Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, FACS, has been appointed The David Myers, MD Professor and Chair in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (HNS) at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM), effective October 1, 2018. This newly-endowed Chair honoring Dr. David Myers, a former Chair of Temple Otorhinology, will support in perpetuity the department’s excellence and innovation in clinical care, research, and medical training. The Chair was established by Eugene N. Myers, MD '60, FACS, FRCS Edin (Hon.), and his wife Barbara. Dr. Eugene Myers is Distinguished Professor and Emeritus Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Schmalbach to Temple,” said Larry R. Kaiser, MD, FACS, the Lewis Katz Dean at LKSOM, President and CEO of Temple University Health System, and Senior Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at Temple University. “We look forward to supporting her efforts to build upon our education, research and patient care initiatives within Temple’s academic medical enterprise.”
Dr. Schmalbach comes to Temple from the Indiana University School of Medicine where she served as Professor of Otolaryngology-HNS, Vice Chair of Otolaryngology Clinical Affairs, and Division Chief of HNS. Prior to that she was Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, Dept. of Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she served as Otolaryngology Residency Program Director. Dr. Schmalbach also served eight years active duty in the United States Air Force at the San Antonio Military Medical Center during which time she deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; was Division Chief of Microvascular-HNS; Director of Research, Department of Otolaryngology-HNS; and Chief Ombudsman. During that time she also held faculty appointments in Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology-HNS at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Dr. Schmalbach earned her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. After completing her otolaryngology residency at the University of Michigan — during which she earned a Master of Science in Clinical Research Design and Statistics — Dr. Schmalbach went on to fellowship training at Vanderbilt University in head and neck-microvascular surgery.
In addition to her expertise in cutaneous cancers of the head and neck, Dr. Schmalbach has extensive experience in endocrine surgery, mucosal neoplasms, and facial trauma. Her scientific contributions include the research of sentinel node biopsy, the management of advanced skin cancers and patient safety/quality improvement. She currently serves as the Deputy Editor for Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chair of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Section for the American Head and Neck Society, and most recently was named Coordinator of Research & Quality for the American Academy of Otolaryngology-HNS Foundation (AAO-HNSF). She is board-certified in Otolaryngology, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and recipient of numerous awards including Indianapolis Top Doctor, AAO-HNSF Distinguished Service Award, AAO-HNSF Cochrane Scholar Award, United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, and American Legion Military Excellence Award.