Voice and Swallowing Center Team

Sunil Verma, M.D.

Roger Crumley, M.D., M.B.A. (Voice Center Director)
Dr. Crumley came to U.C. Irvine as Departmental Chair in 1987. His research in laryngeal nerve disorders and vocal cord paralysis earned him the Harris P Mosher Award from the Triological Society in 1981. This research formed the basis for new surgical procedures which he proposed in the 1980's and 90's.  These procedures, having to do with reinnervation of the paralyzed larynx, have improved the outcomes of many patients afflicted with vocal cord paralysis.  In 1989, he co-founded the Neurolaryngology Study Group.  Also in 1989 he described was the first laryngologist to describe and elucidate laryngeal synkinesis, a phenomenon of faulty nerve regeneration following recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. In 1990 Dr. Crumley and other physicians at UCI Medical Center formed the first version of the Voice and Swallowing Center. 

Dr. Crumley is a musician and singer and accordingly understands and empathizes with professional voice users.  He performs a wide gamut of procedures for vocal cord disorders, as well as swallowing disorders.

 Dr. Crumley was elected President of the Triological Society in 2005, and President of the American Laryngological Association (2008-2009). His interests include voice disorders, hoarseness,  laryngeal (vocal cord) paralysis, swallowing problems, and related problems of the pharynx and larynx.

William Armstrong, M.D.
Dr. Armstrong completed residency training at the University of Southern California, and then did a one year head and neck surgery/laryngology fellowship at Vanderbilt University. He then was recruited to UCI where he developed a large clinical practice in head and neck oncologic surgery, laryngology, and related disorders. He has also become experienced and skilled in diagnostic ultrasound, endoscopic Zenker’s diverticulectomy, and other advanced surgical techniques. Dr. Armstrong is currently interim Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery . His interests include head and neck cancer, ultrasound, swallowing disorders, vocal cord problems, and laryngology.

Payal Mehta, M.S., CCC-SLP
Payal received her MS in Speech Pathology in 2001 from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She has been a supervisor at UC Irvine Medical Center since 2005. Payal is trained/certified in endoscopy/videostroboscopy, Vital Stim, LSVT, FEES, Lindamood Bell, and TEP management.

Mary Clumeck, M.S., CCC-SLP
Mary received an MS in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, in 1985. She has worked as UC Irvine Medical Center since 1992. Mary is certified in TEP management. Clinical interests include working with patients post head and neck cancer, specifically laryngectomees with tracheoesophageal punctures (TEP).

Carrie Smith, M.A., CCC-SLP
Carrie received a Masters of Arts in Speech Pathology from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, in 2006. She has worked at UC Irvine Medical Center since 2008. Carrie’s clinical interests include working with patients with voice and swallowing disorders and patient post head and neck cancer. Carrie is trained/certified in endoscopy/videostroboscopy, FEES, and TEP management.

To make an appointment with one of our laryngologists, Dr. Verma or Dr. Crumley, please call 714-456-7017 or click here to request an appointment via the web.