Brian Cervenka MD

Specialties

Cancer, Oncology, Head and Neck Cancer, Robotic Surgery, Thyroid Disorders, Otolaryngology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Transoral Laser Surgery, Advanced Skin Cancer, Reconstructive Surgery

Department

Otolaryngology (ENT)

UC Health Affiliations

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center

Brian P. Cervenka, MD, subspecializes in head and neck oncology and microvascular surgery.

He has an expert skill set in providing outstanding surgical care, including complex thyroid and parathyroid surgery, head and neck oncologic surgery including mucosal and cutaneous cancers of the head and neck, robotic head and neck cancer surgery and complex reconstructive surgery requiring microvascular free flaps. Finally, he also specializes in complex airway reconstruction for patients with airway narrowing due to cancer, traumatic injuries or long-term intubation.

Dr. Cervenka strongly believes in a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care. At UC Health, there is a wonderful group of surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, speech therapists and cancer navigators that work together to ensure every patient has a comprehensive cancer care experience.
He chose to specialize in head and neck oncology and microvascular surgery because of the opportunity to develop strong relationships with patients and families as they navigate through the treatment process. "Being able to follow an individual closely for five years or more is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career and is what drew me to this field," he says.

In addition, the persistent effort to minimize patient side effects from cancer treatment is a pursuit of Dr. Cervenka and the entire Head and Neck Division. By using minimally invasive techniques such as robotic surgery, patients can be spared from major surgeries with greater recovery time and postoperative functional deficits. These surgeries can allow our medical and radiation colleagues to minimize the dose of radiation given as well as limit chemotherapy, if even needed at all. Our microvascular reconstructions allow patients to achieve highly functional outcomes not possible without free tissue transfer.

Dr. Cervenka trained at renowned institutions with leaders in the fields of head and neck oncology and reconstructive surgery. He completed his residency at the University of California, Davis, which is recognized as a premier training program in the country.

He completed his fellowship training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, home of a top head and neck cancer center.
Dr. Cervenka built a strong research background throughout his residency and fellowship by publishing over 21 peer-reviewed articles. He considers himself a lifelong learner and continues to pursue his research interests in an academic setting. He is most passionate about functional outcomes after head and neck ablative and reconstructive surgery. He has published research on swallowing outcomes following different types of reconstruction after laryngectomy surgery and the use of 3D printing to optimize complex skull base surgery. He has a tremendous interest in resident surgical education, and is on national committees and has authored numerous publications on the use of resident boot camps to teach emergency otolaryngology skills.