SUMMARY
Michael L. Hinni, M.D., specializes in minimally invasive surgical approaches for head and neck cancers, including transoral laser microsurgery and transoral robotic surgery. Dr. Hinni played a key role in bringing transoral laser microsurgery to North America, which helped lower complication rates and shorten hospital stays for people with pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers. His work emphasizes organ-preserving techniques, margin assessment and multidisciplinary care for complex head and neck malignancies, such as human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer.
Dr. Hinni contributes to clinical trials assessing de‑escalated adjuvant therapy and mucosal‑sparing radiation to evaluate approaches that maintain oncological control and support functional outcomes. His efforts also include surgical instrument development and international education initiatives that advance head and neck cancer care.
Focus areas
- Minimally invasive transoral surgery. Dr. Hinni advances transoral laser microsurgery and robot‑assisted techniques for the treatment of head and neck cancers. These approaches enable tumor removal through the mouth without external incisions, supporting reduced complications, shorter recovery times, and preservation of speech and swallowing functions.
- HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer treatment. Dr. Hinni contributes to research on treatment de‑escalation for HPV-associated cancers, including clinical trials evaluating reduced‑dose radiation after surgery. This work examines strategies to maintain oncological control while limiting long‑term effects such as swallowing difficulties and dry mouth.
- Margin mapping and surgical precision. Dr. Hinni develops and applies protocols for intraoperative margin analysis in transoral surgery to help ensure complete tumor removal while preserving healthy tissue. These approaches contribute to current standards for oncological safety in minimally invasive procedures.
- Multidisciplinary care and education. As a program director and international educator, Dr. Hinni trains surgeons in advanced transoral techniques. He organizes global courses and collaborates on guideline development to enhance surgical outcomes and patient care.
- Innovation in surgical instrumentation. Dr. Hinni co‑invented a spreadable laryngoscope, which is commercially available, that improves exposure for complex transoral procedures. This device supports greater surgical access and safety.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Hinni's research helps people with head and neck cancers avoid large, open surgeries that can require a breathing tube and long hospital stays. By using less invasive surgical techniques, patients often recover more quickly, have less pain, and are more likely to keep their normal speech and swallowing. He also studies ways to safely lower radiation doses after surgery, which can reduce long‑term side effects and support a better quality of life for cancer survivors.
Professional highlights
- Mayo Clinic:
- Program director, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Residency, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, 2005-present.
- Chair, Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, 2014-2023.
- Distinguished Educator Award, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 2020.
- Associate editor, Frontiers in Oncology, 2022-present.
- Section editor, Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, 2012-present.
- German Society of Oto‑Rhino‑Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery:
- Corresponding member, 2022.
- Honorary member, 2022.
- Vice presidential citation, The Triological Society, 2022.
- Steven A. Leibel Memorial Award, American Society for Radiation Oncology and American Board of Radiology Foundation, 2021.
- E. Grey Dimond, M.D., Take Wing Award, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 2018.