Ryan Heffelfinger MD FACS

Head & Neck Microvascular Surgery, Head & Neck Plastic Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery

Professor, Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Jefferson Medical College-Thos Jefferson Univ

925 Chestnut St., 7th FloorJefferson Facial PlasticsPhiladelphia, PA 19107
Phone+1 215-955-6760
Fax+1 215-955-7503

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Summary

Ryan Heffelfinger, MD, is a Philadelphia-based otolaryngologist specializing in head and neck surgery, including microvascular and facial plastic surgery. After a Yale education, he completed his medical education and otolaryngology training at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at UCLA. He has been at Jefferson since 2006, where he currently is a Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and the Director of the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Head and Neck Microvascular Surgery, and the Jefferson Facial Nerve Center. He is the Co-Director of Jefferson's facial plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship. His expertise includes facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, facial nerve disorders, cosmetic surgery of the face and neck, and microvascular surgery. Dr. Heffelfinger is also an accomplished author with several academic publications and has been recognized with awards such as Jefferson Medical College's Dean's Award for Excellence in Education and his department's Faculty Teaching Award.

Education & Training

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical CenterFellowship, Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 2005 - 2006
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/TJUHResidency, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2001 - 2005
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/TJUHInternship, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2000 - 2001
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityClass of 2000
Yale UniversityB.S., Biology, 1994

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Certifications & Licensure

CA State Medical License 2005 - Present
NJ State Medical License 2013 - 2027
PA State Medical License 2001 - 2026
American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Otolaryngology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

CMS Meaningful Use Stage 2 Certification Allscripts TouchWorks EHR, Allscripts, 2012-2017
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification Allscripts Enterprise EHR (Complete), Allscripts, 2012-2017
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification Allscripts TouchWorks EHR, Allscripts, 2012-2017

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Predictors of Unplanned Admission After Outpatient Rhytidectomy.
Angela Alnemri, Neha Garg, Dana Michlin, Wesley Wride, Vivian Xu
Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2026-10-15
Long-Term Outcomes of Radial Forearm Free Flap Reconstruction of the Trachea.
W Jack Palmer, Dylan Bertoni, Kathleen M Tibbetts, Colin T Huntley, Howard Krein
Head & Neck. 2026-07-01
A Comparison of Brow Elevation and Complications: Endoscopic Versus Pretrichial Brow Lift.
Neha Garg, Angela Alnemri, Jefferson DeKloe, Alessandra Baldari, Alekya Bheemreddy
The Laryngoscope. 2026-04-01

Journal Articles

Laser Treatment of Skin Texture and Fine Line Etching
Grunebaum LD, Murdock J, Hoosien GE, Heffelfinger RN, Lee WW, Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, 5/1/2011
Photoaging
Grunebaum JD, Heffelfinger RN, Current Problems in Dermatology, 1/1/2011
Management of traumatic facial nerve injuries
Greywoode JD, Ho HH, Artz GJ, Heffelfinger RN, Facial Plastic Surg, 12/1/2010

Books/Book Chapters

Multidisciplinary Head & Neck Reconstruction - A Defect Oriented Approach.
Chapter: Complications of Free Tissue Transfer in Head and Neck Reconstruction.
Blackwell K, Heffelfinger RNEditors: ML Urken.Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Abstracts/Posters

Beginner's Training in Microvascular Surgery: From Simple Suturing Exercises to Practicing Microvascular Anastomosis in the Rat.
Gordin E, Daniero J, Heffelfinger RN, the Annual Meeting of the AAFPRS, Boston, MA, 9/1/2010

Lectures