Skip to main content

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Latest Updates | Visitation PoliciesVisitation PoliciesVisitation PoliciesVisitation PoliciesVisitation Policies | COVID-19 Testing | Vaccine InformationVaccine InformationVaccine Information

UR Medicine

menu

Otolaryngology (ENT)

UR Medicine / Otolaryngology (ENT) / Sleep Apnea & CPAP Alternatives Program / Our Sleep Team

Meet Our Sleep Specialists from Otolaryngology (ENT)

Dr. Sveta Karelsky, MDSveta A. Karelsky, M.D.

Dr. Karelsky is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Dr. Karelsky is a native of Russia who has lived in the United States since childhood. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated with a BA in molecular and cell biology. Her seminal undergraduate research work on short interfering RNA was published in the journal Nature. She subsequently completed medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and graduated from the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery residency program at the University of Rochester prior to joining the faculty.

Professional Background

Dr. Karelsky treats patients with a broad range of ear, nose and throat problems and specializes in treating people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who do not benefit from treatment with positive airway pressure devices (CPAP).  Patients undergo a procedure known as sleep endoscopy to help determine the cause of their OSA, and a thorough and personalized “CPAP-alternative” treatment approach is planned together with the patient after this procedure. Treatment may include surgery, referral for a dental device to help keep the airway open, or other interventions.  

Dr. Karelsky works with a multidisciplinary group at the University of Rochester which includes sleep medicine doctors, dentists and others as well as community partners to achieve the best possible treatment for people with sleep apnea. She is expert at a wide range of surgical procedures to treat OSA, including Inspire upper airway stimulation implant surgery.  

Dr. Karelsky  is one of the most experienced Inspire surgeons in the country. She is the only surgeon in New York State who is accredited by the Inspire Physician Excellence Program. Dr. Karelsky often teaches other surgeons about Inspire and other sleep apnea treatments,  and has been featured in news and other television segments about this topic. 

Dr. Karelsky’s research focuses on the drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) procedure. She has published peer-reviewed scientific articles on this topic. Patients may volunteer for research studies during their care.

Dr. Karelsky is an active member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, where she serves on committees and develops educational materials for ENT doctors around the country.

Dr. Karelsky practices primarily at Highland Hospital, where she is the Chief of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. She is also the director of quality improvement for the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at UR Medicine, and is involved in multiple quality and patient safety initiatives in this role.

Tarek Siala, NPTarek M. Siala, PA-C

Tarek Siala received his B.S. degree from Oregon State University. He completed the Physician Assistant Program at Western Michigan University in 2009. He worked at Ear, Nose and Throat Consultants, an affiliate of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, for 2 years before joining our team in 2012. He works in the Clinton Woods and Highland Hospital offices with the primary responsibility of seeing patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are considering CPAP alternatives, in addition to general ear, nose and throat concerns.  Tarek treats and prepares patients for CPAP alternatives including hypoglossal nerve stimulation like the Inspire implant. He helps patients fulfill requirements for sleep surgeries performed by Dr. Sveta Karelsky. Tarek is also an assistant clinical professor at Rochester Institute of Technology’s physician assistant program.

Additional ENT Providers

UR Medicine Teams We Collaborate With: