Taher Valika, MD

Taher Valika, MD, is a pediatric otolaryngologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where he is the Medical Director of the Aerodigestive program, one of the nation’s largest airway reconstruction programs. His academic expertise is in pediatric airway reconstruction and managing complex sleep related airway disorders. Dr. Valika’s clinical interests include multilevel airway obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, subglottic stenosis, dysphagia including laryngeal clefts, complex laryngotracheal stenosis, and tracheostomy management. He believes in the patient-centered approach and applies a shared decision- making process, involving the family, patient, and other healthcare providers to achieve the best outcome. Dr. Valika’s research focuses on improving tracheostomy outcomes and innovative projects including 3D printing for airway reconstruction.

He received his medical degree from The Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University and completed his residency in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Illinois Hospital of Health & Sciences. Dr. Valika then completed a fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, and subsequently joined the division as a member of the Airway Team, where he is also the Director of Upper Airway Surgery.

He is currently an Assistant Professor in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Valika is involved in both medical student and resident education and has received numerous teaching awards over the years.