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

  • UCSF Otolaryngology Roger Boles MD Award for Excellence in Teaching, UCSF, 2019
  • UCSF Otolaryngology Roger Boles MD Award for Excellence in Teaching, UCSF, 2017
  • 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. Patel N, Sajjadi A, Park A, Seth R, Heaton C, Xu MJ, Wai K, Likhterov I, Knott PD. Outcomes of Mandible Reconstruction Using Surgeon-Specific, Patient-Specific, and Conventional Plates. Laryngoscope. 2026 Jun 19. View on PubMed
  2. Truong AA, Ho S, Apostolova MKI, Lee RH, Wu X, Kang H, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Likhterov I, Xu MJ, Spitzer MH, Ha PK, Algazi AP, Wai KC. Metastatic Lymph Node Status Is Associated With Progression-Free Survival in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated With Pembrolizumab. Head Neck. 2026 Jun 18. View on PubMed
  3. Howard J, Asad S, Gillard DM, Wai KC, Xu MJ, Likhterov I, George JR, El-Sayed I, Ryan WR, Ha PK, Heaton C. Changes in Time to Diagnosis of HPV+ Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Head Neck. 2026 May 14. View on PubMed
  4. Truong AA, Ho S, Lee RH, Wu X, Kang H, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Likhterov I, Xu MJ, Ha PK, Algazi AP, Wai KC. Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio and Survival in Pembrolizumab-Treated Oropharyngeal Cancer. Head Neck. 2026 May 10. View on PubMed
  5. Correia N, Johnson K, Durr M, Grimes BA, Lazar AA, Sarkar U, Ha PK, Chen L, Wai KC, Likhterov I, Yom SS, Chan JW, Algazi AP, Kang H, Ryan WR, Heaton CM, El-Sayed I, George J, Xu MJ. Timely Matters: Predictors of Delay in Oral Cavity Cancer Patients Across the Care Continuum. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2026 Apr; 11(2):e70363. View on PubMed
  6. Abdulbaki H, Truong AA, Chen L, Heaton CM, Knott PD, Park AM, Xu MJ, Wai KC. Hardware Exposure After Mandibular Reconstruction: Bone Versus Soft Tissue Free Flap Comparison. Laryngoscope. 2026 Jun; 136(6):2591-2597. View on PubMed
  7. Truong AA, Ho S, Lee RH, Wu X, Kang H, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Likhterov I, Xu MJ, Ha PK, Algazi AP, Wai KC. Perineural Invasion and Survival in Pembrolizumab-Treated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Laryngoscope. 2026 05; 136(5):2199-2205. View on PubMed
  8. Nesmith W, Fakurnejad S, Gillard D, Wai K, Xu MJ, Likhterov I, George J, Ryan W, El-Sayed I, Ha P, Park A, Seth R, Knott PD, Heaton C. Rates of ICU Delirium After Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer Reconstruction of the Oral Cavity and Oropharynx. Head Neck. 2026 05; 48(5):1279-1286. View on PubMed
  9. Patel N, Reynoso N, Heaton C, Likhterov I, Xu M, Wai K, Agarwal A, Patel N, Park A, Knott PD. EPIDERM Technique: Safety and Outcomes of Skin Grafted Free Flaps in Head and Neck Reconstruction. Laryngoscope. 2026 Apr; 136(4):1727-1733. View on PubMed
  10. R.A. Sabol, J.W. Chan, S.S. Yu, I.M. Neuhaus, D. Klufas, R. Grekin, J. George, C. Heaton, A. Park, M. Xu, K. Wai, I. Likhterov, P.D. Knott, S.S. Yom. Reconstruction Complications after Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Patients with Skin Cancer. International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics. 2025 Sep 1; 123(1):e376-e377. View on PubMed
  11. Bhethanabotla RM, Patel N, Behnam R, Boscardin WJ, Xu MJ, Heaton C, Wai KC, Park AM, Knott PD. Social Determinants of Health in Patients Undergoing Osteocutaneous Free Flap Reconstruction for Malignant Disease of the Mandible. Head Neck. 2025 11; 47(11):2982-2989. View on PubMed
  12. Gillard DM, Plonowska-Hirschfeld KA, Heaton C, Seth R, Park AM, Knott PD. Microvascular free tissue transfer repair of pharyngoesophageal perforation following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Am J Otolaryngol. 2025 Sep-Oct; 46(5):104687. View on PubMed
  13. Batchu SA, Ma Y, Yom S, Heaton C, Algazi A. CRE25-035: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitor-Induced Radiation Recall Tracheitis in a CASTLE Carcinoma of the Thyroid Patient. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2025 Mar 28; 23(3.5). View on PubMed
  14. Ochoa E, Cevallos J, Bustos R, Patel N, Heaton CM, Seth R, Knott PD, Park AM. Patient-Reported Donor Site Quality of Life Outcomes Following Fibula Free Flap Reconstruction. Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr. 2025 Mar; 18(1):14. View on PubMed
  15. Truong AA, Lee RH, Wu X, Algazi AP, Kang H, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Ryan WR, Jeon Y, Kim MO, Ha PK, Wai KC. Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Pembrolizumab Outcomes in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Feb; 172(2):548-555. View on PubMed
  16. DeBusk WT, Bhethanabotla RM, David AP, Heaton CM, Park AM, Seth R, Knott PD. Cost Comparison of Industry Versus In-House Three-Dimensional Printed Models for Microvascular Mandible Reconstruction. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 2025 Mar-Apr; 27(2):157-162. View on PubMed
  17. Abdulbaki H, Ha PK, Knott PD, Park AM, Seth R, Heaton CM, Wai KC. Postoperative inpatient surgical complications following head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer. Head Neck. 2024 10; 46(10):2432-2439. View on PubMed
  18. Callander JK, Souza SS, Eltawil Y, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Ha P, Ryan WR, Xu MJ, Heaton CM. Prognostic risk factors of buccal squamous cell carcinoma: A case-control study. Head Neck. 2024 10; 46(10):2398-2406. View on PubMed
  19. Souza SS, Stephens EM, Bourdillon AT, Bhethanabotla R, Farzal Z, Plonowska-Hirschfeld K, Qualliotine JR, Heaton CM, Ha PK, Ryan WR. Circulating tumor HPV DNA assessments after surgery for human papilloma virus-associated oropharynx carcinoma. Am J Otolaryngol. 2024 Mar-Apr; 45(2):104184. View on PubMed
  20. Lee RH, Truong A, Wu X, Kang H, Algazi AP, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Ryan WR, Ha PK, Wai KC. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in salivary gland cancers treated with pembrolizumab. Head Neck. 2024 01; 46(1):129-137. View on PubMed

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