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Biography

I am board certified in Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, and fellowship trained in Head & Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery.  I graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor degree in Economics, and completed medical school at Washington University in St. Louis.  Internship in surgery and residency in Otolaryngology were completed at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.  I completed advanced fellowship training in head and neck oncology surgery and microvascular reconstruction, and then practiced at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for five years.  Following this, our family relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I began a private practice with Advocate Aurora Healthcare at St Luke's Medical Center.

As a head and neck surgeon, I see patients with all types of tumors of the head and neck, and am involved in initial workup and treatment planning and coordination of subsequent care. I continue to see patients for long-term follow-up and cancer surveillance.  Care of patients with head and neck cancer is coordinated through a multidisciplinary tumor board conference, which meets weekly.  The philosophy of the clinic is to provide the best care and support possible for patients with head and neck diseases – through education, care coordination, and surgical expertise.  We treat patients how they want to be treated - which is, how we want to be treated.

The types of diseases we manage include tumors or cancers of the head and neck skin, mouth, throat, voice box, neck, salivary glands, or thyroid gland.  Procedures offered include cancer excision, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), laser microsurgery, free flap reconstruction procedures including bone or soft tissue, larynx-preserving surgical procedures, salvage surgery following prior radiation treatment, office-based ultrasound guided biopsies, and advanced thyroid cancer surgery.  

Significant expertise is established with oral cancer excision including glossectomy, mandibulectomy, and maxillectomy; oropharynx surgery including radical tonsillectomy and base of tongue resection; larynx surgery including minimally-invasive transoral excision, supraglottic laryngectomy, supracricoid partial laryngectomy, and total laryngectomy; parotidectomy, and thyroidectomy.  Reconstructive procedures include skin grafts, or flaps harvested from the submental neck, shoulder, chest, back, arm, forearm, thigh, or lower leg.

My past research and publications have focused on surgical margins in oral cancer surgery, pain management and quality of life after H&N surgery, conservation laryngeal surgery, and sentinel node biopsy in the head and neck. I have presented at numerous courses and national meetings on subjects related to head and neck cancer and reconstruction.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, and activities include sports, biking, hiking, and being outdoors, and woodworking.

I enjoy my area of practice because of the unique circumstances and complex challenges each patient presents with.  I listen to my patients to ensure that our cancer treatment discussions represent a mutual process of decision-making.  I take on the most challenging of situations, and enjoy working with our experienced team in delivering the best solutions for these problems.

Education & Training

2004-2008

MD, Washington University in St Louis

2008-2013

Residency, Otolaryngology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

2013-2014

Fellowship, Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Research Publications

- 2013 -
  Supracricoid partial laryngectomy for primary and recurrent laryngeal cancer. 

This series demonstrates excellent local control for both primary and recurrent laryngeal cancers, with functional larynx preservation. In appropriately staged and selected patients with T2 or T3 primary laryngeal cancer or laryngeal cancer following prior radiation treatment, SCPL should be considered as a treatment alternative to non-surgical treatment or total laryngectomy.

- 2014 -
Association of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy With Survival for Head and Neck Melanoma: Survival Analysis Using the SEER Database.

This SEER cohort analysis demonstrates no significant association between SLNB and improved disease-specific survival for patients with HNM.

What Patients Say

Doctor and Patient

Dr Sperry is a true professional. He saved my life with his talent and perfect surgical outcome. I am forever grateful. Thank you!

Doctor and Patient

Dr Sperry is very thorough with his followup visits! He's very pleasant to talk with.

Happy Patient

He was wonderful, as were the nurses, schedulers, everyone I've been connected with in his office.

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