Chase Heaton

Dr. Chase Heaton is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. He specializes in head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery, particularly microvascular reconstruction and transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Dr. Heaton joined UCSF as full-time faculty in 2015 and is actively involved in medical education, serving as Faculty Education Champion for head and neck oncology rotations and Course Director for the medical student selective.

Education: B.S. from University of Notre Dame (Indiana), M.D. from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine (Chicago). Completed residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at UCSF, followed by a fellowship in head and neck oncology and microvascular reconstructive surgery at UCSF.

Research interests include clinical outcomes of head and neck surgery, quality of life after cancer treatment, and surgical innovations in microvascular reconstruction. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles focusing on topics like free flap complications, HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer outcomes, and reconstructive techniques.

Awards: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Bay Area Resident Research Symposium Best Clinical Study (2013), Triological Society Western Section Shirley Baron Resident Research Award (2014).

Major contributions include pioneering work on fibula free flap donor site management, radiation recall phenomena in thyroid cancer, and optimizing postoperative care pathways for head and neck cancer patients.