For Indian American plastic surgeon Dr. Shaun Desai, the journey to the top of his field has been defined by a relentless drive to restore both form and function to his patients. Now, that journey is bringing him full circle.
New York Medical College (NYMC) and Westchester Medical Center have announced the appointment of Desai as the new chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, effective this April.
Desai, a Poughkeepsie native, returns to his Hudson Valley roots following an eleven-year tenure at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. While his resume is decorated with titles, Associate Professor, Medical Director, and Associate Residency Program Director, those who know his work describe him first as a dedicated healer and a mentor.
“Our patients are at the heart of every decision we make,” said Dr. David Lubarsky, president and CEO of WMCHealth. He noted that Desai’s arrival strengthens the care delivered in the region, particularly through his “extraordinary skill” in complex reconstruction.
Desai’s career has been shaped by the belief that surgery is as much an art as it is a science. At Johns Hopkins, he performed thousands of operations, specializing in microvascular reconstruction and facial plastic surgery.
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His move to NYMC is a homecoming that promises to bridge elite academic research with compassionate clinical care. Dr. Neil W. Schluger, dean of the NYMC School of Medicine, highlighted Desai’s “distinguished record” in medical education, noting his deep investment in training the next generation of physicians.
This passion for mentorship was previously recognized by his peers and students at Johns Hopkins, where he received the George T. Nager Faculty Teaching Award.
Beyond the operating table, Desai has been a pioneer in patient safety. He led quality improvement efforts that boosted success rates for microvascular reconstruction to over 97%. He also edited a definitive textbook for trainees, ensuring his techniques and philosophies reach surgeons far beyond his own department.
Desai’s path began at The George Washington University, where he completed a prestigious seven-year combined medical program. After rigorous residency and fellowship training in St. Louis, he became dual-board certified.
He succeeds Dr. Augustine Moscatello, who has led the department since 2016. As Desai steps into this leadership role, he brings with him a national reputation, including a spot on Newsweek’s “Top 100 Plastic Surgeons” list, and a personal mission to elevate the standard of care for the community that raised him.