David E. Tunkel, MD
Pediatric Head and Neck Surgery
Pediatric Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About David E. Tunkel
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Background
Dr. David Tunkel is a professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, and an associate professor of pediatrics and anesthesiology-critical care medicine.
Dr. Tunkel has special expertise in treating airway disorders in children, including obstructive sleep apnea, congenital or acquired abnormalities of the larynx and trachea, and infections of the upper airway. He also treats the common infections of the ears, nose, and throat that affect young children, such as pharyngitis, sinusitis, and otitis media. He has conducted research that showed the success of new methods of subtotal tonsillectomy in treating sleep disordered breathing, with improved recovery for many children. He also treats children who need surgery for chronic otitis media, conductive hearing loss, and cholesteatoma. He is nationally known for treating children with special needs, including those with cleft palate, Down syndrome, short-stature skeletal dysplasias, and neuromotor diseases. He is a leader in developing evidence-based guidelines to provide optimal care for children with ear, nose, and throat diseases.
Dr. Tunkel served as the director of pediatric otolaryngology for 30 years before stepping down in 2024. He trained in surgery and otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins, and received advanced pediatric otolaryngology training at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
He has served as the chair of the pediatric otolaryngology committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and was the chairperson of the otolaryngology section of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has been a board member for the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology. He has participated in clinical practice guideline development for major national organizations, recently serving on committees for acute otitis media and the use of tympanostomy tubes. He is the chair of the Guideline Taskforce for the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and was the lead developer for guidelines on tinnitus and nosebleed management. Dr. Tunkel is an editorial board member for JAMA Otolaryngology.
Dr. Tunkel has been recognized by Baltimore Magazine as a “Top Doc,” and has received various accolades, including honor awards from the Maryland Speech-Language Hearing Association and the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
Centers and Institutes
Videos
Additional Academic Titles
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
Research Interests
Airway reconstruction in children, Clinical practice guideline development for otolaryngologic diseases in children, Otolaryngologic manifestations of skeletal dysplasias, Sleep apnea in children, Surgical correction of laryngotracheal anomalies
Selected Publications
Clinical Practice Guideline: Nosebleed (Epistaxis) Executive Summary.
Tunkel DE, Anne S, Payne SC, Ishman SL, Rosenfeld RM, Abramson PJ, Alikhaani JD, Benoit MM, Bercovitz RS, Brown MD, Chernobilsky B, Feldstein DA, Hackell JM, Holbrook EH, Holdsworth SM, Lin KW, Lind MM, Poetker DM, Riley CA, Schneider JS, Seidman MD, Vadlamudi V, Valdez TA, Nnacheta LC, Monjur TM.Tunkel DE, et al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Jan;162(1):8-25. doi: 10.1177/0194599819889955.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020. PMID: 31910122 Review.
Clinical Practice Guideline: Opioid Prescribing for Analgesia After Common Otolaryngology Operations.
Anne S, Mims JW, Tunkel DE, Rosenfeld RM, Boisoneau DS, Brenner MJ, Cramer JD, Dickerson D, Finestone SA, Folbe AJ, Galaiya DJ, Messner AH, Paisley A, Sedaghat AR, Stenson KM, Sturm AK, Lambie EM, Dhepyasuwan N, Monjur TM.Anne S, et al. Among authors: tunkel de. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021 Apr;164(2_suppl):S1-S42. doi: 10.1177/0194599821996297.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021. PMID: 33822668
Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update).
Rosenfeld RM, Tunkel DE, Schwartz SR, Anne S, Bishop CE, Chelius DC, Hackell J, Hunter LL, Keppel KL, Kim AH, Kim TW, Levine JM, Maksimoski MT, Moore DJ, Preciado DA, Raol NP, Vaughan WK, Walker EA, Monjur TM.Rosenfeld RM, et al. Among authors: tunkel de. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 Feb;166(1_suppl):S1-S55. doi: 10.1177/01945998211065662.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022. PMID: 35138954
Otolaryngology Utilization in Patients With Achondroplasia: Results From the CLARITY Study.
Tunkel DE, Gough E, Bober MB, Hashmi SS, Hecht JT, Legare JM, Little ME, Modaff P, Pauli RM, Rodriguez-Buritica D, Serna ME, Smid CJ, Hoover-Fong JE.Tunkel DE, et al. Laryngoscope. 2021 Oct 28. doi: 10.1002/lary.29915. Online ahead of print.Laryngoscope. 2021. PMID: 34708868
The role of polysomnography in decannulation of children with brain and spinal cord injuries.
Morrow AK, Tunkel DE, Collaco JM, McGrath-Morrow SA, Lam JC, Accardo JA, Rybczynski SV.Morrow AK, et al. Among authors: tunkel de. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2019 Mar;54(3):333-341. doi: 10.1002/ppul.24208. Epub 2018 Dec 11.Pediatr Pulmonol. 2019. PMID: 30548191 Free PMC article.
Honors
Top Doctor - Pediatric Otolaryngology, Baltimore Magazine, 11/1/23
Memberships
- American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chair, Pediatric Otolaryngology Committee
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Chair, Otolaryngology Section
- American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Board Member
Locations
- Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
- 601 North Caroline Street, Floor 6, Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 443-997-6467
- fax: 410-367-2244
- Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center - Green Spring Station, Lutherville
- 10803 Falls Road, Pavilion III STE 2300, Lutherville, MD 21093
- phone: 443-997-6467
- fax: 410-367-2244
Expertise
Education
Children's National Hospital
Fellowship, Pediatric Otolaryngology, 1991Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency, Otolaryngology, 1989Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Medical Education, MD, 1984Board Certifications
Pediatric Otolaryngology
American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2021Otolaryngology
American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 1990Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)
Ratings & Reviews
4.8 out of 5
44 ratings, 14 reviewsThe Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/16/2024
Dr. Tunkel is excellent ! He takes his time and genuinely cares about his patients!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/3/2024
Dr. Tunkel is the best! I'm sad to be aging out of his practice.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/26/2024
Exceptionally good doctor who goes above and beyond to care for the patients
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/19/2024
Dr. Tunkel is the best!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/12/2024
Excellent physician- I highly recommend
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/7/2024
Always a pleasure to visit Dr. Tunkel. Very knowledgeable and kind as well
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/1/2024
All the team were all professionals and was treated with respect. I would definitely recommend them to my family
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/20/2024
Excellent doctor
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/5/2024
We love Dr. Tunkel!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/9/2024
Tunkel is the best!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/20/2024
Dr Tunkel is caring, compassionate and is one of the best doctors I have seen.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/13/2024
Both, [Name], the PA and Dr. Tunkel were not only, excellent health care professionals, they were caring and friendly!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/16/2024
Great service
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/8/2024
Dr. Tunkel was very friendly and professional.