Ryan M. Carey, MD

Otorhinolaryngology
Accepting new patients
Sees patients age 18 and up
Penn Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Perelman
Make an appointmentCall 800-789-7366
Headshot of Ryan M. Carey, MD
Penn Medicine Provider

About me

  • Assistant Professor of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

I am a head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania, where I provide comprehensive surgical care for patients with head and neck cancer. My clinical practice focuses on head and neck oncologic surgery, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), and microvascular reconstructive surgery.

I care for patients with a broad range of benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck, including complex and recurrent cancers, with particular expertise in cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, salivary glands, and skin. I believe in an individualized approach to cancer treatment, using minimally invasive techniques such as TORS when appropriate and advanced reconstructive techniques when needed. My goal is not only to provide effective cancer treatment, but also to preserve and restore important functions and appearance, with a focus on maintaining quality of life throughout treatment and recovery.

As a surgeon-scientist, my research is focused on developing new approaches to improve the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer. I lead a cancer neuroscience laboratory that studies interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, with a particular interest in G protein-coupled receptors, including taste receptors. Our work investigates how these receptors and their signaling pathways regulate cancer cell behavior and the immune response to cancer, with the goal of identifying new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

A major focus of my research program is translating discoveries from the laboratory into new treatments for patients. Our group is actively evaluating therapies developed through our laboratory research in clinical trials. I am the sponsor-investigator of a Phase I randomized clinical trial evaluating intratumoral lidocaine before TORS and neck dissection for patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (NCT06747390).

 

My education and training

  • Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
  • Residency: University of Pennsylvania Health System
  • Fellowship: University of Miami Hospital and Clinic
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Spoken languages

English
English

Reviews

Average Rating

236 reviews

Comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Penn Medicine.

Anonymous
July 2026
hes great at what he does , he explains in detail and makes sure you understand your options
Anonymous
July 2026
he was calm and listened to what i had to say.
Anonymous
July 2026
dr. carey has a good rapport with his patients and i enjoy talking to him about my health and interests.
Anonymous
July 2026
dr carey is great in so many ways!!

Insurance accepted

Please contact the practice and/or the member services department of your insurance company for specific details before receiving services. Providers may participate in some, but not all, products offered by a health plan; providers may also accept plans at some practice locations but not others.

Locations

Penn Medicine hospital privileges

  • Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania: Has privileges to treat patients in the hospital.
  • Pennsylvania Hospital: Has privileges to treat patients in the hospital.
  • Penn Presbyterian Medical Center: Has privileges to treat patients in the hospital.
Dr. Carey is a Penn Medicine physician.

Qualifications and experience

Treatments and conditions

Research

Publications

Polen K, Sywanycz S, Turner GM, Hill BL, Huang L, Miller ZA, Hanna C, Raghav L, Basu D, Lee RJ, Carey RM Cigarette Smoke Exposure Attenuates T2R-Mediated Apoptosis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma , Head & Neck: 2026

Lukens JN, Riina MD, Weinstein G, MacDuffie E, Ramkissoon A, Baron J, Berger M, Messing I, Gentile M, Maxwell R, Ojerholm E, Swisher-McClure S, Giron Santos A, Porier K, Basu D, Brody R, Cannady S, Carey RM, Chalian A, Newman J, Rajasekaran K, Rassekh C, Shanti R, Cohen RB, Singh A, Sun L, Montone K, Lin A Long-Term Results of a Phase II Clinical Trial of Radiation Volume and Dose De-intensification Following Transoral Robotic Surgery and Neck Dissection for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma , International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics: 2026

Polen K, Napole A, Turner GM, Brody RM, Carey RM Medicare Utilization and Reimbursement Trends for Free Flaps in Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, and Maxillofacial Surgery , Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: 2026

Miller ZA, Mueller A, Thompson JC, William JS, Park A, Darwich NF, Kouakou YI, Sywanycz SM, Buchler BL, Adappa ND, Palmer JN, Cohen NA, Carey RM, Lee RJ Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3-oxo-C12HSL-induced apoptosis involves bitter taste receptor T2R14 and the mitochondrial calcium uniporter , Cell Calcium: 2026,May

Miller ZA, Mueller A, Thompson JC, William JS, Park A, Darwich NF, Kouakou YI, Sywanycz SM, Buchler BL, Adappa ND, Palmer JN, Cohen NA, Carey RM, Lee RJ Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3-oxo-C12HSL-induced apoptosis involves bitter taste receptor T2R14 and the mitochondrial calcium uniporter , Cell Calcium: 2026,May

Wang SY, Turner G, Valdes-Morales KL, Hunter ER, Kim M, Tran VA, Polen K, Haynes D, Miller CJ, Etzkorn JR, Sobanko JF, Walker JL, Zhang J, Brody RM, Cannady SB, Rajasekaran K, Farwell DG, Miura JT, Karakousis GC, Lukens JR, Amaravadi RK, Schuchter LM, Mitchell TC, Higgins HW II, Carey RM Accuracy of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Head and Neck Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Predictors of Biopsy Failure and Nodal Metastasis , JAMA Otolaryngol: 2025

Sywanycz SM, Hill BL, Miller ZA, Turner G, Huang L, Polen K, Lee RJ, Carey RM T2R5 agonist phendione decreases cell viability and induces apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , Mol Cancer Ther: 2025

Kaki PC, Patel AM, Huang L, Turner G, Haleem A, Brant JA, Brody RM, Carey RM Treatment of Biopsy-Proven Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Situ , Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol, 10(5): 2025,e70267

Turner G, Sywanycz SM, Buchler BL, Wardlow RD, Lee RJ, Carey RM Quercetin as a Bitter Taste Receptor Agonist with Anticancer Effects in Head and Neck Cancer Cells , Nutrients, 17(20): 2025,3224

Kaki PC, Haleem A, Kaki PC, Lee JJ, Maxwell R, Brant JA, Brody RM, Carey RM Adjuvant radiotherapy in pT3–4N0M0 major salivary gland cancer without other adverse features , Am J Otolaryngol, 46(5): 2025,104628

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