Suresh Mohan, MD

Philosophy

Our faces facilitate meaningful connection to the people in our lives. Thoughts, emotions, and intents are conveyed through our facial expressions. Some even believe that our faces are a window into our souls. I was drawn to facial plastic and reconstructive surgery because of how impactful the smallest details of our face can be in perceptions of ourselves and interactions with others. I see the opportunity to reconstruct or rejuvenate these facial features as a way to bring new confidence and contentment into the lives of my patients. With research-enriched surgical training, I bring a unique perspective of a scientifically focused approach to the art of restoring facial symmetry and innate beauty.

Training and Experience

Hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dr. Mohan received his B.S. from the University of Michigan with concentrations in music and cell & molecular biology. He earned a medical degree at Brown University and completed a one-year research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health investigating novel small molecule inhibitors for head and neck cancer. He then completed a seven-year research track residency at Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School where his research was focused on understanding the Schwann cell response to nerve injury as applicable to clinical management of facial palsy under mentorship of Drs. Nate Jowett and Tessa Hadlock. He next completed a fellowship in Facial Plastic and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery at University of California-San Francisco. His clinical interests include facial paralysis, free tissue transfer for head and neck cancer reconstruction, rhinoplasty, Mohs reconstruction, facial trauma, gender affirmation surgery, and treatment of the aging face.

Honors and Awards

Dr. Mohan has won several awards for his research and teaching. As a resident, he secured grant funding totaling nearly $200K from sources including the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Plastic Surgery Foundation, American Society for Peripheral Nerve, and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. As chief resident at Harvard, he received the Jeffrey P. Harris MD, PhD Research Award, and the coveted OHNS Chief Resident teaching award.

Research and Innovation

Dr. Mohan has over 30 peer-reviewed publications to date and serves as a reviewer for multiple prominent journals in Otolaryngology. His research interest is in how Schwann cells within nerves respond to injury. Schwann cells are the supportive cells for neurons in the peripheral nervous system. When nerves are injured, Schwann cells take on a repair identity to help regenerate axons. However, the gene expression changes that facilitate this transformation are incompletely understood. Dr. Mohan and his team utilized cutting edge single-cell RNA sequencing techniques to better clarify these gene expression changes in Schwann cells after injury with the eventual goal of identifying potential gene therapy targets to improve outcomes of peripheral nerve surgical procedures. The work has been presented at national meetings, recognized with multiple foundation and federal grant awards, and is currently nearing publication.

Personal Interests

In his spare time, Suresh is a connoisseur of the performing arts, an instagram husband, an aspiring runner, and a vegetarian foodie. He, his wife, and their two children live in Madison, CT.

Invited Speaking Engagements

• Characterizing the Schwann cell response to facial nerve injury with single-cell RNA sequencing. (International Facial Nerve Symposium (Virtual), Seoul, South Korea) 28 Apr 2022.
• Selective Denervation. (New England Otolaryngological Society, Virtual Spring Meeting) 16 Apr 2021.
• Characterizing Schwann cell transcriptional states in peripheral nerve regeneration with single-cell RNA sequencing. (American Society for Peripheral Nerve, Ft Lauderdale, FL) 10 Jan 2020.
• Layperson and Artificial Intelligence Assessed Emotion in Facial Palsy. (Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings: AAFPRS, Austin, TX) 1 May 2019.
• Novel Transgenic Murine Model for Study of Peripheral Nerve Regeneration (American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA) 8 Oct 2018.
• A High-Throughput Platform for Nerve Conduit Assessment. (Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings: The Triological Society, National Harbor, MD) 20 Apr 2018.