A national leader in facial and plastic microvascular reconstructive surgery, Shaun Desai, M.D., joined NYMC as chair of the Department of Otolaryngology in April 2026. He also serves as chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Westchester Medical Center, a major clinical affiliate of NYMC.
Clinically, he is an expert in complex head and neck microvascular reconstruction and facial aesthetic plastic surgery. Dr. Desai has performed thousands of complex face, head, and neck surgeries and was named by Newsweek magazine as one of the “Top 100 Plastic Surgeons” in the U.S. In addition, Dr. Desai’s passion for complex surgeries has benefited patients globally. He has traveled to Ukraine, India, Tanzania, and Peru for various grant-supported surgical and teaching mission trips.
Before joining NYMC, Dr. Desai was an associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. As medical director of the Johns Hopkins Surgery Center, he helped lead the health system’s expansion into the National Capital Region and build the aesthetic and cosmetic surgery service line.
Dr. Desai is recognized as an advocate and leader in medical student, resident, and fellow education. In honor of his teaching, the residents at Johns Hopkins awarded him the George T. Nager Faculty Teaching Award. He served as associate residency program director for the otolaryngology residency and co-director of the Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship. He also edited his own textbook for trainees, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Clinical Reference Guide.
Dr. Desai has published extensively on novel and advanced methods of microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck using innovative technology and has lectured nationally and internationally. At Johns Hopkins, he also led quality improvement efforts, including an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol to reduce overall complication rates in head and neck cancer and trauma patients, and brought success rates for microvascular reconstruction to more than 97 percent. His commitment to high-quality care extends beyond his practice; he also served as the Physician Advisor for Patient Safety and Quality in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins.
Education
- Fellowship, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital of Washington University
- Residency, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital of Washington University
- M.D., George Washington University School of Medicine
- B.A., George Washington University
Publications
- Renne A, Heron MJ, Desai SC, et. al. "Preoperative Photo-Editing and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Rhinoplasty." Facial plastic surgery & aesthetic medicine, (), (2026) 26893614261441228. doi: 10.1177/26893614261441228
- Ahmad SA, Bessen S, Berges AJ, et. al. "Sustainable Practices in the Operating Room for Septorhinoplasty: A 10-Case Prospective Waste Audit Regarding How Much Waste Is Generated." Facial plastic surgery & aesthetic medicine, (), (2026) 26893614261429326. doi: 10.1177/26893614261429326
- Saraswathula A, Chen JH, Fakhry C, et. al. "Satellite Clinics Increasingly Utilized by Academic Otolaryngology Departments in the United States." The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology, 135(5), (2026) 356-361. doi: 10.1177/00034894251401650
- Renne A, Heaton J, Derakhshan A, et. al. "Use of Dynamic, Automated Facial Analysis in Quantifying Oral-Ocular Synkinesis." Facial plastic surgery & aesthetic medicine, (), (2025) . doi: 10.1177/26893614251395737
- Renne A, Desai SC, Boahene KDO, et. al. "Age and Sex Disparities in Facial Nerve Repair after Total Parotidectomy with Nerve Sacrifice: A National Study." Facial plastic surgery & aesthetic medicine, (), (2025) 26893614251358751. doi: 10.1177/26893614251358751
- Mydlarz WK, Mowery AJ, Scott-Wittenborn N, et. al. "Oncological outcomes of the facial artery musculomucosal flap for oral cavity reconstruction." American journal of otolaryngology, 46(1), (2025) 104555. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104555
- Gidumal S, Chen S, Wang A, et. al. "The Lip Lift Island Flap: A Novel Technique for Nasal Sill and Columella Reconstruction." Facial plastic surgery & aesthetic medicine, 27(1), (2025) 81-83. doi: 10.1089/fpsam.2024.0226
