Comprehensive Guide to UCLA Head and Neck Surgery Services

The UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery provides a wide range of consultative and therapeutic services for adult and pediatric patients. The department's staff is available to assist in selecting a specialist and discussing a referral, ensuring patients receive the most appropriate care. This article delves into the various programs and services offered, the leadership driving the department forward, and practical information for patients.

Specialized Programs and Services

The UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery offers specialized programs tailored to address a variety of conditions affecting the head and neck region:

Cochlear Implant Program

The Cochlear Implant Program at UCLA is one of the largest, most prestigious, and most experienced centers in California. It has provided quality medical care to nearly 500 cochlear implant recipients, spanning both young and old patients.

Endocrine Surgery Program

The Endocrine Surgery Program includes a multidisciplinary team of endocrinologists, surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists. These experts are leaders in the identification and treatment of disorders affecting the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

Head and Neck Cancer Program

Head and neck surgical oncologists offer comprehensive, specialized care for patients with benign and malignant tumors. These tumors may be located in the pharynx, larynx, jaw, and tongue, as well as the thyroid/parathyroid glands and carotid arteries.

Microvascular and Reconstructive Surgery

The Microvascular and Reconstructive Surgery section is at the forefront of surgical expertise. It utilizes technically demanding surgical techniques in the reconstruction of the jaws and mouth, the throat, and all areas of the face, scalp, and neck.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

UCLA head and neck surgeons employ technologically advanced surgical approaches in a variety of procedures. This results in less post-operative pain and a faster recovery for patients.

Nasal and Sinus Disease Program

The Nasal and Sinus Disease Program takes a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the medical and surgical management of nasal and sinus problems.

Otology/Neurotology

The Otology/Neurotology practice specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the inner ear and eye movement control.

Leadership and Innovation

The UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery is committed to excellence in patient care, research, and education.

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Interim Chair Appointment

Dinesh Chhetri, MD, will serve as the Interim Chair of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (DGSOM) and Executive Medical Director for Head and Neck Surgery for the UCLA Health System, effective September 1, 2025.

Dr. Chhetri is a distinguished physician-scientist and educator. His career has been marked by academic excellence, clinical innovation, and a strong commitment to service. He graduated magna cum laude with honors in Biochemistry from Brown University and earned his MD from UCLA, graduating with distinction for his thesis on laryngeal reinnervation. He completed both his residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and his Fellowship in Laryngology at UCLA.

Currently, Dr. Chhetri serves as Professor of Head and Neck Surgery and holds the Kamal A. Batniji, M.D., Chair in Humanitarian Care and Innovation in Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. For the past seven years, he has served as Vice Chair of Clinical Operations, during which time the department experienced substantial growth in clinical productivity and service expansion both at UCLA’s main campus and in affiliated community clinics. He has also held other key leadership roles, including co-Chair for Quality Improvement and co-lead for Inclusive Excellence initiatives within the department.

Research and Academic Contributions

Dr. Chhetri's research spans the fields of laryngeal physiology, neurolaryngology, and swallowing disorders. He directs the Laryngeal Physiology Laboratory at UCLA, which has received continuous NIH R01 funding to study neuromuscular control of the larynx for 12 years. His work has also been supported by multiple grants addressing vocal fold scarring, laryngeal reinnervation, HPV-related head and neck cancer, and cancer survivorship. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and authored a book on swallowing disorders.

He is an active member of numerous professional societies, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, American Laryngological Association (ALA), and the Triological Society. He recently served as President of the ALA and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Triological Society Western Section.

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Global Health Initiatives

A passionate advocate for global health, Dr. Chhetri has led and participated in numerous long-term international medical education and training initiatives over the past two decades, with sustained efforts in Nepal, India, Guatemala, Tanzania, and the Middle East.

Acknowledgment

The department also thanks Dr. Maie St. John for her outstanding leadership and service as Department Chair at UCLA for 8 years.

Patient-Centered Approach

UCLA Health is dedicated to providing a patient-centered environment. They focus on improving access, experience, and outcomes through various initiatives.

Access Improvement

UCLA Health has taken a multi-pronged approach to improving access. This includes hiring more providers and increasing urgent care and access sites. They have also gone deeper into urgent care access. Telehealth is used to fill urgent needs quickly.

Prioritization and Evolution

Capital is limited, so UCLA Health has had to prioritize. They are still evolving, like many AMCs.

Infrastructure

The campus includes everything from SOPs and workflows to space standards and training.

Growth and Experience

New patient growth has a goal of 5% year-over-year. Patient experience, specifically likeliness to recommend, is also a key focus. These are part of every clinic’s scorecard, which is reviewed monthly.

Culture and Talent Development

The culture is built around passion for patient care and talent development, with robust onboarding for managers. They’ve seen a 24% improvement in staff turnover this past year.

Efficiency and Workflows

UCLA Health aims to maximize clinical space and improve workflows.

Comprehensive Care

They address short-term mental health needs, which allows them to intervene early and prevent downstream crises.

Strategic Expansion

UCLA Health avoids chasing volume or margin alone, or expanding specialty services in isolation. They focus on building a sustainable, trusted footprint.

Commitment and Impact

Staying at UCLA Health for nearly two decades and still making an impact through programs, clinics, and policies that improve patient care is deeply fulfilling. It’s important to do something that inspires you, otherwise you won’t do your best and you won’t be proud of the result. Leadership is about people.

Contact Information and Directions

The UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery is accessible via multiple locations. Below are directions to some of these locations:

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Patients and visitors to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center have valet parking services available on Westwood Plaza. You may also choose to use the UCLA Medical Plaza paid parking garage.

UCLA Medical Plaza

For patients who use UCLA Medical Plaza services frequently, 10-day and 30-day parking passes are available at significantly reduced rates.

Directions from the 405 Freeway:

From the north, exit Wilshire east; or from the south, exit Wilshire Westwood.

Directions Heading toward campus on Westwood Boulevard:

Turn right onto Weyburn Avenue. Make your first left into the parking entrance. There is another entrance if you make a right from Westwood Boulevard onto Le Conte.

1250 16th Street, Santa Monica

Paid underground parking is available (accessed via 12th Street).

Directions from the 10 Freeway:

Take 10 (Santa Monica Fwy.) east to 405 (San Diego Fwy.) north, and exit on Wilshire Boulevard. east.
Exit at Cloverfield Boulevard (north) to Santa Monica Boulevard. Turn left (west) on Santa Monica Boulevard. Turn right (north) on 16th Street to 1250 16th Street.

Directions from Wilshire Boulevard:

Connect with the 10 Freeway West and follow the directions above or exit Wilshire Boulevard West (from the San Fernando Valley), merge onto Wilshire Boulevard. Turn left (south) on 16th Street to 1250 16th Street.

Additional Parking Information

Parking is in short supply throughout Santa Monica, including the area near UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. There are, however, several parking options available to patients and visitors. Metered street parking is in effect every day, except Sunday.

UCLA Health Building Directions

Directions:

Coming off of the exit turn Right onto S. Then move immediately into the left lane and turn left onto E. Make your third left onto Long Court. Follow Moody Court up the hill and just before the dead end/cul-de-sac turn left into our parking lot. The UCLA Health building also has signage for Hogan Insurance.
Note that we have two large suites in the building.
Coming off of the exit turn Left onto S. Turn Right onto E. When you see Corrigan's Steak House on the right side of E. Follow Moody Court up the hill and just before the dead end/cul-de-sac turn Left into our parking lot. The UCLA Health building also has signage for Hogan Insurance.
Note that we have two large suites in the building.

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