General Info

Kerstin M. Stenson, MD, FACS, is a head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgeon. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Rush University Medical Center and is a Professor in Rush Medical College. She also serves as Chief of the Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and is the Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Program at Rush. Dr. Stenson is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is a fellow of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) and American College of Surgeons. She completed her residency at University of Illinois and her fellowship in Head and Neck oncologic and microvascular surgery at the University of Michigan. She began her career at University of Chicago in 1994 where she was the director of the Head Cancer Program and was recruited to Rush in 2014. Dr. Stenson has co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, invited reviews and book chapters, and has delivered more than 75 lectures nationally. She was appointed to the Head and Neck journal editorial board in 2011 and serves as a reviewer for multiple scientific journals. She has several academic distinctions including Recipient of Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) “Woman with Vision Award”, Past President of Chicago Laryngology and Otology Society (CL&O), American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Honor Award, University of Chicago Medicine Distinguished Clinician Award and recognized by Chicago Magazine in “Top Cancer Doctors” from 2015-2020. Dr. Stenson’s philosophy to the care of head and neck cancer patients is three-fold: a team approach to cancer treatment provides the most exceptional care; every patient is unique and should never feel like a number; and there is always something a doctor can do to help a patient. Her special clinical interests include management of head and neck benign and malignant tumors, thyroid and skin cancer, complications from chemoradiation, recurrent tumors and complex head and neck wounds.