A new place to break old rules.
A first-of-its-kind otolaryngology innovation center.
The Institute for Voice and Hearing Innovation (IVHI) in the Morsani College of Medicine is pioneering holistic patient care for communication, voice, hearing, and swallowing disorders through cutting edge research and technological innovation. IVHI brings together leading experts from across USF to advance medical care for our patients, and revolutionize how we educate future practitioners. Through novel cross-disciplinary collaborations and industry partnerships, IVHI is a first-of-its-kind center for otolaryngology innovation.
Arts-Integrated Healthcare
Your healthcare team at IVHI knows that health is more than a simple prescription. We view you as a whole person and know the power of the music, movement, and the arts for healing.
Cutting-edge technology
Through cross-department collaborations, we are revolutionizing how we treat patients andeducate the future, through thoughtful and expert-driven integration of cutting-edge technologies.
Whole-person health
Our institute is prioritizing the "health" in healthcare through holistic programs centered around wellness for better care in voice, speech, swallowing, and hearing disorders.
Cutting edge research integrated seamlessly into personalized clinical care.
The IVHI Experience
Our brand new space is designed to give you an experience unlike any other in academic medicine. Our new facilities including a yoga studio, music room, AR/VR innovation studio, and acoustic vestibular suite, all designed with your health in mind.
Interested in participating in our research?
Meet our pioneering leaders
Directors & Co-Founders of IVHI
Yael Bensoussan, MD, MSc
Dr. Yael Bensoussan is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and a fellowship-trained laryngologist with advanced expertise in voice, swallowing and upper airway evaluation and treatment. She is also an avid proponent of multidisciplinary care and is the principal investigator of the groundbreaking Bridge2AI-Voice Program, funded by the NIH Common Fund.
Victoria Sanchez, AuD, PhD, CCC-A
Dr. Victoria Sanchez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery within the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida. She is a founding investigator of the IVHI and a Principal Investigator in the Auditory Rehabilitation & Clinical Trials (ARCT) Laboratory. Her research areas of interest are speech perception, auditory cognitive neuroscience, and auditory rehabilitation.
Stephanie Watts, PhD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Stephanie Watts is an Assistant Professor and Chief of Speech Pathology in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of South Florida. She is a funded researcher specializing in swallowing and voice and her research interests include esophageal physiology, cough neurophysiology, clinical evaluation of airway protective behaviors, and maximizing patient outcomes through multidisciplinary care.
