I am a pediatric otolaryngologist at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where I care for children with many common ear, nose and throat conditions, including recurrent ear infections, chronic nasal congestions/sinusitis, snoring and noisy breathing in infants. I also specialize in advanced pediatric airway management, endoscopic techniques and endoscopic sinus surgery.

Like many physicians, I became a doctor to help others. Early in my otolaryngology training, I realized I had a knack for relating to the pediatric population and navigating the parent/patient relationship.

As a pediatric physician, impacting a child or teen as they grow and develop is very gratifying.
Whether it be helping a mother have a better connection with their infant by fixing a tongue tie, helping a kid improve their speech by getting rid of chronic fluid in the ears, or helping a teenager breathe better by doing sinus surgery, we can make a significant impact on children and their families. I have followed some of my patients from their time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NCIU) as infants and was delighted to watch them grow and achieve their full potential.

My main goal when meeting a new family is for them to know that I understand their fears and concerns and will personalize their care for their unique situation. I combine both medical and surgical management in my treatment plans and guide parents through the thinking process so that they can understand why. If medical management does not work; we sometimes have to move to surgical interventions.

In addition to providing patient care, I am also involved in clinical research with a focus on pediatric airway and sinus disease. Before joining Memorial, I spent the first 12 years of my career in academic medicine and was also co-director of an advanced pediatric airway course.

Hospital Affiliations

• Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
• Memorial Hospital Miramar
• Memorial Hospital West
• Memorial Regional Hospital

Gender

• Male

Languages

• Spanish

Education

University Of Puerto Rico School Of Medicine, 2005

Internships

University Of Puerto Rico School Of Medicine, 2006, Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery

Residency

University Of Puerto Rico School Of Medicine, 2010, Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery

Fellowships

Children's Memorial Hospital, 2011, Pediatric Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery

Certifications

American Board of Otolaryngology-Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery

Publications

Please view Dr. Leonardo A. Torres’ publications on PubMed.

Professional Organizations

• American Academy of Surgeons
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
  
  

Presentations

• Delayed Subglottic Granuloma following foreign body aspiration Mikhaylo Szczupak MD1, Liliana Ein MD1, Leonardo Torres MD1 - Cincinnati – Porto Alegre Pediatric Airway Course, Brazil February 2019
• Pediatric Temporal Bone Fractures: Utilization of Computed Tomography Imaging at a Large Level I Trauma Center. Szczupak M, Jindani R, Kravietz A, Sidani C, Hoffer M, Torres L. Presented at the 2019 American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) Annual Meeting, May 3-5, 2019 in Austin, TX.
• The Impact of Facial Nerve Variations in First Branchial Cleft Excision Surgery; Leonardo Torres Pagan MD Javier Gonzalez-Castro MD Carlos Gonzalez-Aquino MD; Presented to the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, 2010
• Awake Tracheotomies in Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Puerto Rico: A Retrospective Review; Torres L, Baez-Bejermejo A, Gonzalez Aquino, C; American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, San Diego California, October 2009
• Saddle Nose Deformities: The Experience at the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department of the University of Puerto Rico, Torres L, Aldrich J. Raffuchi Surgery Conference, San Juan Puerto Rico, 2008
• Retrospective Review of Thyroid Carcinoma Invading the Laryngo-Pharynx, Trachea and Esophagus; Torres L, Holsinger CF. (MD Anderson Cancer Center – Head and Neck Surgery Department), 2004
• Intraobserver Disparities in Fields Radiated for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing External Bean Radiotherapy; Holsinger CF, Torres L, (MD Anderson Surgical Oncology Department), 2004
• Role of c-myc in the Retinoic Acid Induced Differentiation of HL-60 and FaDu Cancer Cell Lines; Torres L, Baez A. (University of Puerto Rico – Medical Sciences Campus), Presented at the Summer Research Program for Medical Students Conference, 2002

Awards

• W. Jarrad Goodwin Teaching Award, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, June 2021
• OTM Winners – Attending of the Month, University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Pediatric, March 2021
• W. Jarrad Goodwin Teaching Award, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, June 2012
• A Todd Davis Outstanding Physician and House Staff Award, Children’s Memorial Hospital Chicago Illinois, May 2011
• Research Training Award: University of Texas – MD Anderson / University of Puerto Rico Cancer Center, Summer 2004
• Cancer Research Training Award - National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, 1999