Richmond Leader

Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers' Dr. John Ditto has been nominated to the National Virtual Medical Orchestra (NVMO), which was founded at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, to recognize medical musicians around the country.

Ditto has been playing the cello for the past 20-plus years. The orchestra currently has members from various academic centers including Yale, Harvard, Duke, Nebraska, Michigan, Northwestern and Virginia Commonwealth University.

“Music is medicine to my soul; it soothes the mind and lifts my spirit,” Ditto told the Richmond Leader.

Dr. John Ditto | zocdoc.com

The NVMO provides opportunities for medical musicians to play their instruments together during the ongoing pandemic, Ditto explained. It prioritizes community building, personal wellness and exploring new ways to create music.

NVMO musicians include infectious disease experts, nurses, surgeons, medical students and first responders. Everyone involved plays a role in keeping patients around the country safe and healthy. Ditto is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a board-certified otolaryngology head and neck surgeon.

Over the last 14 years, he has used balloon technology to treat sinus patients with great success. His ultimate goal is to treat patients with the most state-of-the-art equipment available in a safe office-based setting, which allows patients to take very little time off from work or school while getting the relief they deserve.

When he’s not helping patients with sinus issues or playing the cello, Ditto enjoys reading about history and bird-watching. He is currently also a member of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health Orchestra.