Dr. Leila Musavi's CV

Post-Doctoral Training

07/2025-06/2026 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Plastic Surgery Service, New York, NY
Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery Fellowship
Program Director: Evan Matros, MD, MPH, MMSc

06/2019-06/2025 University of California Los Angeles, Division of Plastic Surgery, Los Angeles, CA
Integrated Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Residency
Division Chief: Andrew Da Lio, MD

Education

08/2015-05/2019 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Doctor of Medicine

09/2011-05/2015 Columbia University, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts, Biochemistry
Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Awards and Leadership

2025 1st Place Resident Research Award, UCLA Plastic Surgery

2024 Residency Education Coordinator, UCLA Plastic Surgery

2023 UCLA Institutional Lead, West Coast Plastic Surgery Mentorship Program

2023 Resident & Fellow Committee, Association of Women Surgeons

2022 Class Representative, Graduate Medical Education Committee

2019 American Association of Plastic Surgeons Cannon Student Scholarship

2017 1st Place Basic Science Presentation, American College of Surgeons

2017 Director, Women in Surgery Interest Group, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

2017 Community Outreach Chair, Charm City Care Connection

2017 Academic Chair, Nathans College at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

2016 Dean's Summer Research Fund, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

2015 Phi Beta Kappa Early Inductee, top 2% of graduating class, Columbia University

2015 Thomas J. Katz Award, top graduating student in biochemistry, Columbia University

2014 Societe de Chimie Industrielle Fellowship, Columbia University

2013 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Columbia University

2011 National Winner, Innovation in Water Prize

2011 2nd place, National Stockholm Junior Water Prize

2011 1st place in New England, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

Professional Memberships

2023-present Candidate Member, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery

2022-2025 Resident Member, American College of Surgeons

2022-2025 Resident Member, Association of Women Surgeons

2019-2025 Resident Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Research Experience

07/2025-present Division of Plastic Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, NY

Principal Investigators: Robert Allen Jr, MD and Evan Matros, MD, MPH, MMSc
Analysis of long-term patient-reported and functional outcomes in fibula free flap reconstruction of the jaw. Manuscript in preparation.

Principal Investigator: Michelle Coriddi, MD
Evaluation of anastomotic technique in immediate lymphatic reconstruction for the prevention of lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Manuscript in preparation.
Invited review of "Lymphedema: diagnosis, prevention and management" to be published in Surgical Oncology Clinics.

06/2019-present Division of Plastic Surgery, UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital, Los Angeles, CA

Principal Investigator: Michael Delong, MD
Analysis of national outcomes in pre-pectoral breast reconstruction using NSQIP Breast Reconstruction Pilot Database. Manuscripts in preparation.
Analysis of outcomes in pre-pectoral breast reconstruction and evaluation of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols. Abstracts presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the 2024 Meeting of the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. Manuscripts published in Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery.

Principal Investigator: Justine Lee, MD PhD
Systematic reviews of local/regional anesthesia and perioperative antibiotic use in cleft surgeries. Manuscript published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Review of perioperative antibiotic use in cleft palate surgery. Manuscript published in Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal.

Principal Investigator: Jon Mallen St Clair, MD, PhD
Analysis of outcomes in mandibulectomy patients undergoing reconstruction with fibula free flaps and immediate osseo-integrated dental implants. Abstract presented at the 2023 California Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Manuscript published in Laryngoscope.

Principal Investigators: Paris Butler, MD, MPH and Wendy Chen, MD
Evaluation of gender and ethnic diversity among microsurgery trainees. Abstract presented at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Manuscript published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open.

04/2016-09/2020 Department of Plastic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD

Principal Investigators: Amir Dorafshar, MBChB; Jordan Steinberg, MD PhD
Assessed the role of virtual surgical planning on operative outcomes and surgeon training in cranial vault remodeling and cranioplasty.
Manuscripts published in Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.

Principal Investigators: Justin Sacks, MD MBA; Oluseyi Aliu, MD
Evaluated the impact of insurance status and hospital volume on surgical outcomes after head and neck microsurgical reconstruction.
Manuscripts published in American Journal of Surgery and Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.

Principal Investigators: WP Andrew Lee, MD; Joseph Lopez, MD
Assessed the neuro-induction potential of muscle-derived stem cells and their use for cellular therapy in nerve regeneration.
Presentation at American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress awarded 1st Place Basic Science Presentation among medical students.
Manuscripts published in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

01/2013-05/2015 Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY

Principal Investigator: Brent Stockwell, Ph.D.
Investigated the modulation of fatty acid synthesis in programmed cell death and synthesized small molecule KRAS inhibitors for pharmacological control of GTPase function.
Manuscripts published in Biochemistry and American Chemical Society Chemical Biology.

05/2012-08/2012 Public Health and Community Outreach, Xylem, Inc.

Principal Investigator: Keith Teichmann, M.S.
Analyzed heavy metal and bacteriological groundwater contamination in India. Developed GIS map and published company report on field-testing sites for a new water filtration system.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts

1. Bastien A, Lee J, Kupferman S, Donitza A, Dovida A, Amin L, Vasquez M, Musavi L, Patel H, Chen M, Walgama E, Zumsteg Z, Ho A, Mallen-St. Clair, J. Dental Prosthetic Rehabilitation in Mandibular Reconstruction: Optimizing Timing & Patient Selection. Laryngoscope. 2025 Mar. Online ahead of print.
2. Musavi L, Malapati SH, Hemal K, Chen W, Broach R, Yost M, Butler P. Diversity in the United States Academic Microsurgery Pathway. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024 Nov; 12(11):e6282.
3. Anderson L, Fung K, Lee Y, Musavi L, Alnaseri T, Demirjian M, Kwan L, Crisera C, Festekjian J, DeLong MR. Evaluation of Prepectoral Reconstruction Surgical Outcomes: Main Operating Room vs Ambulatory Surgery Center. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2024 Sept; 98:406-413.
4. Alnaseri T, Musavi L, Deming T, Roostaeian J, Da Lio A, Mason TG, DeLong MR. The Surfactant Properties of Clindamycin as a Useful Adjunct for Removing Ruptured Silicone Implants. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024 Sept; 12(9):e6176.
5. Musavi L, Bingham EJ, Anderson L, Alnaseri T, Demerjian M, Kwan L, Crisera C, Festekjian J, DeLong MR. Impact of Mastectomy Flap Necrosis on Pre-Pectoral Reconstructive Outcomes. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2024 Apr; 91:128-134
6. Pfaff MJ, Nolan I, Musavi L, Bertrand A, Alford J, Krishna B, Arowojolu O, Zhu X, Lee JC. Perioperative Pain Management in Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2022 Jul; 150(1): 145-156.
7. Xun H, Yesantharao P, Musavi L, Wang H, Quan A, Tammia M, Cetinkaya-Fisgin A, Hoke A, Brandacher G, Lee WPA, Lopez J. The Efficacy of Schwann-Like Differentiated Muscle-Derived Stem Cells in Treating Rodent Upper Extremity Peripheral Nerve Injury. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021 Oct; 148(4):787-798.
8. Pfaff MJ, Musavi L, Wang MM, Haveles CS, Liu C, Rezzadeh K, Lee JC. Oral Flora and Perioperative Antimicrobial Interventions in Cleft Palate Surgery: A Review of the Literature. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2021 Aug;58(8):990-998.
9. Musavi L, Fadavi D, He W, Sacks JM, Aliu O. Impact of payer status and hospital volume on outcomes after head and neck oncologic reconstruction. Am J Surg. 2021 Jul;222(1):173-178.
10. Musavi L, Chin P, Pfaff MJ, Fadavi D, Aliu O, Yang R. Treatment of Facial Fractures at Safety Net Hospitals: A National Analysis of Inpatient Burden and Cost. J Craniofacial surg. 2021 June. 32(4):1413-1416.
11. Sarmiento S, McColl M, Musavi L, Gani F, Canner J, Jacobs L, Fu F, Siotos C, Habibi M. Male breast cancer: a closer look at patient and tumor characteristics and factors that affect survival using the National Cancer Database. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2020 Apr;180(2):471-479.
12. Musavi L, Lopez J, Cho R, Siegel N, Seal S, Dorafshar A, Steinberg J. Infectious Complications after Open Cranial Vault Remodeling for Craniosynostosis: A Single Institution's Experience and A Systematic Review of the Literature. J Craniofacial Surg. 2020 Jan/Feb;31(1):32-36.
13. Cho R, Lopez J, Musavi L, Kachniarz B, Macmillan A, Badiei B, Bello R, Dorafshar A. Computer-Assisted Design and Manufacturing Assists Less Experienced Surgeons in Achieving Equivalent Outcomes in Cranial Vault Reconstruction. J Craniofacial Surg. 2019 Oct;30(7):2034-2038.
14. Musavi L, Wang H, Darrach H, Steinberg JP. Extension of the Question Mark Temporal Craniectomy Trauma Incision for Delayed Cranioplasty. J Craniofacial Surg. 2019 Oct;30(7):2296.
15. Lopez J, Xin K, Quan A, Xinan K, Leto AA, Budihardjo J, Musavi L, Mulla S, Ibrahim Z, Mao HQ, Lee WPA, Brandacher G. Poly (e-caprolactone) Nanofiber Nerve Wrap Improves Nerve Regeneration And Functional Outcomes After Delayed Nerve Repair. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Jul;144(1):48e-57e.
16. Musavi L, Macmillan A, Lopez J, Dorafshar A. Using Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) for Autogenous, Split Calvarial Bone Graft-based Cranioplasty: Optimizing Reconstruction of Large, Complex Skull Defects. J Craniofacial Surg. 2019 Mar;30(2):347-351.
17. Musavi L, Brandacher G, Hoke A, Darrach H, Lee WPA, Kumar A, Lopez J. Muscle-derived stem cells: important players in peripheral nerve repair. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2018 Dec; 22(12): 1009-1016.
18. Kattail D, Macmillan A, Musavi L, Pedreira R, Faateh M, Cho R, Lopez J, Dorafshar A. Pain Management for Non-Syndromic Craniosynostosis: Adequate Analgesia in a Pediatric Cohort? J Craniofacial Surg. 2018 Jul; 29(5):1148-1153.
19. Musavi L, Macmillan A, Pedreira R, Lopez J, Dorafshar A, Dellon AL. Resection of the Posterior, Middle, and Anterior Superior Alveolar Nerves and Infraorbital Nerve Neurolysis for Refractory Maxillary Pain. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2018 Jun; 76(6):1175-1180.
20. Zhang Y, Larraufie MH, Musavi L, Akkiraju H, Brown L, Stockwell B. Design of small molecules that compete with nucleotide binding to an engineered oncogenic KRAS allele. ACS Biochem. 2018 Feb 27;57(8):1380-1389.
21. Iyer RR, Wu A, Macmillan A, Musavi L, Cho R, Lopez J, Jallo GI, Dorafshar A, Ahn ES. Use of Computer-assisted Design and Manufacturing to Localize Dural Venous Sinuses During Reconstructive Surgery for Craniosynostosis. Child's Nervous System. 2018 Jan;34(1):137-142.
22. Lopez J, Musavi L, Quan A, Calotta N, Juan I, Park A, Tufaro A, May Jr J, Dorafshar A. Trends, Frequency, and Nature of Surgeon Reported Conflicts of Interest in Plastic Surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Oct;140(4):852-861.
23. Dixon, SJ, Winter GE, Musavi L, Lee E, Snijder B, Rebsamen M, Furga GS, Stockwell BR. Human Haploid Cell Genetics Reveals Roles for Lipid Metabolism Genes in Nonapoptotic Cell Death. ACS Chem. Biol. 2015 Jul 17;10(7):1604-9.
24. Davis D, Guo X, Musavi L, Ling C, Chen S, Wu VCH. Gold-nanoparticle-modified Carbon Electrode Biosensor for the Detection of Listeria monocytogenes. Industrial Biotechnology. 2013 Feb, 9(1): 31-36.

Book Chapters

1. Moghaddam S, Musavi L. The Operating Room. In: Facial Feminization Surgery. Springer; 2025.
2. Musavi L, Dorafshar A. Virtual Surgical Planning in Head and Neck Reconstruction: Cranium. In: Computer-Assisted Planning in Craniofacial Surgery. Elsevier; 2024.

Presentations

1. Poster. Musavi L, Bingham EJ, Anderson L, Alnaseri T, Demerjian M, Kwan L, Crisera C, Festekjian J, DeLong MR. Impact of Mastectomy Flap Necrosis on Pre-Pectoral Reconstructive Outcomes. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Meeting. Nassau, Bahamas. January 12-16, 2024.
2. Oral. Musavi L, Anderson L, Lee S, Fung K, Demerjian M, Kwan L, Slack G, Festekjian J, Crisera C, Delong M. Evaluation of Pre-Pectoral Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: Main Operating Room vs Ambulatory Surgery Center. 92nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Austin, TX. Oct 26-29, 2023.
3. Oral. Musavi L, Bastien A, Patel H, Ghosh D, Itamura K, Mallen-St. Clair J. Expanding Indications for Jaw in a Day Surgery. California Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. May 26-28, 2023.
4. Oral. Musavi L, Malapati SH, Hemal K, Chen W, Broach R, Butler P. The Diversity Leadership Pipeline Among Microsurgery Fellowship Graduates in the United States. California Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. May 26-28, 2023.
5. Poster. Musavi L, Bastien A, Patel H, Ghosh D, Itamura K, Mallen-St. Clair J. Expanding Indications for Jaw in a Day Surgery. American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Meeting. Miami, FL. Jan 20-24, 2023.
6. Oral. Musavi L, Hemal K, Chen W, Broach R, Butler P. The Diversity Leadership Pipeline Among Microsurgery Fellowship Graduates in the United States. 91st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Boston, MA. Oct 27-30, 2022.
7. Oral. Musavi L, Fadavi D, He W, Sacks JM, Aliu O. Do Hospital Volume and Insurance Status Impact Head & Neck Reconstruction? A 2002-2015 National Inpatient Sample Analysis. 64th Annual Meeting of the Plastic Surgery Research Council. Baltimore, MD. May 2-5, 2019.
8. Oral. Yesantharao P, Xun H, Musavi L, Wang H, Quan A, Tammia M, Cetinkaya-Fisgin A, Hoke A, Brandacher G, Lee WPA, Lopez J. Molecular and Genetic Characterization of Functional Schwann-Cell Like Cells (iMDSCs) Transformed from Muscle Derived Stem Cells. 64th Annual Meeting of the Plastic Surgery Research Council. Baltimore, MD. May 2-5, 2019.
9. Poster. Musavi L, Fadavi D, He W, Sacks JM, Aliu O. Temporal Trends in Head & Neck Cancer Reconstruction - The Impact of Hospital Volume and Insurance Status. 98th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons. Baltimore, MD. April 6-9, 2019.
10. Oral. Musavi L, Sarmiento S, Sacks JM, Aliu O. Major Pulmonary Complications after Head & Neck Reconstruction: Impact of Hospital Volume and Insurance Status. 35th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons. Boston, MA. Oct 26-Oct 28, 2018.
11. Poster. Musavi L, Lopez J, Cho R, Siegel N, Seal S, Dorafshar A, Steinberg J. Infection After Open Cranial Vault Reconstruction for Craniosynostosis: Institutional Analysis and Systematic Review. 35th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons. Boston, MA. Oct 26-Oct 28, 2018.
12. Oral. Musavi L, Sarmiento S, Sacks JM, Aliu O. Impact of Hospital Volume and Insurance Status on Complications after Head & Neck Oncologic Reconstruction. 87th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Chicago, IL. Sept 28-Oct 1, 2018.
13. Oral. Lopez J, Xun H, Yesantharao P, Musavi L, Sinan KX, Wang HD, Quan A, Tammia M, Cetinkaya-Fisgin A, Hoke A, Brandacher G, Lee WPA, Kumar A. Schwann-Cell-like Cells (iMDSC) Differentiated from Muscle-derived Stem Cells (MDSC) Improve Neuromuscular Re-innervation and Functional Outcomes After Rodent Upper Extremity Nerve Trauma. 63rd Annual Meeting of the Plastic Surgery Research Council. Birmingham, AL. May 17-20th, 2018.
14. Poster. Musavi L, Lopez J, Escalante J, Quan A, Tammia M, Wang H, Brandacher G, Hoke A, Lee WPA, Kumar A. A Modified Approach to Induce Differentiation of Muscle-Derived Stem Cells: Implications for Re-myelination Therapy. 2017 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons. San Diego, CA. Oct 22-26, 2017.
15. Poster. Lopez J, Musavi L, Quan A, Calotta N, Juan I, Park A, May JW Jr, Tufaro AP, Dorafshar AH. Frequency of Surgeon-Reported Conflicts-of-Interests in the Plastic Surgery Literature. 96th Annual American Association of Plastic Surgeons Meeting. Austin, TX. Mar 25-28, 2017.
16. Poster. Macmillan A, Deepa K, Muhammad F, Pedreira R, Musavi L, Cho R, Lopez J, Dorafshar A. Craniosynostosis Surgery: A Painless Procedure? A Single Institution's Experience in Post Operative Pain Management. 96th Annual American Association of Plastic Surgeons Meeting. Austin, TX. Mar 25-28, 2017.
17. Oral. Lopez J, Musavi L, Alonso-Escalante J, Quan A, Markus T, Wang H, Guo Q, Brandacher G, Lee WPA, Hoke A, Kumar A. Muscle-Derived Stem Cells (MDSCs) Can Transform Into Schwann Cell-like Cells: Preliminary Studies Assessing the Phenotype and Functional Myelination Properties of MDSCs In-vitro. 7th Annual American Cleft-Palate-Craniofacial Association. Colorado Springs, CO. Mar 13-18, 2017.

Teaching Experience

06/2023-06/2025 Residency Education Coordinator, UCLA Plastic Surgery

09/2022-09/2024 UCLA Institutional Lead, West Coast Plastic Surgery Mentorship Program

01/2015-05/2015 Teaching Assistant, Molecular Biology, Columbia University

09/2014-12/2014 Teaching Assistant, Biochemistry, Columbia University

Languages

English - Native speaker, full professional proficiency

Spanish - Fluent, professional working proficiency

Persian - Native speaker, full professional proficiency