Chris Holsinger

Head and neck surgeon, Thyroid and parathyroid surgeon, Head and neck surgical oncologist

Bio:   Dr. Holsinger is Professor and Chief of Head and Neck Surgery at Stanford University Medical Center, where he also leads the multidisciplinary Head and Neck Oncology Program at the Stanford Cancer Center. From 2003-2013, Dr. Holsinger worked at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center where he founded and led the Program in Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Head and Neck Surgery and co-directed the program in Minimally Invasive Technology in Oncologic Surgery.

At Stanford, he founded the Program in Robotic Surgery, which coordinates clinical operations, as well as provides education to residents, fellows and staff. This multidisciplinary program is also studying the value and cost of robotic surgery across several organ sites, measuring the impact of reduced length of stay and post-operative dose reduction of adjuvant therapies.

At the Cancer Center, Dr. Holsinger has led several efforts to transform cancer care delivery. He leads the initiative to improve the quality of multidisciplinary tumor boards across the Cancer Center and serves as a physician leader for the multidisciplinary care coordinator program, focusing cancer care on the patient, rather than the care team.

Dr. Holsinger’s surgical practice focuses on the surgical management of benign and malignant diseases of the thyroid, as well as head and neck cancers. His areas of research interest include endoscopic head and neck surgery, including robotic thyroidectomy, transoral robotic surgery and transoral laser microsurgery, as well as time-honoured approaches of conservation laryngeal surgery, supracricoid partial laryngectomy.

Dr. Holsinger's research focuses on surgical innovation, clinical trials, and genomics. He leads several prospective clinical trails, through NCI-funded cooperative groups.


Dr. Holsinger received his medical degree from Vanderbilt School of Medicine, completed his internship and residency at Baylor College of Medicine and his Fellowship in head and neck surgical oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. In 2003, he was awarded Fulbright Scholarship to study surgery at the University of Paris with Professor Ollivier Laccourreye and with Professor Wolfgang Steiner at the Georg-August University in Göttingen.

Dr. Holsinger has authored or co-authored numerous articles and abstracts, which have appeared in publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, Head & Neck, Laryngoscope, and the Archives of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.

Board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, Dr. Holsinger is a member of numerous societies including the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Head and Neck Society.
4.8 out of 5
93 Patient Ratings
14 Patient Comments

Head and Neck Cancer Program

Professional Education

  • Fellowship: MD Anderson Cancer Center (2003) TX
  • Board Certification: Otolaryngology, American Board of Otolaryngology (2002)
  • Residency: Baylor College of Medicine (2001) TX
  • Internship: Baylor College of Medicine (1996) TX
  • Medical Education: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (1995) TN
  • Fulbright Scholarship, Université de Paris V, Rene Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, France, Post-doctoral Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery (2003)
  • Fellowship, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology (2003)
  • Residency, Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery (2001)
  • Internship, Debakey Department of Surgery Baylor College of Medicine, General Surgery (1997)
  • MD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (1995)

Administrative Appointments

  • Director, Head and Neck Cancer Care Program, Stanford Cancer Center (2013 - Present)
  • Member, Stanford Cancer Institute (2013 - Present)

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

4.9

Friendliness

4.9

Recommended to others

4.8

Explanations

4.8

Listens

4.8

Includes you in decisions

4.9

Clear Communication

4.9

Confidence in your doctor

4.2

Wait times

SHC Patient, Sep 2015

Access to dr. is very poor. However his capability appears to be very good.

SHC Patient, Aug 2015

Dr. Holsinger is the most caring & friendly doctor I've ever experienced Combined with this outstanding credentials, he is an absolute gem!

SHC Patient, Jul 2015

I don't think they knew HOW to answer ALL my questions, but they were all respectful & kind.

SHC Patient, Jul 2015

This care time is the best!!

SHC Patient, Jul 2015

Already have recommended.

SHC Patient, Apr 2015

Dr. Holsinger is a superb doctor - he is very nice, compassionate & has always put me at ease with his kind demeanor.

SHC Patient, Apr 2015

Don't feel he listens - Feel visit is rushed.

SHC Patient, Mar 2015

Dr. Holsinger listens, treated me as an individual, and was communicated well. Pretty rare for a great surgeon! He cares and it comes through when you speak with him.

SHC Patient, Feb 2015

Dr. Holsinger took as much time as was necessary to hash out a consent for surgery as I needed and took all my concerns seriously.

SHC Patient, Jan 2015

Very friendly, and courteous.

SHC Patient, Dec 2014

Dr. Holsinger was very attentive, friendly and caring. Received great information.

SHC Patient, Dec 2014

One hundred % confidence in my care provider.

View All 14 Patient Comments »
4.8 out of 5
93 Patient Ratings
14 Patient Comments

SHC Patient, Sep 2015

Access to dr. is very poor. However his capability appears to be very good.

SHC Patient, Aug 2015

Dr. Holsinger is the most caring & friendly doctor I've ever experienced Combined with this outstanding credentials, he is an absolute gem!

SHC Patient, Jul 2015

I don't think they knew HOW to answer ALL my questions, but they were all respectful & kind.

SHC Patient, Jul 2015

This care time is the best!!

SHC Patient, Jul 2015

Already have recommended.

SHC Patient, Apr 2015

Dr. Holsinger is a superb doctor - he is very nice, compassionate & has always put me at ease with his kind demeanor.

SHC Patient, Apr 2015

Don't feel he listens - Feel visit is rushed.

SHC Patient, Mar 2015

Dr. Holsinger listens, treated me as an individual, and was communicated well. Pretty rare for a great surgeon! He cares and it comes through when you speak with him.

SHC Patient, Feb 2015

Dr. Holsinger took as much time as was necessary to hash out a consent for surgery as I needed and took all my concerns seriously.

SHC Patient, Jan 2015

Very friendly, and courteous.

SHC Patient, Dec 2014

Dr. Holsinger was very attentive, friendly and caring. Received great information.

SHC Patient, Dec 2014

One hundred % confidence in my care provider.

SHC Patient, Dec 2014

My care team is the best. They all communicate w/each other as needed. All great!

SHC Patient, Nov 2014

Dr. is amazing and has a great personality, as well as bedside manners!