A History of the Practice

Our office at 1721 Pine Street was the oldest ear, nose and throat office in continuous use in the same location in the United States. It was founded shortly after the turn of the 20th century by George Morrison Coates, MD. Dr. Coates' family dated back to before the time of the Revolutionary War. His relative Benjamin Coates was the first Chairman of the Board of Overseers at Pennsylvania Hospital, which was the first hospital in the United States. George Coates practiced at 1721 Pine Street throughout his career, and held numerous prestigious positions. He was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Pennsylvania, and was also Professor at Jefferson, Temple, and Women's Medical College at various times. He was Head of the Department of Otolaryngology at the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, located at Graduate Hospital. This unique facility attracted physicians from around the world for advanced degree study after residency training. Dr. Coates served as Editor-in-Chief of the Archives of Otolaryngology for many years and was a member and officer of nearly all major otolaryngologic societies. He also started the five-volume loose leaf otolaryngology textbook (originally Coates and Shenk) that survived until several years ago (final version edited by Gerald English), when it was discontinued in favor of internet-based texts.

Above images of the historical Pine Street office location (photographed by Lisa Catanoso)

Dr. Coates had a few associates practice with him briefly. These included Matthew Ersner, MD who later became Professor and Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at Temple University; William Gordon, MD and George Lieberman, MD, who later practiced general otolaryngology in the Philadelphia area; and Ben Shuster, MD, who remained on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania and was the primary teacher of otolaryngology at the Graduate School. Dr. Coates' only long-term associate was Joseph Sataloff, MD, DSc, who joined the practice at Pine Street in 1946 and remained a part of the practice until his death in 2008.  The personal elegance and attention of a 19th century brownstone have been retained. We pride ourselves not only in the history and expertise of our physicians, but also that of all of our staff. When Dr. Joseph Sataloff first started in practice, his receptionists included Katherine Bradford, granddaughter of Governor Bradford of Massachusetts, and Sarah Bache, great-great-great granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin. Over the years, the office at Pine Street was equipped with the most sophisticated instrumentation and a most dedicated staff of nurses, speech-language pathologists, singing and acting voice specialists, audiologists, researchers, psychological professionals and others. All of us remain cognizant of our institution's history, and our responsibility to perpetuate it. For more than one hundred years, patients, students and colleagues have travelled to our office from all over the world in search of the latest concepts in ear, nose and throat care. We are dedicated to continuing this grand tradition and to making our visitors' experiences worth the journey. The Pine Street office was closed in 2014, and the practice was consolidated in the Drexel Medicine building at 219 N. Broad Street.

Joseph Sataloff, MD, DSc, was an internationally renowned otologist, surgeon, scientist, and pioneer in occupational hearing loss. His efforts to raise the consciousness of America's leaders in government, industry, and medicine about the adverse impact and tremendous monetary and human costs associated with occupational hearing loss are recognized worldwide. Through service on numerous medical and American Standards Institute committees, and as an advisor to President Nixon, his influence resulted in the drafting of scientifically based laws that have preserved the hearing of millions of Americans. Dr. Sataloff authored more than 150 publications including eleven books. He served on numerous editorial boards and national and international committees. He was also world renown for his contributions to middle ear surgery and performed more than 20,000 ear operations. He served as Associate Editor of Archives of Otolaryngology for thirty years (a record).  He made countless contributions to clinical care, research and education in otolaryngology. Herbert Kean, MD practiced with him for approximately one year before establishing an independent private practice. Dr. Sataloff's primary long-term associate was his son Robert Thayer Sataloff, MD, DMA, who joined the practice in 1980. Dr. Joseph Sataloff passed away on September 26, 2008 at the age of 89.  

Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA, FACS is Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Academic Specialties, Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Sataloff is Director of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences Research at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, and Director of Otolaryngology Education at Lankenau Medical Center. He also holds Adjunct Professorships in the Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, Temple University and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; and he is on the faculty of the Academy of Vocal Arts. He serves as Conductor of the Thomas Jefferson University Choir. Dr. Sataloff is also a professional singer and singing teacher. He holds an undergraduate degree from Haverford College in Music Theory and Composition; graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University; received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from Combs College of Music; and he completed Residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and a Fellowship in Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sataloff is Chair of the Boards of Directors of the Voice Foundation and of the American Institute for Voice and Ear Research. He also has served as Chair of the Board of Governors of Graduate Hospital; President of the American Laryngological Association, the International Association of Phonosurgery, the Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and the American Society of Geriatric Otolaryngology, and in numerous other leadership positions. Dr. Sataloff is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Voice; Editor Emeritus of Ear, Nose and Throat Journal; Associate Editor of the Journal of Singing; on the Editorial Board of Medical Problems of Performing Artists, and is an editorial reviewer for numerous otolaryngology journals. He is a member of the Editorial Panel of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Dr. Sataloff has written over 1,000 publications including 72 books, and he has been awarded more than $5 million in research funding. His H-index is 45 (as of January 2023). He has invented more than 75 laryngeal microsurgical instruments distributed currently by Integra Medical, ossicular replacement prostheses produced by Grace Medical, and a novel laryngeal prosthesis (patent pending). He holds a patent on a unique thyroplasty implant. His medical practice is limited to care of the professional voice and to otology/neurotology/skull base surgery. Dr. Sataloff has developed numerous novel surgical procedures including total temporal bone resection for formerly untreatable skull base malignancy, laryngeal microflap and mini-microflap procedures, vocal fold lipoinjection, vocal fold lipoimplantation, and others. Dr. Sataloff is recognized as one of the founders of the field of voice, having written the first modern comprehensive article on care of singers, and the first chapter and book on care of the professional voice, as well as having influenced the evolution of the field through his own efforts and through the Voice Foundation for over 4 decades. Dr. Sataloff has been recognized by Best Doctors in America (Woodward White Athens) every year since 1992, Philadelphia Magazine since 1997, and Castle Connolly’s “America’s Top Doctors” since 2002.

See Our Physicians section for biographies of our current physicians.