About Dr. Zhang
Casey is a PGY1 resident in the Integrated Plastic Surgery residency program. She received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Biology and Studio Arts, and went on to receive her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She spent one year as a Plastic Surgery Research Fellow while at Pitt, focusing on clinical outcomes in reconstructive surgery. Casey is excited to pursue a career in academic plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Education
2020 - 2025
MD - University of Pittsburgh
2016 - 2020
BS - University of Pittsburgh
Awards
2024
Magee-Women’s Research Institute and Foundation Research Grant
2024
2nd Place Clinical Paper- Robert H. Ivy Society of Plastic Surgeons
2023
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Community Service Award
2023
Top Poster Presentation - UPMC Head and Neck Cancer Symposium
2023
Best Clinical Paper- Pitt Plastic Surgery Research Day
2022
ASPS Best Poster Award Poster- Plastic Surgery The Meeting
2022
1st Place Clinical Paper- Robert H. Ivy Society of Plastic Surgeons
2022
Pitt Med Professionalism Accolade
2021
Deans Summer Research Fellowship
2020
Medical Alumni Association Scholarship Award
Research
2021 - 2024
University of Pittsburgh Department of Plastic Surgery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Clinical outcomes in breast reconstruction, antibiotic-releasing devices for implant infection in breast reconstruction, craniometric analysis and outcomes in pediatric craniofacial surgery, competency-based surgical education
2017 - 2020
University of Pittsburgh Department of Biological Sciences, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Endoplasmic-Reticulum Associated Degradation of SLC26A9, an ion cannel linked to cystic fibrosis
2016 - 2017
University of Pittsburgh Department of Cellular Biology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mitochondrial dysfunction and kidney cellular senescence
Publications
- Maliha S, McGinn M, Zhang C, Mak A, Beiriger J, Kass N, Dixon A, Glenney A, Somorin T, Mocharnuk J, Dvoracek L, Kueper J, Goldstein, JA. Skull Vertex Position as a Novel Craniometric Measurement to Assess Severity and Surgical Outcomes in Sagittal Craniosynostosis. FACE. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/27325016251337447.
- Zhang C, Vera A, Murphy K, Calcaterra M, Alhmari H, De La Cruz C, Gimbel ML, Nguyen VT, Vargo J, McAuliffe P, Parent BA. Association Between Tumor-to-Breast Volume Ratio and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Oncoplastic Breast Conserving Surgery. Annals of Plastic Surgery 94(4S):p S297-S304, April 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000004288
- Mehta M, Zhang C, Sarrami S, De La Cruz C. An MRI Every Five: Evaluating Breast Implant Screening Guidelines. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 94(4S Suppl 2), S173–S176. https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000004329
- Wong GC, Huang C, Fahmy J, Zhang C, Teunis T, Chung KC. Bayesian Re-Analysis of Statistically Non-significant Outcomes in Clinical Trials Published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Global open, 12(12), e6370. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006370
- Zhang C, Collins L, Manders EK. The Organization of Vital Signs for Pattern Recognition. Medical Science Educator. November 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-024-02207-5
- Zhang C, Moroni EA, Moreira AA. One Size Does Not Fit All: How to Optimize Nerve Length in Implant-Based Nipple Areola Complex Neurotization. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, 10.1055/a-2460-4589. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2460-4589
- Zhang C, Saqr H, Savage A, Gimbel ML, Nguyen VT, Parent, BA. Understanding Healing Complications in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction using Novel Metrics in Indocyanine Green Angiography. Accepted for Publication August 2024. Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2024.08.062.
- Zhang C, Reddy PD, Teunis T. Comparing infection rates with wire, plate and intramedullary nail fixation of open metacarpal and phalangeal fractures. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2025 Feb 28:17531934241277949. doi: 10.1177/17531934241277949. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40017306.
- Zhang C, Wang VL, Sarrami S, Reddy PD, De La Cruz C. Closing the Loop on Revision: The Impact of Emotional Well-Being on Elective Revision After Breast Reconstruction. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Published online July 17, 2024. doi:10.1093/asj/sjae155
- Beiriger J, Tao W, Irgebay Z, Smetona J, Dvoracek L, Kass NM, Dixon A, Zhang C, Mehta M, Whitaker R, Goldstein JA. A Longitudinal Analysis of Pre- and Post-Operative Dysmorphology in Metopic Craniosynostosis. The Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Journal. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/10556656241237605
- Pandya S, Alessandri-Bonetti M, Zhang C, Reis A, Costantino A, Egro FM. (2024), Comments on “Comparison of the outcomes of split thickness skin graft versus thickness skin graft for closure of the radial forearm free flap donor site: A systematic review”. Microsurgery, 44: e31170. https://doi.org/10.1002/micr.31170
- Glenney AE, Mocharnuk JW, Humar P, Zhang C, Rubin PJ, Gusenoff JA. Analyzing the Impact of Social and Psychiatric Factors in Patients Who Undergo Body Contouring Procedures [published online ahead of print, 2023 Sep 14]. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2023;sjad297. doi:10.1093/asj/sjad297
- Humar P, Moroni E, Raghuram A, Balogun Z, Nguyen XM, Zhang C, De La Cruz C. Upper Extremity Functional Outcomes After Breast Cancer Treatment: An Analysis of DASH Score in Breast Reconstruction Patients, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 44, Issue 4, April 2024, Pages 396–403, https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjad352
- Zhang C, Pandya S, Alessandri Bonetti M, Costantino A, Egro F. M. (2023). Comparison of split thickness skin graft versus full thickness skin graft for radial forearm flap donor site closure: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 45(2), 104156. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.104156
- Irgebay Z, Glenney AE, Bruce MK, Zhang C, Cheng L, Keuper J, Smetona J, Losee JE, Goldstein JA. Examining the Risk of Concussion in Children With Facial Fractures: A Large Emergency Department-Based Analysis. FACE. 2023;4(2):192-197. doi:10.1177/27325016231164418
- Zhang C, Moroni EA, Bustos SS, De La Cruz C, Gimbel ML, Nguyen VT. Evaluation of Perioperative Versus Extended Courses of Antibiotic Prophylaxis After Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2023;90(6S Suppl 5):S593-S597. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000003473
- Beiriger JW, Bruce MK, Mak A, Zhang C, Kueper J, Irgebay Z, Smetona J, Pfaff M, Bykowski M, Losee JE, Golstein JA. Late-Presenting Sagittal Craniosynostosis: An Update to a Standardized Treatment Protocol. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 152(5):p 1069-1076, November 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010485
- Wazir S, Abbas M, Ratanasrimetha P, Zhang C, Hariharan S, Puttarajappa CM. Preoperative blood pressure and risk of delayed graft function in deceased donor kidney transplantation. Clinical Transplantation. 2022 Sep;36(9):e14776. DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14776
- Bruce M, Zhang C, Vodovotz L, Irgebay Z, Maliha S, Pfaff M, Ford M, Goldstein JA, Losee JE. Revision Pharyngoplasty in Cleft Palate and Velopharyngeal Insufficiency: Management and Outcomes. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2022 May 1;88(3 Suppl 3):S152-S155. DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000003198
- Needham P, Goeckeler-Fried J, Zhang C, Sun Z, Wetzel AR, Bertrand CA, Brodsky JL. SLC26A9 is selected for endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation (ERAD) via Hsp70-dependent targeting of the soluble STAS domain. Biochemical Journal. 2021 Dec 22;478 (24): 4203–4220. DOI: 10.1042/BCJ20210644