Steven Pletcher, MD
Professor
Otolaryngology
School of Medicine

Dr. Pletcher completed his OHNS residency from UCSF, followed by a Rhinology fellowship from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston.

Dr. Pletcher’s primary research interests focus on investigation on the role of microbes and host immune response in sinonasal inflammatory disease. He also has specific interests in improving treatment of sinus disease for adult patients with cystic fibrosis, process improvement in Graduate Medical Education, and improving surgical techniques for chronic sinusitis and refractory epistaxis.

Dr. Pletcher is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the American Board of Otolaryngology, the Society University Otolaryngologists, and the UCSF Academy of Medical Educators.

Professional Interests: Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Chronic Sinusitis, Cystic Fibrosis, Epistaxis, CSF leaks, Endoscopic Orbital Surgery, Skull Base Disorders

Education and Training:

• Yale College
• Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine
• Internship: University of California, San Francisco
• Residency: University of California, San Francisco - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
• Fellowship: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA - Rhinology

Awards and Honors:

• 1994 American Heart Association - American Heart Association Student Research Award
• 2009 University of California, San Francisco - Roger Boles MD Teaching Award
• 2015 University of California, San Francisco - Francis Sooy MD Award for Clinical Excellence

• Availability and Pricing of Drugs Prescribed by Otolaryngologists Through a Direct-to-Consumer Pharmacy: Medicare Savings Implications.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2024 Erickson TS, Pletcher SD, Soler ZM, Schlosser RJ, Workman AD, Rathi VK
• Nasal endoscopy score thresholds to trigger consideration of chronic rhinosinusitis treatment escalation and implications for disease control.
  Rhinology 2024 Sedaghat AR, Cotter RA, Alobid I, Alsaleh S, Anselmo-Lima WT, Bernal-Sprekelsen M, Chandra RK, Constantinidis J, Fokkens WJ, Franzese C, Gray ST, Halderman AA, Holbrook EH, Hopkins C, Hwang PH, Kuan …
• In office sampling of eosinophil peroxidase to diagnose eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis.
  International forum of allergy & rhinology 2024 Callander JK, Charbit AR, Khanna K, Fahy JV, Tang M, Liegeois M, Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN, Gurrola JG, Murr AH, Butrymowicz A, Loftus PA
• Preference Signaling in Otolaryngology-Past, Present, and Future: A Comment From the Society of University Otolaryngologists (SUO), Association of Academic Departments in Otolaryngology (AADO), and the Otolaryngology Program Directors Organization (OPDO).
  The Laryngoscope 2024 Pletcher SD, Marple BF, Brown DJ
• Medical Literature: Discovery, Education, and Advancement.
  American journal of rhinology & allergy 2024 Pletcher SD
• Cost Analysis of High-Signal Approach in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Residency.
  The Laryngoscope 2024 Erickson TS, Warren BR, Pletcher SD
• Leadership Training Curriculum for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Residents: A Scoping Review.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2023 Standiford TC, Eltawil Y, Durr ML, Pletcher SD, Chang JL
• Determinants of physician assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis disease control using EPOS 2020 criteria and the importance of incorporating patient perspectives of disease control.
  International forum of allergy & rhinology 2023 Sedaghat AR, Caradonna DS, Chandra RK, Franzese C, Gray ST, Halderman AA, Hopkins C, Kuan EC, Lee JT, McCoul ED, O'Brien EK, Pletcher SD, Pynnonen MA, Wang EW, Wise SK, Woodworth BA, Yao WC, Phillips …
• Impact of the Standardized Interview Offer Date Initiatives: A Survey of Otolaryngology Applicants and Programs.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2023 Standiford TC, Thorne MC, Chang CWD, Malekzadeh S, Pletcher SD
• Interview Invitations for Otolaryngology Residency Positions Across Demographic Groups Following Implementation of Preference Signaling.
  JAMA network open 2023 Pletcher SD, Chang CWD, Thorne MC, Malekzadeh S, Francis CL, Naemi B, Costa J, Dunleavy D
• IL-13-associated epithelial remodeling correlates with clinical severity in nasal polyposis.
  The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2023 Kotas ME, Patel NN, Cope EK, Gurrola JG, Goldberg AN, Pletcher SD, Seibold MA, Moore CM, Gordon ED
• Two-Year Interview and Match Outcomes of Otolaryngology Preference Signaling.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2023 Chang CWD, Thorne MC, Malekzadeh S, Pletcher SD
• Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Otolaryngology Trainee Surgical Case Numbers: A Multi-institutional Review.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2023 Mann S, Duffy J, Muffly T, Tilva K, Gray S, Hetzler L, Kraft S, Malekzadeh S, Pletcher S, Cabrera-Muffly C
• Impact of Preference Signaling on Residency Interview Distribution Among Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Applicants.
  Journal of surgical education 2022 Standiford TC, David Chang CW, Thorne MC, Malekzadeh S, Pletcher SD
• IL-13-programmed airway tuft cells produce PGE2, which promotes CFTR-dependent mucociliary function.
  JCI insight 2022 Kotas ME, Moore CM, Gurrola JG, Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN, Alvarez R, Yamato S, Bratcher PE, Shaughnessy CA, Zeitlin PL, Zhang IH, Li Y, Montgomery MT, Lee K, Cope EK, Locksley RM, Seibold MA, Gordon …
• Factors affecting operative autonomy and performance during otolaryngology training: A multicenter trial.
  Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology 2022 Chen JX, Miller LE, Filimonov A, Shuman EA, Marchiano E, George BC, Thorne M, Pletcher SD, Platt M, Teng M, Kozin ED, Gray ST
• Multi-institutional Study of Otolaryngology Resident Intraoperative Experiences for Key Indicator Procedures.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2021 Chen JX, Deng F, Filimonov A, Shuman EA, Marchiano E, George BC, Thorne M, Pletcher SD, Platt M, Teng MS, Kozin ED, Gray ST
• The Otolaryngology Residency Program Preference Signaling Experience.
  Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges 2021 Pletcher SD, Chang CWD, Thorne MC, Malekzadeh S
• Proposal for the Standardization of Otolaryngology Residency Interview Offer Dates.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2021 Standiford TC, Pletcher SD, Thorne MC
• Septum submucosal glands exhibit aberrant morphology and reduced mucin production in chronic rhinosinusitis.
  International forum of allergy & rhinology 2021 Nnabue OE, Pletcher SD, Gurrola JG, Goldberg AN, Jordan KM, Knox SM, May AJ
• Patient Use of Low-cost Digital Videoscopes and Smartphones for Remote Ear and Oropharyngeal Examinations.
  JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery 2021 Cai Y, Zheng YJ, Gulati A, Butrymowicz A, Krauter R, Pletcher SD, Sharon JD, Goldberg AN, Chang JL
• Giant septated petrous apex cholesterol granuloma.
  Otolaryngology Case Reports 2020 Arushi Gulati, Ramon Bustos, Yi Cai, Annick Aubin-Pouliot, Steven D. Pletcher, Steven W. Cheung
• Preference Signaling for the Otolaryngology Interview Market.
  The Laryngoscope 2020 Chang CWD, Pletcher SD, Thorne MC, Malekzadeh S
• Evolving Otolaryngology Resident Roles and Concerns at the Peak of the US COVID-19 Pandemic.
  Head & neck 2020 Cai Y, Gulati A, Jiam NT, Wai KC, Shuman EA, Pletcher SD, Durr ML, Chang JL
• Otolaryngology Residency Interviews in a Socially Distanced World: Strategies to Recruit and Assess Applicants.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2020 Chou DW, Pletcher SD, Bruss D, Sung CK, Diaz RC, Liang J, Durr ML
• Surgical treatment for zygomatic implant related maxillary sinusitis: A method for implant salvage.
  Otolaryngology Case Reports 2020 Neil K. Mehta, Amit Arunkumar, Andrew H. Murr, Steven D. Pletcher
• Development of clinical care guidelines for faculty and residents in the era of COVID-19.
  Head & neck 2020 Park JS, El-Sayed IH, Young VN, Pletcher SD
• Silent sinus syndrome without opacification of ipsilateral maxillary sinus.
  The Laryngoscope 2018 Lee DS, Murr AH, Kersten RC, Pletcher SD
• Fungal Microbiota in Chronic Airway Inflammatory Disease and Emerging Relationships with the Host Immune Response.
  Frontiers in microbiology 2017 Zhang I, Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN, Barker BM, Cope EK
• Patterns of vascularization and surgical morbidity in juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: A case series, systematic review, and meta-analysis.
  Head & neck 2017 Overdevest JB, Amans MR, Zaki P, Pletcher SD, El-Sayed IH
• Biocompatibility and pharmacokinetics of fluticasone-eluting sinus implant in a rabbit model.
  American journal of rhinology & allergy 2017 Patel VS, Walgama E, Psaltis A, Lavigne F, Pletcher SD, Hwang PH
• Surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis after sinus lift.
  American journal of rhinology & allergy 2017 Jiam NT, Goldberg AN, Murr AH, Pletcher SD
• Match Success Trends in United States Ophthalmology Residency Programs.
  Journal of Clinical & Academic Ophthalmology 2016 Todd H. Driver, Allison R. Loh, Fei Yu, Steven D. Pletcher, Ayman Naseri
• A chronic rhinosinusitis-derived isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces acute and pervasive effects on the murine upper airway microbiome and host immune response.
  International forum of allergy & rhinology 2016 Cope EK, Goldberg AN, Pletcher SD, Lynch SV
• Evaluation of Malassezia and Common Fungal Pathogens in Subtypes of Chronic Rhinosinusitis.
  International forum of allergy & rhinology 2016 Gelber JT, Cope EK, Goldberg AN, Pletcher SD
• 49 Upper Airway Disorders.
  Murray and Nadel\u0027s Textbook of Respiratory Medicine 2016 Mark S. Courey, Steven D. Pletcher
• An unusual presentation of a lingual dermoid cyst.
  Ear, nose, & throat journal 2015 Durr ML, van Zante A, Pletcher SD
• Risk factors for postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis after expanded endoscopic endonasal surgery.
  Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia 2014 Ivan ME, Iorgulescu JB, El-Sayed I, McDermott MW, Parsa AT, Pletcher SD, Jahangiri A, Wagner J, Aghi MK
• Risk factors for cerebrospinal leak after endoscopic skull base reconstruction with nasoseptal flap.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2014 Gruss CL, Al Komser M, Aghi MK, Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN, McDermott M, El-Sayed IH
• Maxillary sinus posterior wall remodeling following surgery for silent sinus syndrome.
  American journal of otolaryngology 2014 Kram YA, Pletcher SD
• Risk Factors for Cerebrospinal Leak after Endoscopic Skull Base Reconstruction with Nasoseptal Flap.
  Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B Skull Base 2014 Calvin Gruss, Ivan El-Sayed, Mohammed Al Komser, Steven Pletcher, Andrew Goldberg, Michael McDermott
• Nasal Polyps.
  Encyclopedia of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery 2013 Steven D. Pletcher, Andrew N. Goldberg
• Nasal and Sinus Trauma.
  2013 Sara Immerman, Ashlin Alexander, W. Matthew White, Mike C. Sheu, Jason D. Bloom, Minas Constantinides, Corrie E. Roehm, Amy Lawrason, Tulio A. Valdez, Steven D. Pletcher, Andrew N. Goldberg, Callum …
• A novel sinonasal endoscopy scoring system: the discharge, inflammation, and polyps/edema (DIP) score.
  International forum of allergy & rhinology 2012 Durr ML, Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN, Murr AH
• Sinus anatomy associated with inadvertent cerebrospinal fluid leak during functional endoscopic sinus surgery.
  The Laryngoscope 2012 Heaton CM, Goldberg AN, Pletcher SD, Glastonbury CM
• Some chronic rhinosinusitis patients have elevated populations of fungi in their sinuses.
  The Laryngoscope 2012 Murr AH, Goldberg AN, Pletcher SD, Dillehay K, Wymer LJ, Vesper SJ
• Endoscopic anterior maxillotomy: infratemporal fossa via transnasal approach.
  The Laryngoscope 2011 El-Sayed I, Pletcher S, Russell M, McDermott M, Parsa A
• An Unusual Presentation of a Lingual Dermoid Cyst.
  The Laryngoscope 2011 Megan L. Durr, Annemieke van Zante, Steven D. Pletcher
• Endoscopic Treatment of Silent Sinus Syndrome with Dramatic Resolution.
  The Laryngoscope 2011 Jonathan George, Megan Durr, Steven Pletcher
• Treatment of recurrent sinonasal polyposis with steroid-infused carboxymethylcellulose foam.
  American journal of rhinology & allergy 2010 Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN
• Nucleic acid extraction efficiency and bacterial recovery from maxillary sinus mucosal samples obtained by brushing or biopsy.
  American journal of rhinology & allergy 2010 Roediger FC, Slusher NA, Allgaier S, Cox MJ, Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN, Lynch SV
• CHAPTER 15 Head and Neck Manifestations in the Immunocompromised Host.
  Cummings Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 2010 Theresa B. Kim, Steven D. Pletcher, Andrew N. Goldberg
• CHAPTER 69 Chronic Aspiration.
  Cummings Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 2010 Steven D. Pletcher, David W. Eisele
• Rheologic properties of sinonasal mucus in patients with chronic sinusitis.
  American journal of rhinology & allergy 2010 Saito DM, Innes AL, Pletcher SD
• Postoperative packing after septoplasty: is it necessary?
  Otolaryngologic clinics of North America 2009 Dubin MR, Pletcher SD
• Endoscopic transorbital ligation of the anterior ethmoid artery.
  Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2008 Steven D. Pletcher, Ralph Metson
• Interactive image-guided endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.
  Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery 2008 Day S, Hwang TN, Pletcher SD, Bhatki A, McCulley TJ
• Computed tomography imaging of the paranasal sinuses: direct versus reformatted coronal images.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2008 Pletcher SD, Hoxworth JM, Goldberg AN, Murr AH, Glastonbury CM
• The frontal wishbone: anatomic and clinical implications.
  American journal of rhinology 2007 Goldsztein H, Pletcher SD, Reh DD, Metson R
• 09:48: CT Imaging of the Sinuses: Direct vs. Reformatted Images.
  Otolaryngology 2007 G Joseph Parell, Maria C Veling, Steven Daniel Pletcher, Joseph Michael Hoxworth, Andrew N Goldberg, Andrew H Murr, Christine M Glastonbury
• Endoscopic optic nerve decompression for nontraumatic optic neuropathy.
  Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery 2007 Pletcher SD, Metson R
• Minicricothyrotomy approach with fiberoptic guidance for management of posterior glottic stenosis.
  The Laryngoscope 2007 Mau T, Pletcher SD, Cavanagh PW, Courey MS, Wang SJ
• Microdebrider eustachian tuboplasty: A preliminary report.
  Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2007 Metson R, Pletcher SD, Poe DS
• Endoscopic ligation of the anterior ethmoid artery.
  The Laryngoscope 2007 Pletcher SD, Metson R
• Endoscopic orbital and optic nerve decompression.
  Otolaryngologic clinics of North America 2006 Pletcher SD, Sindwani R, Metson R
• The Agger Nasi Punch-Out Procedure (POP): maximizing exposure of the frontal recess.
  The Laryngoscope 2006 Pletcher SD, Sindwani R, Metson R
• 09:10 AM Microdebrider Eustachian Tuboplasty: A Preliminary Report.
  Otolaryngology 2006 Steven D. Pletcher, Dennis S. Poe, Ralph B. Metson
• Endoscopic orbital and optic nerve decompression.
  Otolaryngologic clinics of North America 2006 Metson R, Pletcher SD
• Use of acupuncture in the treatment of sinus and nasal symptoms: results of a practitioner survey.
  American journal of rhinology 2006 Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN, Lee J, Acquah J
• Management of superior canal dehiscence syndrome with extensive skull-base deficiency.
  ORL; journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties 2005 Pletcher SD, Oghalai JS, Reeck JB, Cheung SW
• Complications and the time to repair of mandible fractures.
  The Laryngoscope 2005 Biller JA, Pletcher SD, Goldberg AN, Murr AH
• Current concepts in cheek reconstruction.
  Facial plastic surgery clinics of North America 2005 Pletcher SD, Kim DW
• Reversal of laryngotracheal separation: a detailed case report with long-term followup.
  Dysphagia 2005 Pletcher SD, Mandpe AH, Block MI, Cheung SW
• Pathology quiz case 2. Giant cell lesion (brown tumor) of the mandible, associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT).
  Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery 2004 Perlman JS, Pletcher SD, Schmidt BL, Eisele DW
• Chronological aging-independent replicative life span regulation by Msn2/Msn4 and Sod2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  FEBS letters 2004 Fabrizio P, Pletcher SD, Minois N, Vaupel JW, Longo VD
• Management of cervical metastases in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the base of tongue.
  Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery 2003 Pletcher SD, Kaplan MJ, Eisele DW, Singer MI, Quivey JM, Lee N
• Syphilis and otolaryngology.
  Otolaryngologic clinics of North America 2003 Pletcher SD, Cheung SW
• Ocular findings in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss.
  Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery 2002 Mafong DD, Pletcher SD, Hoyt C, Lalwani AK