About

Hilary McCrary, MD, MPH, is a surgeon at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Utah. She is board-certified in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and fellowship trained in head and neck surgical oncology, microvascular reconstruction, and advanced robotic surgery by the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS). Originally from rural Castle Valley, Utah, she graduated cum laude from the University of Arizona. Her early work abroad in Tanzania, focusing on increasing access to HIV testing and education, sparked her interest in public health, leading her to pursue a Master of Public Health and subsequently a Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Arizona. During medical school, she was inducted into both the Gold Humanism Honor Society and the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society. After completing her residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery in Utah, she developed a passion for caring for head and neck cancer patients, influenced by her mentors and the impact of the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Her fellowship at The Ohio State University provided extensive training in complex ablation, microvascular reconstruction, and robotic surgery, working with leading experts in the field. Her clinical interests include oropharyngeal carcinoma, paragangliomas, and complex microvascular reconstruction. With a background in public health and biostatistics, her research primarily utilizes large datasets such as the Utah Populations Database to elucidate trends in head and neck cancer. She also has a strong interest in surgical education, having completed a Surgical Education Research Fellowship, and has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and numerous book chapters. Dr. McCrary actively participates in national committees focused on improving head and neck cancer care and education through the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. She is dedicated to giving back to her home state of Utah as a head and neck surgeon.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Surgery
• Internal medicine
• Orthodontics
• Radiology
• Biology
• Family medicine
• Oncology
• Dentistry
• General surgery

Selected publications

• Transcervical Enucleation of a Giant Cervicothoracic Intramural Esophageal Spindle Cell Tumor

  Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports · 2026-04-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Redefining Research Productivity: Rethinking Applicant Evaluation With the Arms Race Control Score

  Otolaryngology · 2026-04-06

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVES: The residency application "arms race" for research productivity has intensified following the Step 1 pass/fail transition, with applicants increasingly evaluated by total publication counts. The Total Number of Residency Applicant Publications (TNRAP) has become the dominant metric but doesn't consider authorship position or study quality, leading to inflated and misleading measures of productivity. This study evaluates the Arms Race Control Score (ARCS), a novel effort-adjusted metric, compared to TNRAP in assessing otolaryngology residency applicants. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: National sample of otolaryngology residency applicants across 5 application cycles (2020-2024). METHODS: A total of 542 matched applicants from 30 programs (10 per US News ranking tier) with PubMed-indexed publications were analyzed. ARCS was calculated by weighting publications by study type, authorship position, and journal impact factor. Trends in TNRAP, cumulative Publication Value Units (cPVU), match characteristics, and ARCS were compared using t-tests, Pearson correlation, and ROC analysis. RESULTS: TNRAP rose significantly from 2020 to 2024 (mean 5.0-8.0; P = .002), while ARCS remained stable (mean ≈ 10; P = .055). ARCS re-ranked 64% to 98% of applicants annually and provided greater discrimination among applicants with identical TNRAP values. ROC analysis demonstrated that ARCS outperformed TNRAP in predicting top 10 match status. CONCLUSIONS: ARCS better reflects research effort and quality than raw counts, offering fairer applicant stratification and stronger predictive consistency for competitive matches. ARCS may mitigate superficial publication, promote meaningful scholarly engagement, and restore balance to the current "arms race" while offering an equitable framework.

  PublisherDOI

• Association Between Postoperative NSAID Use and Bleeding Following Transoral Robotic Surgery

  Otolaryngology · 2026-04-30

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and outcomes of NSAID use following transoral robotic surgery (TORS). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using propensity score matching. SETTING: Multi-institutional database (TriNetX). METHODS: Patients undergoing TORS were identified using ICD-10 codes. Two propensity-matched cohorts were compared: (1) patients receiving NSAIDs (ketorolac, celecoxib, ibuprofen) within 14 days postsurgery (n = 3639) versus controls (n = 3639) and (2) patients receiving ketorolac day-of-surgery (n = 1901) versus controls (n = 1901). Primary outcome was postoperative hemorrhage. Secondary outcomes included critical care admission, emergency department visit, and feeding device placement within 14 days. RESULTS: Postoperative bleeding rates were similar between NSAID and control groups (P = .150). Patients treated with NSAIDs had lower rates of critical care admission (P < .001) and feeding tube placement (P < .001). Emergency department visits showed no significant difference (P = .813). Day-of-surgery ketorolac versus control showed no increased bleeding (P = .460). Ketorolac patients demonstrated significantly lower rates of critical care admission (P < .001) and feeding tube placement (P < .001), with no increase in emergency department visits (P = .312). CONCLUSION: NSAID administration following TORS was not associated with increased postoperative hemorrhage. NSAID use was associated with reduced critical care utilization and feeding tube requirements. These findings support the safety of NSAIDs in multimodal analgesia protocols for TORS patients.

  PublisherDOI

• Global multi-ancestry genome-wide analyses identify genes and biological pathways associated with thyroid cancer and benign thyroid diseases

  Nature Genetics · 2026-02-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Thyroid diseases are common and highly heritable. We performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies from 19 biobanks for five thyroid diseases: thyroid cancer (ThC), benign nodular goiter, Graves' disease, lymphocytic thyroiditis and primary hypothyroidism. We analyzed genetic association data from ~2.9 million genomes and identified 313 known and 570 new independent loci linked to thyroid diseases. We discovered genetic correlations between ThC, benign nodular goiter and autoimmune thyroid diseases (rg = 0.16-0.97). Telomere maintenance genes contributed to benign and malignant thyroid nodular disease risk, whereas cell cycle, DNA repair and damage response genes were associated with ThC. We propose a paradigm that explains genetic predisposition to benign and malignant thyroid nodules. We found polygenic risk score associations with ThC risk of structural disease recurrence, tumor size, multifocality, lymph node metastases and extranodal extension. Polygenic risk scores identified individuals with aggressive ThC in a biobank, creating an opportunity for genetically informed population screening.

  PublisherDOI

• A Bear of a Case: Multidisciplinary Reconstruction Following a Grizzly Bear Mauling

  Clinical Case Reports · 2026-01-23

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Grizzly bear attacks are rare but often result in devastating craniofacial injuries requiring staged, multidisciplinary reconstruction. A 61-year-old male sustained extensive facial trauma, including complete lower lip avulsion and anterior mandibular loss, after a grizzly bear attack. He underwent early stabilization followed by virtual surgical planning-guided fibula free flap reconstruction with immediate dental implants, and a radial forearm free flap incorporating palmaris tendon to restore oral competence. The patient's postoperative course was uncomplicated and he was decannulated and discharged. At 6 months, he underwent vestibuloplasty and delayed dental prosthesis placement. Due to insufficient lip height, a custom magnetic lower lip prosthesis was fabricated to improve function and appearance. This case demonstrates a successful multidisciplinary approach to complex facial trauma, combining microvascular reconstruction, immediate dental rehabilitation, and prosthetic innovation to achieve functional and aesthetic recovery following a rare animal mauling.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Awake <scp>ECMO</scp> for Mid‐Tracheal Obstruction: When a Tracheostomy Isn't Enough

  Clinical Case Reports · 2026-01-28 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Awake VV-ECMO can be a life-saving strategy for patients with near-complete tracheal obstruction where tracheostomy and intubation are not feasible. Early multidisciplinary coordination enables safe airway control, tumor debulking, and stenting, facilitating both immediate stabilization and long-term oncologic planning.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Risk Analysis Index Outperforms the Modified Frailty Index in Predicting Outcomes in Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy

  Otolaryngology · 2026-01-19 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: In an aging population, patients undergoing thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy are at an increased risk of adverse outcomes; thus, measuring patient frailty is a key metric to assess risk. This study innovatively compares the utility of the Risk Analysis Index (RAI) with the 5-factor Modified Frailty Index (mFI-5) in predicting adverse postoperative outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: US hospitals. METHODS: Patients undergoing thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy procedures were selected from the 2005 to 2020 NSQIP data set. RAI and mFI-5 frailty scores were calculated and stratified: non-frail (RAI: <21/mFI-5: <1), pre-frail (RAI: 21-30/mFI-5: 1), frail (RAI: 31-40/mFI-5: 2), and severely frail (RAI: 40+/mFI-5: 3-5) categories. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, followed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, to evaluate the comparative discriminative thresholds of the indices. RESULTS: A cohort of 30,362 patients was identified with a median age of 56 years. Multivariate odds ratios showed that both indices were significant independent predictors of mortality (RAI: 15.508, P < .001; mFI-5: 10.713, P < .001), extended length of stay (eLOS) (RAI: 9.480, P < .001; mFI-5: 7.952, P < .001), non-home discharge (RAI: 15.897, P < .001; mFI-5: 9.346, P < .001), and Clavien-Dindo (CD) II complications (RAI: 7.130, P < .001; mFI-5: 3.760, P < .001). ROC analysis demonstrated significantly superior discrimination by the RAI for mortality (0.769 vs 0.650, P = .022), eLOS (0.712 vs 0.596, P < .001), non-home discharge (0.763 vs 0.639, P < .001), CD II (0.739 vs 0.566, P < .001), CD IIIb (0.644 vs 0.587, P = .002), CD IV (0.707 vs 0.622, P < .001), and organ/space infection (0.719 vs 0.519, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Both the RAI and mFI-5 frailty indices are comparable, significant predictors of adverse events in thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy. The RAI demonstrated superior discrimination for predicting postoperative morbidity across most outcomes, indicating it may be a superior clinical tool for identifying high-risk patients. The RAI may better inform perioperative decision-making, patient counseling, and resource allocation.

  PublisherDOI

• Medullary thyroid cancer arising from a thyroid rest: a case report

  Journal of Surgical Case Reports · 2025-08-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is rare and originates from parafollicular C cells and most cases present with a primary thyroid lesion. This report describes a 67-year-old woman with a left-sided neck mass and no evidence of intrathyroidal disease. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) revealed paratracheal lymphadenopathy; other imaging and TSH were unremarkable. Fine-needle aspiration was inconclusive, and excisional biopsy suggested high-grade metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma, initially suspected to be pulmonary due to thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) positivity. Pathology review raised concern for MTC. Endocrine evaluation showed elevated calcitonin (25.4 pg/ml) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (20.1 ng/ml). She denied personal or family history of thyroid disease or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes. Total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection was performed. All thyroid sections stained negative for calcitonin, excluding C cell hyperplasia or intrathyroidal MTC. Lymph node morphology and immunoprofile supported metastatic MTC arising from a thyroid rest. This is a rare entity, with only two other cases documented in the literature.

  PublisherDOI

• Cervical Branch Retrograde Superficial Parotidectomy for Tail of Parotid Lesions

  OTO Open · 2025-04-01

  articleOpen access

  Facial nerve dysfunction following superficial parotidectomy is one of the most well-known and dreaded complications of the procedure, leading to significant postoperative impairments in affected patients. In lesions involving the parotid tail, the marginal mandibular branch is at particular risk. In contrast, injury to the cervical branch is usually of minimal consequence. Classically, facial nerve dissection in parotidectomy is performed anterograde from the main trunk. In patients presenting with benign superficial parotid tail lesions, however, we often begin with the identification of the cervical branch and perform retrograde dissection to decrease the risk of injury to both the main trunk and the marginal mandibular branch. This technique also allows for the preservation of the great auricular nerve, a shorter incision, and a smaller elevated facial flap, yielding better cosmetic and functional results without compromising the integrity of the resection. Here we describe this technique used for 5 consecutive patients with excellent outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Global multi-ancestry genetic study elucidates genes and biological pathways associated with thyroid cancer and benign thyroid diseases

  medRxiv · 2025-05-16 · 2 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Thyroid diseases are common and highly heritable. Under the Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative, we performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies from 19 biobanks for five thyroid diseases: thyroid cancer, benign nodular goiter, Graves’ disease, lymphocytic thyroiditis, and primary hypothyroidism. We analyzed genetic association data from ∼2.9 million genomes and identified 235 known and 501 novel independent variants significantly linked to thyroid diseases. We discovered genetic correlations between thyroid cancer, benign nodular goiter, and autoimmune thyroid diseases ( r 2 =0.21-0.97). Telomere maintenance genes contribute to benign and malignant thyroid nodular disease risk, whereas cell cycle, DNA repair, and DNA damage response genes are predominantly associated with thyroid cancer. We proposed a paradigm explaining genetic predisposition to benign and malignant thyroid nodules. We evaluated thyroid cancer polygenic risk scores (PRS) for clinical applications in thyroid cancer diagnosis. We found PRS associations with thyroid cancer risk features: multifocality, lymph node metastases, and extranodal extension.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Janice L. Farlow

  Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis

  20 shared

• Luke Buchmann

  Huntsman Cancer Institute

  11 shared

• Richard B. Cannon

  University of Utah

  10 shared

• Erynne A. Faucett

  University of California, Davis

  9 shared

• Nolan B. Seim

  The Ohio State University

  8 shared

• Jeremy D. Meier

  University of Utah

  8 shared

• Jason P. Hunt

  University of Utah

  8 shared

• Catherine T. Haring

  The Ohio State University

  8 shared

Education

• B.S.

  University of Arizona

• Other

  University of Arizona

• M.D.

  University of Arizona

Awards & honors

• Fellowship trained in head and neck surgical oncology, micro…
• Inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society
• Inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor s…
• Surgical Education Research Fellowship during residency