Molly E Heft Neal, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Otolaryngology Education Lead
[email protected]

Available to mentor

Molly E Heft Neal, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
  • About
  • Qualifications
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • About

    My clinical interests include the complex set of head and neck cancers comprised of HPV mediated
    oropharyngeal tumors, HPV negative tumors of the oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, and larynx as
    well as salivary gland tumors, sinonasal tumors and advanced cutaneous malignancies. I also specialize
    in robotic surgery for oropharyngeal tumors and in reconstructive surgery to restore form and function for
    patients undergoing cancer treatment.

    Qualifications
    • Resident Physician
      University of Michigan Medical School, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 2022
    • T32 Research Fellowship
      University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 2020
    • Fellowship
      Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Head and Neck Surgery- Microvascular Reconstruction
    • MD
      University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, 2016
    • BS
      Stanford University, Stanford, 2011
    Research Overview

    My research interests focus on translational questions in head and neck oncology. Specific areas of focus
    include understanding the how hypoxia drives radiation and chemoradiation failure in HPV-mediated
    oropharyngeal tumors and predictors of failure in larynx cancer in patients undergoing organ preserving
    therapy. Utilizing novel techniques including liquid biopsies and single cell sequencing, our group is
    striving to better understand the tumor microenvironment, tumor mutational signatures, and immune
    landscape that predict treatment failure. From a clinical perspective my research focuses on outcomes of
    HPV-mediated treatments in the setting of ongoing de-escalation trials to improve predictions of functional
    outcomes such as speech and swallowing after treatment.

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      3D modeling of anterior 2/3rds glossectomy reconstruction: A volume based donor site evaluation.
      Smith B, Rosko A, VanKoevering KK, Heft Neal M, Ellsperman S, Fenberg RB, Cho J, Vita A, Feng AL, Contrera KJ, Sridharan SS, Spector ME. Oral Oncol, 2024 Oct; 157: 106960 DOI:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106960
      PMID: 39068767
    • Journal Article
      Pharyngeal Mucosal Margin Vessel Counts Predict Pharyngocutaneous Fistula in Salvage Laryngectomy.
      Prince ADP, Heft Neal ME, Buchakjian MR, Chinn SB, Stucken CL, Casper KA, Malloy KM, Prince MEP, Rosko AJ, McHugh JB, Spector ME. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2024 Sep; 171 (3): 785 - 790. DOI:10.1002/ohn.865
      PMID: 38881401
    • Journal Article
      Utility of bioselection with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for organ preservation in patients with T4 laryngeal cancer.
      Benjamin WJ, Feng AL, Heft Neal M, Bellile E, Casper KA, Malloy KM, Rosko AJ, Stucken CL, Prince ME, Mierzwa ML, Taylor JMG, Eisbruch A, Spector ME, Wolf GT, Swiecicki PL, Worden FP, Chinn SB. Oral Oncol, 2024 Sep; 156: 106917 DOI:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106917
      PMID: 38945011
    • Journal Article
      Phase II Clinical Trial of Intravenous Levothyroxine to Mitigate Pharyngocutaneous Fistula in Euthyroid Patients Undergoing Salvage Laryngectomy.
      Heft Neal ME, Haring CT, Bellile E, Jaffe CC, Shuman AG, Chinn SB, Stucken CL, Malloy KM, Casper KA, Prince MEP, Chepeha DB, Rosko AJ, Spector ME. Clin Cancer Res, 2024 Jul 15; 30 (14): 2910 - 2916. DOI:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-0782
      PMID: 38723280
    • Journal Article
      Association of preoperative thyroid hormone replacement with perioperative complications after major abdominal surgery.
      Haring CT, Heft Neal ME, Jaffe CA, Shuman AG, Rosko AJ, Spector ME. Am J Surg, 2024 Jun; 232: 107 - 111. DOI:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.01.018
      PMID: 38311517
    • Journal Article
      Clinical outcomes in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.
      Dermody S, Brummel C, Brenner C, Casper K, Chinn SB, Malloy KM, Mierzwa ML, Neal MH, Prince M, Shah JL, Shuman A, Stucken C, Spector M, Worden FP, Swiecicki P. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2024 Jun 1; 42 (16_suppl): 6102 - 6102. DOI:10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.6102
    • Journal Article
      Upfront Neck Dissection for Treatment Selection and Improvement in Quality of Life as a Novel Treatment Paradigm for Deintensification in HPV+ OPSCC.
      Swiecicki PL, Bellile E, Dragovic AF, McHugh J, Udager A, Mierzwa ML, Shah J, Heft-Neal M, Rosko A, Malloy KM, Casper K, Chinn SB, Shuman AG, Stucken C, Chepeha DB, Wolf GT, Bradford CR, Eisbruch A, Prince ME, Worden FP, Spector ME. Clin Cancer Res, 2024 Jun 3; 30 (11): 2393 - 2401. DOI:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-3247
      PMID: 38517480
    • Journal Article
      Upfront neck dissection to guide single-modality therapy for early stage supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma.
      Smith JD, Heft-Neal ME, Rosko AJ, Chepeha DB, Spector ME. Oral Oncol, 2024 May; 152: 106803 DOI:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106803
      PMID: 38613849