Reflux is Under-Recognized. Presented at the 17th Annual Dysphagia Research Society Meeting, New Orleans, March 5-7, 2009.
  • Does non-acid reflux cause extraesophageal symptoms? Presented at the 9th World Congress of the World Organization for Specialized Studies on Diseases of the Esophagus, Monte Carlo, Monaco, April 6-9, 2008.
  • Are there specific symptoms or physical findings allowing for the diagnosis of reflux to the laryngopharynx? Presented at the 9th World Congress of the World Organization for Specialized Studies on Diseases of the Esophagus, Monte Carlo, Monaco, April 6-9, 2008.
  • Laryngopharyngeal reflux. Presented at Otolaryngology Updates, Scottsdale, AZ, February 23-26, 2008.
  • Refluxo faringolaringeo. Congresso Triologico de Otorrinolaringologia. 6 a 9 de junho de 2007. Centro de Convencoes Ulysses Guimaraes. Brasilia, Brazil.
  • Outcome Instruments in Reflux and Dysphagia. Contemporary Evaluation and Management of Reflux and Swallowing Disorders, November 4, 2006, New York, New York.
  • Manifestaciones esofagicas y extraesofagicas por reflujo. VI Curso Disfagia y Aspiracion, 14-16 de Junio de 2006, Palma de Mallorca, Espana.
  • Office Evaluation and Management of Dysphagia and Reflux. Annual Clinic Day 2005. The Nassau Surgical Society and Brooklyn and Long Island Chapters of the American College of Surgeons. December 7, 2005, Uniondale, NY.
  • Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and transnasal esophagoscopy. The David DeWeese Lectureship. Fall Combined Meeting. The Oregon Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. November 11, 2005, Portland, Oregon.
  • Reflux Symptom Index, Reflux Finding Score, and Dysphagia Inventory. Presented at the Contemporary Evaluation and Management of Reflux and Swallowing Disorders, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, November 5, 2005.
  • The Laryngeal Manifestations of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. Presented at Laryngology and Office-Based Surgery: State of the Art and Beyond, May 20-21, 2005, Winston-Salem, NC.
  • Esophagopharyngeal reflux. Presented at the 6th International Symposium on Human Pepsin (ISHP), April 6-8, 2005, York, UK.
  • Reflux Symptom Index, Reflux Finding Score, and Dysphagia Inventory. Presented at the Contemporary Evaluation and Management of Reflux and Swallowing Disorders, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, November 6, 2004.
  • Miniseminar: Interaction of reflux and allergy in upper aerodigestive inflammation. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York, New York, September 19-21, 2004.
  • Esophagopharyngeal reflux. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York, New York, September 19-21, 2004.
  • Epidemiology and Trends in LPR and GERD. Presented at the 5th International Symposium on Human Pepsin, May 20-22, 2004, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
  • The Epidemiology of Reflux and Laryngitis: Criteria for Causation. Presented at the 12th Annual Dysphagia Research Society Meeting. October 2nd – 4th, 2003, San Francisco, California.
  • Diagnosis of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: How Important are Symptoms? Presented at the 12th Annual Dysphagia Research Society Meeting. October 2nd – 4th, 2003, San Francisco, California.
  • Posterior laryngitis: If it’s red and swollen, is it reflux? ASGE Clinical Symposium on Extraesophageal Manifestations of Reflux. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Annual Meeting – DDW, San Francisco, California, May 21, 2002.
  • Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Koufman JA. Subglottic Edema (Pseudosulcus) as a Manifestation of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. Annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Denver, CO, 2001.
  • Laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms improve before physical findings. Presented at the Southern Section of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc. January 12-14, 2001.Marco Island, Florida.
  • The validity and reliability of the reflux finding score (RFS). Presented at the Southern section of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc. January 12-14, 2001. Marco Island, Florida.
  • Laryngopharyngeal reflux and voice disorders. Presented at the XIIIth Annual Pacific Voice Conference, November 9-11, 2000, San Francisco, CA.
  • The epidemiology of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Presented at The 2nd International Symposium on Human Pepsin, September 29-30, 2000, Dundee, Scotland.
BOOK CHAPTERS
  • Clark, J., Rees, C.J., & Belafsky P.C. Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. Ed. Rebecca  Leonard & Katherine Kendall. Plural Publishing: San Diego, 2025.
  • Belafsky, P. & Rees C. (2010). The Role of Esophagography in the Evaluation of Reflux Disease. In Effects, Diagnosis and Management of Extra-Esophageal Reflux. New York, New York.
  • Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. Dysphagia Assessment and Treatment Planning 2nd Edition: A Team Approach. Ed. Rebecca Leonard and Catherine Kendall. Plural Publishing: San Diego, 2007.

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