Otolaryngologist in Memphis

June 15, 2026

An otolaryngologist, more often called an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician, is a medical doctor (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) who diagnoses and treats conditions of the ears, nose, sinuses, throat, and the broader head and neck. ENT practices combine medical and surgical care in a single setting, and many add audiology and allergy services so that a patient dealing with hearing loss, chronic sinus disease, or sleep-disordered breathing can be evaluated and treated in one place. Memphis is Tennessee’s second largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and as a regional medical hub for the mid-south it supports established private ENT groups alongside a long-running academic department.

The conditions otolaryngologists manage are wide ranging: sinus disease and nasal obstruction, hearing loss and ear infections, tonsil and adenoid problems, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, voice and swallowing disorders, allergy, and benign or malignant conditions of the head and neck. Many ENT physicians also perform surgery, from in-office balloon sinuplasty and ear tube placement to endoscopic sinus surgery, thyroid and parathyroid procedures, and head and neck cancer operations. The training behind this scope is lengthy: an otolaryngologist finishes medical school, completes a residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, and may add fellowship training in subspecialties such as otology and neurotology, rhinology and skull base surgery, head and neck oncology, laryngology, or facial plastic surgery.

In Tennessee, otolaryngologists are licensed and regulated by the state. Medical doctors are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, and osteopathic physicians by the Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination, both operating under the Tennessee Department of Health. Patients can confirm that a physician holds an active, unrestricted license and review any disciplinary history through the Department of Health license verification system before scheduling care. Board certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is a separate, voluntary credential reflecting national specialty standards. Audiologists working within ENT practices hold their own state license, and some Memphis practices operate on-site imaging such as CT scanning under accreditation programs.

Selecting an ENT practice in Memphis often depends on the conditions involved and the support services a practice offers. A group with on-site audiology can complete a hearing evaluation during the same visit, one with an allergy clinic can provide testing and immunotherapy, and a practice with on-site CT can image the sinuses without sending a patient elsewhere. The academic department adds subspecialty depth for complex ear, sinus, voice, and head and neck cases. The information here is general and educational and is not medical advice; decisions about diagnosis and treatment should be made with a licensed physician. For consumer concerns about billing or business practices, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), while clinical and licensing matters fall to the Tennessee Department of Health.

Top Otolaryngologist Providers in Memphis

1. Memphis Otolaryngology (Otolaryngology Consultants of Memphis)

Address: 791 Estate Place, Suite 1, Memphis, TN 38120
Phone: (901) 821-4300
Website: https://www.entmemphis.com
Services: adult and pediatric sinus care, sleep apnea and snoring treatment, allergy services, audiology and hearing aids, tinnitus management, ear infection care, tonsil and adenoid treatment, pediatric ENT, ENT surgery
Description: Memphis Otolaryngology, the practice of Dr. Rande Lazar, also operates under the name Otolaryngology Consultants of Memphis and has served the Memphis area since 1970. Dr. Lazar treats both children and adults across the full range of ear, nose, and throat conditions, with particular depth in pediatric ENT, chronic sinus disease, sleep disorders, and laryngeal problems, and he co-founded a pediatric otolaryngology education group earlier in his career. The practice provides on-site audiology, with audiologist Dr. Chris Hylander handling detailed hearing evaluations, and operates an in-office CT scanner accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for computed tomography, allowing sinus imaging during a visit. The practice maintains a Memphis office on Estate Place and a second location in Bartlett, and it offers same-day appointments.

2. Mid-South Ear, Nose and Throat

Address: 7600 Wolf River Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38138
Phone: (901) 755-5300
Website: https://www.mid-southent.com
Services: sinus treatment and balloon sinuplasty, allergy management and immunotherapy, audiology and hearing aids, sleep apnea and sleep surgery, head and neck surgery, pediatric ENT, salivary gland endoscopic surgery
Description: Mid-South Ear, Nose and Throat, P.C., which also operates as the Mid-South Sinus Center, is a multi-physician ENT group serving the Memphis metro from its Wolf River Boulevard campus in East Memphis along with locations in Bartlett, Collierville, Arlington, and Olive Branch, Mississippi. Its physicians include Dean A. Klug, M.D., Sri I. Naidu, M.D., Mark A. Milburn, M.D., John S. Touliatos, M.D., Bruce L. Fetterman, M.D., Scott D. Burge, M.D., Brandon A. Shepherd, M.D., and James Benjamin Tansey, M.D., many of whom hold fellowship credentials in otolaryngic allergy or are fellows of the American College of Surgeons. The practice offers a broad surgical and medical range, including balloon sinuplasty, Inspire therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, salivary gland endoscopic surgery, and head and neck surgery, and it supports its physicians with on-site audiology, an allergy center, and CT imaging at its main campus.

3. UT Health Science Center Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Address: 1325 Eastmoreland Avenue, Suite 260, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 272-6051
Website: https://www.uthsc.edu/otolaryngology
Services: general ENT, head and neck surgical oncology, otology and neurotology, rhinology and skull base surgery, laryngology and neurolaryngology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, complex pediatric otolaryngology, sleep medicine and surgery
Description: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is the academic ENT practice in Memphis and has served the city and the surrounding mid-south region for more than 60 years. Its clinical arm provides care across general ENT, head and neck oncology, otology and neurotology, rhinology and skull base surgery, laryngology and neurolaryngology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, complex pediatric otolaryngology, and sleep medicine and surgery, drawing on a faculty of subspecialty-trained physicians. Named faculty include department chair M. Boyd Gillespie, M.D., MSc, FACS, along with Ellis Arjmand, M.D., Shivanand Maharaj, M.D., and Sanjeet V. Rangarajan, M.D. The general ENT clinic on Eastmoreland Avenue is one of several Memphis sites, and the department also trains otolaryngology residents across teaching hospitals in the area, making it a referral resource for complex and tertiary head and neck care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Otolaryngologist in Memphis

Q: What is the difference between an otolaryngologist and an ENT?

There is no difference. Otolaryngologist is the formal medical term, and ENT, short for ear, nose, and throat, is the everyday name for the same specialty, whose full title is otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. These are M.D. or D.O. physicians who complete a residency in the specialty and may pursue fellowship training in areas such as otology, rhinology and skull base surgery, head and neck oncology, or facial plastic surgery.

Q: How do I confirm that a Memphis ENT physician is licensed in Tennessee?

You can verify a physician’s license through the Tennessee Department of Health license verification system. Medical doctors are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners and osteopathic physicians by the Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination, both under the Department of Health. The record indicates whether a license is active and unrestricted and notes any disciplinary action. Board certification by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is a separate credential reflecting national specialty standards.

Q: Do Memphis ENT practices offer hearing tests, hearing aids, and sinus imaging on site?

Many do. Several Memphis ENT groups employ audiologists and operate hearing services, allowing a hearing evaluation, diagnosis, and hearing aid fitting through one practice; audiologists are licensed separately by the state. Some practices also maintain in-office CT scanners, accredited through programs such as the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission, so that sinus imaging can be performed during a visit. If these services matter to you, it is worth confirming availability when scheduling, since not every office offers them at every location.

Q: Are there ENT options in Memphis for complex or pediatric cases?

Yes. In addition to private ENT groups, Memphis is home to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center academic otolaryngology department, which offers subspecialty divisions for head and neck oncology, otology and neurotology, skull base surgery, laryngology, and complex pediatric otolaryngology. Several private practices in the area also treat children and provide pediatric ENT surgery. This is general information rather than medical advice; a licensed clinician should evaluate any specific case.

Q: What conditions and surgeries do Memphis otolaryngologists commonly treat?

Otolaryngologists treat sinusitis and nasal obstruction, hearing loss and ear disease, tonsil and adenoid conditions, allergies, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, voice and swallowing disorders, and benign and malignant head and neck conditions. Common surgical procedures include balloon sinuplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery, ear tube placement, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, septoplasty, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, salivary gland surgery, and head and neck cancer operations, with some practices also offering sleep surgery and facial plastic and reconstructive procedures.

Q: Where can a patient turn with a complaint about an ENT practice in Memphis?

Concerns about a physician’s clinical care or licensing can be reported to the Tennessee Department of Health, which oversees the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Osteopathic Examination. Complaints about billing, advertising, or other business practices fall under the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping records such as bills, appointment notes, and written communications helps support any complaint.