SC Connecticut News

The National Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers is celebrating the hard work and dedication of an employee who's spent the year traveling to help new clinics provide meaningful relief to their patients.

Leah Smoyer, the director of new clinic operations for National Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, was honored as this year's Jack Matthews award recipient. The Jack Matthews award is given to an employee who goes above and beyond the duties of their job.

"Jack Matthews was my grandfather and the most successful person I know," Matt Ghanem, CEO and cofounder of National Breathe Free Allergy & Sinus Centers, told SC Connecticut News. "The best piece of advice he gave me was: Do what other people won't or don't. Leah, this year, has spent over 195 days on the road between CT-ENT, West Palm Beach, Capitol and next Tampa. No one embodies the spirit of this award like Leah Smoyer. We are very grateful for all of her contributions."

Matt Ghanem and his grandfather, Jack Matthews | Provided

Ghanem and Dr. Manish Khanna, the centers' chief medical officer, founded the first Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Center four years ago. Since then, the company has grown to include 12 new clinics located across the country.

The centers aim to provide high-quality, patient-friendly care specifically for ear, nose and throat (ENT) issues with a team guided by compassion and integrity. There are currently locations in various parts of the country outside of Connecticut, including Washington, D.C., Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, Virginia and Maryland.

The CT ENT Sinus Center offers multiple testing and treatment options to give patients lasting relief from their sinus and allergy problems, according to the practice's website. CT ENT Sinus Center offers innovative treatments, including balloon sinuplasty, at both of its locations: Summer Street in Stamford and Main Avenue, Route 7, in Norwalk.