Alison K. Snyder-Warwick, MD
- Phone: 314-273-5546
Specialty Areas
- Facial (re)animation
- Reconstruction of facial nerve injuries and disorders
- Gender-affirming surgery
- Pediatric microsurgery
- Cornel neurotization
- Cleft lip and cleft palate reconstruction
- Birth-related brachial plexus injury reconstruction
- Pediatric plastic surgery
Common Procedures
- Smile surgery
- Facial (re)animation
- Cleft lip repair
- Palatoplasty
- Nerve grafts and transfers
- Gender-affirming bottom surgery
- Gender-affirming top surgery
- Rhinoplasty
- Alveolar bone grafts
- Microsurgical procedures in children
- Corneal neurotization
- Breast reduction
Common Diagnoses Treated
- Facial paralysis
- Bell’s palsy
- Facial nerve injuries
- Synkinesis
- Cleft lip and palate
- Gender dysphoria
- Corneal anesthesia
- Snydactyly
- Polydactyly
- Macromastia/breast hypertrophy
Board Certifications
American Board of Plastic Surgery
Degrees
Medical School: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 2004
Residency
2004-2007 General Surgery Residency, Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
2009-2011 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency, Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
Fellowship
2007-2009 Department of Developmental Biology and Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Research Fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
2011-2012 Pediatric Plastic Surgery Fellowship, The Hospital for Sick Children/University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Professional Memberships
American Society of Plastic Surgery
American Association of Pediatric
Plastic Surgeons
Sir Charles Bell Society
American Society of Peripheral Nerve
Plastic Surgery Research Council
American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery
American Cleft Palate Association
Academic Women’s Network
2019 NIH Pediatric Research Loan Repayment Program Award recipient
2019 Shenaq Award (to Research fellow, Johnny Chuieng-Yi Lu), 64th Annual Plastic Surgery Research Council Meeting
2019 Inaugural American Society of Peripheral Nerve Traveling Fellowship
2019 Best Clinical Research Paper Resident Award, ASPN Annual Meeting (for medical student mentee, Alexandra Keane)
2018 Selected scholarship attendee at the Women in Surgery Leadership Development Conference in Ann Arbor, MI
2018 Mentor of the Year, Clinical Research Training Center, Washington University
2018 Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons, 1st place Medical Student Research Award (for medical student mentee, Alexandra Keane)
2017 Plastic Surgery Foundation Bernard G. Sarnat Excellence in Grant Writing
2017 -2018, “Best Doctors in America” list for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Best 2019 Doctors, Inc.) and “Best Doctors in St. Louis Magazine” list member.
2017 Plastic Surgery Foundation / American Society for Peripheral Nerve Combined Pilot Research Grant recipient
2017 March of Dimes Scholarship recipient for the Human and Mammalian Genetics and Genomics: The 58th McKusick Short Course
2017 Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons, 2nd place Medical Student Research Award (for medical student mentee, Alexandra Keane)
2017 NIH Career Development Award (K08) recipient
2016 NIH NRSA F32 grant (for Research fellow, Katherine Santosa)
2016 James Barrett Brown Resident Research Day Award (for Research fellow, Katherine Santosa)
2016 Plastic Surgery Foundation Research Fellowship (for Research fellow, Katherine Santosa)
2016 American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery Medical Student Research Grant (for medical student mentee, Alexandra Keane)
2016 Plastic Surgery Foundation / American Society for Peripheral Nerve Combined Pilot Research Grant recipient
2016 Napoleon Area Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee
2016 American Association of Plastic Surgeons Academic Scholar Award recipient
2016 Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship (for medical student mentee, Alexandra Keane)
2016 American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery Women’s Microsurgery Group
2016 Resident Travel Scholarship (for Research fellow, Katherine Santosa)
2016 American Society of Surgery of the Hand
2016 Annual Meeting resident travel scholarship (for Research fellow, Katherine Santosa)
2016 Washington University Musculoskeletal Research Center Pilot & Feasibility Grant recipient (NIH P30)
2015 Plastic Surgery Foundation Pilot Research Grant recipient
2015 Best Poster Award, American Society for Peripheral Nerve
2014 Plastic Surgery Foundation / American Society for Peripheral Nerve Combined Pilot Research Grant recipient
2014 Hugs for Heroes Award
2012 Group for the Advancement of Microsurgery of Canada Annual Meeting, Best Resident/Fellow Presentation
2011 Chang Gung-Mayo Clinic Symposium in Reconstructive Surgery Best Resident/Fellow Paper
2011 Resident Teaching Award recipient
Internal Offices Held:
2013- Secretary, Sir Charles Bell Society (8-year term)
National Offices Held:
2019 Co-Chair, Plastic Surgery Foundation Basic Science Study Section
2019 Executive Council Member-at-Large, American Society of Peripheral Nerve (2-year term)
2019 Editor, Synapse, the American Society of Peripheral Nerve newsletter
2018 Secretary- Treasurer, Plastic Surgery Research Council (3-year term)
2017-2018 Program Co-Chair, 2018 American Society of Peripheral Nerve Annual Meeting
Locoregional Positions Held:
2016 Co-Director, Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Institute at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
2016 Member, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Physician Leadership Council
2016 Member, Perioperative Services Subcommittee, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
2015 Chair, Continuing Medical Education, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University
2014 Chair, Annual James Barrett Brown Resident Research Day, Washington University School of Medicine
2012 Director and Founder, The Facial Nerve Institute at Washington University
2019 performed first penile inversion vaginoplasty at Washington University in more than 25 years
2019 Member of Brookings and Carter Medical School Prizes Selection Committee, Washington University School of Medicine
2018-2019 Selected participant, inaugural Leadership Learning Series, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine
2017 participant of the 58th McKusick Short Course in Human and Mammalian Genetics and Genomics
2017 Selected Participant, Effective Research Execution: Managing Resources, Processes, and People course, Washington University School of Medicine and Olin Business School, April-May 2017
2016 Performed first corneal neurotization procedure at Washington University
2016 Fellow, American College of Surgeons
2016 Graduate, Academic Medical Leadership Program for Physicians and Scientists
2016 Member, Plastic Surgery Foundation Study Section—Basic Science
2015 Outside Referee, Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Collaborative Health Research Projects
2015-2019 Member, Association for Academic Surgery
2014-2015 Member, Admissions Committee, Washington University School of Medicine
2014 Member, Academic Women’s Network, Washington University School of Medicine
2014 Member, American Association of Pediatric Plastic Surgeons
2012 Member, American Society for Peripheral Nerve, Executive Council Member-at-Large (2019-), Synapse (newsletter) Editor (2019-), Membership Committee (2014-2018), Program Committee (2017-2019), Program Co-Chair 2018 Annual Meeting, Mentorship Committee (2018-)
2012 Secretary-Treasurer (2018-), Plastic Surgery Research Council, Mentorship Committee (2016-), Awards Committee (2017-), Program Committee (2018-)
2012 Member, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery
2012 Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Curriculum Development Committee
2012 Volunteer, Operation Smile India
2011 Member, Sir Charles Bell Society
2009 Outside Examiner, Knox College Senior Honors Thesis project
2008 Instructor, Development and Disease Selective, Washington University School of Medicine
2004-2006 Instructor, Surgical Selective, Washington University School of Medicine
Areas of Research Interest
My laboratory investigates the interface between nerve and muscle, the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Specifically, we focus on terminal Schwann cells, which are the specialized glial cells located at the NMJ. Our lab investigates the roles of terminal Schwann cells during development, disease, neural regeneration and muscular reinnervation, and aging. The goals of our work are to identify the mechanisms of terminal Schwann cell function that may be manipulated into novel translational applications for clinical management of patients with nerve pathology.
Innovations
Performed the first corneal neurotization procedure, in conjunction with Dr. Steven Couch (Ophthalmology), at Washington University.
Performed the first gender-affirming bottom surgery, in conjunction with Dr. Gino Vricella (Urology), at Washington University in over 25 years.
Publications
Hospital Affiliations
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
St. Louis Children’s Specialty Care Center
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Barnes-Jewish Hospital West County
Shriner’s Hospital for Children–St. Louis
Patients Seen At
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
One Children’s Place, Suite 2A
St. Louis, MO 63110
Center for Advanced Medicine
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center
4921 Parkview Place, Suite G, Floor 6
St. Louis, MO 63110
To request an appointment with Dr. Snyder-Warwick, please call 314-273-5546.