Research Summary

Dr. Chase M. Heaton is a head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgeon at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. He specializes in treating benign and malignant tumors of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, thyroid, skin and salivary glands. He is fellowship trained in microvascular reconstruction for head and neck cancers. He also has experience in transoral robotic surgery for removal of head and neck tumors. Dr. Heaton is committed to working with patients to develop individualized treatment plans to ensure they get the best possible care.

In addition to treating patients, Dr. Heaton conducts clinical research on outcomes of head and neck surgery. He also plays an active role in teaching and mentoring UCSF otolaryngology residents and medical students. He is the Faculty Education Champion for the head and neck oncology resident rotation and is Course Director for the UCSF medical student selective.

Dr. Heaton completed undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame and earned a medical degree at the Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. After finishing an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency at UCSF, he completed a one-year fellowship in head and neck oncology and microvascular reconstructive surgery at UCSF. He joined the UCSF faculty full-time in 2015.

Dr. Heaton is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. He plays an active role in teaching and mentoring UCSF otolaryngology residents and medical students.

Specialty:
Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction

Expertise:
Surgical treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, thyroid, skin, and salivary glands. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for removal of head and neck malignancies. Reconstruction of complex head and neck defects with microvascular free tissue transfer

Professional Interests:
Head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery, head and neck endocrine surgery, medical education, clinical research

Education and Training:
• Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame, Indiana
• Medical School: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Illinois
• Internship: University of California, San Francisco – Otolaryngology
• Residency: University of California, San Francisco – Otolaryngology
• Fellowship: University of California, San Francisco – Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery

Education

  • Fellowship, 2015 - Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of California San Francisco
  • Resident, 2014 - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco
  • M.D., 2009 - Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University

Honors & Awards

  • Triological Society Western Section Shirley Baron Resident Research Award, 2014
  • Bay Area Resident Research Symposium Best Clinical Study, 2013
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Inductee, The Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, 2008
  • Alpha Epsilon Delta Premedical Honor Society Inductee, The Health Preprofessional Honor Society, 2004
  • National Scholars Honor Society Inductee, The National Society of High School Scholars, 2004

Selected Publications

  1. Plonowska-Hirschfeld KA, Gulati A, Stephens EM, Ochoa E, Xu MJ, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Yom SS, Chan JW, Algazi A, Kang H, Ryan WR. Treatment Modality Impact on Patient-Reported Quality of Life in Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma. Laryngoscope. 2023 Sep 28.  View on PubMed
  2. Plonowska-Hirschfeld KA, House A, Park AM, Seth R, Heaton CM, Fridirici Z, Knott PD. Increasing Pedicle Reach with Musculocutaneous Perforator Dissection in Anterolateral Thigh Free Flaps. Laryngoscope. 2023 Jul 05.  View on PubMed
  3. Gulati A, Plonowska-Hirschfeld K, Stephens EM, Kansara S, Zebolsky AL, Ochoa E, Xu MJ, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Yom SS, Chan JW, Algazi AP, Kang H, Ryan WR. A prospective evaluation of neck and shoulder function following treatments of early-stage human papillomavirus-associated oropharynx cancer. Clin Otolaryngol. 2023 Sep; 48(5):756-765.  View on PubMed
  4. Fakurnejad S, Gulati A, Stanford-Moore GB, Park AM, Heaton CM, Seth R, Knott PD. The Impact of Venous Anastomosis Technique on Outcomes of Free Tissue Transfer to the Head and Neck. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 2023 May 11.  View on PubMed
  5. Stephens EM, Plonowska-Hirschfeld K, Gulati A, Kansara S, Qualliotine J, Zelbolsky AL, van Zante A, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Ryan WR. Prospective quality of life outcomes for human papillomavirus associated oropharynx cancer patients after surgery alone. Am J Otolaryngol. 2023 Jul-Aug; 44(4):103915.  View on PubMed
  6. Gulati A, Heaton CM, Park AM, Seth R, Knott PD. Outcomes Associated with Multiple Free Tissue Transfers Performed in a Single Day. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 2023 Feb 27.  View on PubMed
  7. Plonowska-Hirschfeld KA, Zebolsky AL, Lindeborg MM, McNeill C, Knott PD, Seth R, Park AM, Heaton CM. Restarting Therapeutic Antibiotics Following Postoperative Prophylaxis in Head and Neck Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 03; 168(3):357-365.  View on PubMed
  8. Lee RH, Evans C, Laus J, Sanchez C, Wai KC, Knott PD, Seth R, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Ryan WR, Heaton CM, Park AM, Ha PK. Patterns of Postoperative Trismus Following Mandibulectomy and Fibula Free Flap Reconstruction. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Jan 16; 15(2).  View on PubMed
  9. Raskin J, Borrelli M, Nasrollahi T, Heaton C. Tracheal Rupture After Tracheostomy Tube Exchange in a Patient With Recurrent Oral Cavity Spindle Cell Carcinoma. Ear Nose Throat J. 2022 Dec; 101(10_suppl):15S-18S.  View on PubMed
  10. Beydoun AS, Koss K, Nielsen T, Holcomb AJ, Pichardo P, Purdy N, Zebolsky AL, Heaton CM, McMullen CP, Yesensky JA, Moore MG, Goyal N, Kohan J, Sajisevi M, Tan K, Petrisor D, Wax MK, Kejner AE, Hassan Z, Trott S, Larson A, Richmon JD, Graboyes EM, Wood CB, Jackson RS, Pipkorn P, Bruening J, Massey B, Puram SV, Zenga J. Perioperative Topical Antisepsis and Surgical Site Infection in Patients Undergoing Upper Aerodigestive Tract Reconstruction. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 06 01; 148(6):547-554.  View on PubMed
  11. David AP, Zebolsky AL, Park AM, Heaton CM, Knott PD, Seth R. Effect of microporous polysaccharide hemospheres on anterolateral thigh free flap donor site complications. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2022 Apr; 7(2):380-387.  View on PubMed
  12. Knott PD, Alemi SA, Han M, Seth R, Park AM, Heaton CM, Grekin RC, Arron ST, Neuhaus I, Yu SS, Saylor DK, Zhu BZ. Skin Color Match in Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery. Laryngoscope. 2022 09; 132(9):1753-1759.  View on PubMed
  13. Stanford-Moore GB, Sola AM, Chan J, El-Sayed I, George J, Ha P, Ryan WR, Heaton CM. Adjuvant therapy improves survival in pT4aN0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with bone invasion. Am J Otolaryngol. 2022 Mar-Apr; 43(2):103303.  View on PubMed
  14. Zebolsky AL, Patel N, Heaton CM, Park AM, Seth R, Knott PD. Patient-Reported Aesthetic and Psychosocial Outcomes After Microvascular Reconstruction for Head and Neck Cancer. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021 12 01; 147(12):1035-1044.  View on PubMed
  15. Zebolsky AL, George E, Gulati A, Wai KC, Carpenter P, Van Zante A, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Ryan WR. Risk of Pathologic Extranodal Extension and Other Adverse Features After Transoral Robotic Surgery in Patients With HPV-Positive Oropharynx Cancer. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021 12 01; 147(12):1080-1088.  View on PubMed
  16. Benjamin T, David AP, Zebolsky AL, Shuman EA, Park AM, Heaton CM, Knott PD, Seth R. Utility of Microporous Polysaccharide Hemosphere on Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap Donor Site Complications. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 2022 Jul-Aug; 24(4):295-299.  View on PubMed
  17. Callander JK, Strohl MP, Knott PD, Park A, Seth R, Heaton CM. Hepatitis C as a Potential Risk Factor for Adverse Surgical Outcomes in Head and Neck Free Tissue Transfer Reconstruction. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 2022 Jul-Aug; 24(4):300-304.  View on PubMed
  18. Lee RH, Salesky M, Benjamin T, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Ha PK, Ryan WR, Heaton CM. Impact of Smoking and Primary Tumor Subsite on Recurrence in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 04; 166(4):704-711.  View on PubMed
  19. House AE, Zebolsky AL, Jacobs J, Likhterov I, Behr S, Glastonbury C, Seth R, Heaton C, Knott PD. Surveillance Imaging Following Head and Neck Cancer Treatment and Microvascular Reconstruction. Laryngoscope. 2021 12; 131(12):2713-2718.  View on PubMed
  20. Brodie KD, Zebolsky AL, Ochoa E, Ha PK, Heaton CM, El-Sayed IH, Ryan WR. A prospective study of patient-reported xerostomia-related outcomes after parotidectomy. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2021 Aug; 6(4):683-689.  View on PubMed

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