Maie St. John, MD

Description

Maie A. St. John is an internationally recognized surgeon-scientist, academic leader and educator whose career reflects an exceptional blend of clinical mastery, scientific innovation and visionary leadership. She is the Andelot Professor and Director of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she leads one of the nation’s premier programs in head and neck cancer care, research and education. Dr. St. John’s path in medicine began with a bachelor of science degree from Stanford University. She went on to earn both her medical degree and doctorate from Yale University School of Medicine, conducting doctoral research on the molecular underpinnings of cancer invasion and metastasis. She completed her general surgery internship, general surgery residency, head and neck surgery residency and postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA, where she refined her dual passions for surgical excellence and translational science. She later completed the Business of Medicine Certificate Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, further strengthening her skills in health care leadership and administration. From 2017 to 2025, Dr. St. John served as chair of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA, where she also held a secondary appointment as professor of bioengineering and co-directed the UCLA Head and Neck Cancer Program. She built and led a department recognized for its national ranking, its pioneering adoption of robotic and minimally invasive surgical technologies, and its strong culture of mentorship. Under Dr. St. John’s leadership, the department rose to the very top, becoming the #1 ranked ear, nose, and throat program in the country according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024–25 Best Hospitals rankings. During her tenure, Dr. St. John expanded the department’s research portfolio, strengthened interdisciplinary collaborations across engineering, oncology and the basic sciences, and championed diversity in faculty recruitment and trainee selection. Dr. St. John’s clinical expertise spans the full spectrum of head and neck oncologic surgery, including: Robotic and minimally invasive surgery for oropharyngeal, laryngeal and skull base tumors Robotic surgery of the head and neck Cancer of oral cavity, throat, oropharynx, tongue, tonsil, larynx and palate Neck masses (congenital, cancer) Complex skull base cancer resection and reconstruction Management of cutaneous malignancies, including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma Parotid and salivary gland tumor surgery Thyroid and parathyroid surgery Lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel node biopsy for cancer staging Advanced oral cavity and laryngeal reconstructive procedures   In addition to her clinical and academic leadership, Dr. St. John is deeply committed to global health. She has established long-term collaborations with institutions in Central America, India, China and the Middle East, where she has developed training programs, introduced advanced surgical techniques and partnered in research initiatives aimed at improving cancer outcomes in resource-limited settings. An accomplished mentor, Dr. St. John has trained and inspired a generation of residents, fellows and junior faculty, many of whom now serve in leadership roles nationally and internationally. Her dedication to mentorship, combined with her ability to unite diverse disciplines toward common goals, has cemented her reputation as a transformational figure in head and neck surgery.