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Craniofacial

Michael L. Cunningham, MD, PhD

Michael L. Cunningham, MD, PhD

Chief, Division of Craniofacial Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital

Associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, UW School of Medicine

Dr. Michael L. Cunningham joined Seattle Children's Hospital in 1991. He is medical director of Seattle Children's Craniofacial Center and holds the Jean Renny Endowed Chair in Craniofacial Medicine. He is also adjunct associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the School of Dentistry in the departments of Biological Structures, Oral Biology and Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Cunningham's clinical interests focus on the diagnosis and long-term interdisciplinary care of children with craniofacial malformations, with a particular interest in craniosynostosis. He is co-investigator on several clinical research projects, ranging from the epidemiology of positional plagiocephaly to the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Cunningham's basic molecular and developmental biology lab has been open since 1993 and is investigating the molecular causes of craniosynostosis and developmental pathogenesis of midface hypoplasia associated with syndromic craniosynostosis.

Board Certified: Pediatrics

Medical School: University of Vermont; University of Washington, Seattle

Residency: University of Washington, Seattle

Fellowship: Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle

Recent interviews/coverage:

To schedule an interview with Dr. Cunningham, please contact the Public Relations department.

Richard A. Hopper, MD

Richard A. Hopper, MD

Division Chief, Plastic Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital

Clinical Surgical Director, Craniofacial Program, Seattle Children's Hospital

Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, UW School of Medicine

Dr. Richard Hopper joined Seattle Children's Hospital in 2001. Dr. Hopper's clinical practice focuses on the surgical treatment of cleft lip and palate, craniosynostosis and rare and severe birth deformities of the bones and soft tissues of the face. He has worked to standardize a two-year CT scan protocol for patients undergoing cranial vault expansion for the treatment of craniosynostosis. The database now has 60 patients with complete data, and will increase by about 60 patients per year. Seattle Children's also has the second-largest clinical database on external midface distraction in the country. Dr. Hopper and his colleagues have used this data to complete studies on generate bone formation, long-term 3D stability and psychosocial impact.

Board Certified: Plastic Surgery (Non-ABMS)

Medical School: Memorial University of Newfoundland

Residency: University of Toronto

Fellowship: New York University Medical Center

To schedule an interview with Dr. Hopper, please contact the Public Relations department.

Recent interviews/coverage

Joseph S. Gruss, MD

Joseph S. Gruss, MD

Chief of Craniofacial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital

Professor, Department of Surgery, UW School of Medicine

Dr. Joseph S. Gruss joined Seattle Children's Hospital in 1991. He is the first holder of the Marlys C. Larson Endowed Chair in Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery. He earned his MD in Johannesburg, South Africa and completed general and plastic surgery training as well as a fellowship in head and neck oncological and craniofacial surgery. He came to Seattle Children's in 1991 to establish a state-of-the-art craniofacial surgical program; the Craniofacial Center is now the busiest program of its type in North America. He has pioneered the application of craniofacial techniques to the care of facial trauma and the use of rigid internal fixation of the craniofacial skeleton. In addition he has pioneered numerous techniques in the field of infant cleft and craniofacial surgery. He has supervised and trained fellows from all over the world and is a regular teacher in North America, Europe and the Far East.

Board Certified: Plastic Surgery

Medical School: Johannesburg, South Africa

Residency: Johannesburg, South Africa

Recent interviews/coverage:

To schedule an interview with Dr. Gruss, please contact the Public Relations department.