Jordan W. Swanson, MD, MSc
Areas of expertise: Cleft lip and palate repair, Craniofacial surgery, Orthognathic surgery, Facial trauma, Microtia and ear reconstruction, Extremity reconstruction, Global surgery, Plastic surgery
Locations: Main Building, Specialty Care, King of Prussia, Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care
About Jordan W. Swanson, MD, MSc
Jordan Swanson, MD, MSc, is an attending surgeon in the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Oral Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who specializes in treatment of infants, children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Swanson focuses clinically on achieving optimal function and appearance of the face and head, and treats patients with cleft lip and palate, craniofacial, and other congenital, acquired and traumatic conditions. He specializes in cleft lip and palate repair, cranial vault and facial reconstruction, craniomaxillofacial distraction osteogenesis, rhinoplasty, otoplasty, and maxillo-mandibular (orthognathic) advancement, microsurgery, as well as minor pediatric plastic surgical procedures. In consultations and surgery, he brings attention to anticipating growth and development, striving to optimize treatment timing and procedure selection accordingly. Dr. Swanson is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Swanson has pioneered several techniques which improve the detection of craniofacial conditions, such as elevated intracranial pressure associated with craniosynostosis, which enable more expedient diagnosis and less invasive surgical treatment for certain patients. He is also one of few providers experienced in ear reconstruction using not only autologous cartilage but also porous polyethylene (MedPor) ear constructs, which enable ear reconstruction in fewer stages and at a younger age.
Prior to practicing at CHOP, Dr. Swanson lived and worked in Nicaragua, collaborating with Operation Smile and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health to build a joint Comprehensive Cleft and Craniofacial program. The program, based in Managua, treats children throughout the country with adaptive clinical and outreach programs staffed by an interdisciplinary team of Nicaraguan clinicians. He also served as Director of Surgical Innovation at Operation Smile, in which he co-led development of clinical training programs, surgical research, and clinical program design specific to lower-resource settings. He has lectured and led surgical training programs in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, is faculty of both CHOP and Penn Centers for Global Health, and is a faculty advisor to the Penn Global Surgery Group.
Dr. Swanson’s innovation and research initiatives also focus on how surgical care can be better adapted to children in low-resource settings, through design of clinical devices and techniques, locally driven leadership and team capability strengthening, and reorienting care pathways appropriate to local contexts and resources. In parallel, these initiatives are also generating insight into less-invasive, patient-directed advances for surgical care delivery in tertiary settings. He was the primary investigator of the Cirugia Para el Pueblo pilot program, implemented by Operation Smile in partnership with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health to advance the access to and impact of rural surgical care in Nicaragua.
Dr. Swanson studied the History of Science at Harvard College, and trained as a physician at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He trained as a plastic surgeon at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, and completed his craniofacial surgery fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He was also the recipient of the Tsao Fellowship in Global Surgery, and holds an MSc in International Development Management from the London School of Economics.
Dr. Swanson is the Linton Whitaker Endowed Chair of Craniofacial Surgery and an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He sees patients at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania hospitals, and is a plastic surgeon at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
Titles
Craniofacial Surgeon
Awards and Honors
2017, Young Investigator Scholarship, International Cleft Congress
2015, Lead author, Daniel Marchac Award for Best Paper, International Society of Craniofacial Surgeons biennial Congress
2015-2016, Tsao Fellow in Global Surgery
2014, Regan Fellow, Operation Smile
2008, Hopkins Fogarty AITRP New & Minority Investigator Award.Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2007, Katz Award in Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2006, Valedictorian, London School of Economics, Development Studies Institute
2006, Best overall performance prize, London School of Economics
2006, Honors dissertation, London School of Economics
2005, First place, Baltimore Technology Council Business Plan Competition
2003, Hopkins Fogarty AITRP New and Minority Investigator Award
2002, Magna cum Laude in History and Science, Harvard University
2002, Dean’s List, Harvard University
2002, Harvard Business Leadership Program graduate, Harvard University
2002, Undergraduate fellow, Harvard Center for International Development, Harvard University
2001, Howard R. Swearer Humanitarian Award, Harvard University
2001, John Harvard Scholarship
1999, Harvard College Scholarship
1998, Captain, Lakeside High School Varsity Tennis Team
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
International
World Health Organization Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care
International Collaboration for Essential Surgery
National
American Association of Plastic Surgeons
American Cleft Palate – Craniofacial Association
American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons
AO Foundation, Craniomaxillofacial Division
Education & training
Graduate Degree
MSc in International Development Management - London School of Economics, London, UK (with Distinction, Valedictorian)
Medical Degree
MD - Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Residency
Plastic Surgery - Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and UW Medical Center, Seattle, WA (chief resident)
Fellowship
Craniofacial Surgery - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Publications
Publications
2019
Lin LO, Zhang RS, Hoppe IC, Paliga JT, Swanson JW, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA. Onset and resolution of Chiari malformations and hydrocephalus in syndromic craniosynostosis following posterior vault distraction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Jul 2. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000006041. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31274746.
Muhly WT, Swanson JW, Stricker PA. Patient Blood Management in Craniofacial Surgery: Time for Improvement? J Craniofac Surg. 2019 Jun 28. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000005702. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31261334.
Campbell A, Restrepo C, Park E, Navas G, Deshpande G, Swanson J, Schonmeyr B, Wendby L, Ayala R. Influence of Severity on Aesthetic Outcomes of Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair in 1,823 Patients. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019 Jan 22;7(1):e2083. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002083. eCollection 2019 Jan. PubMed PMID: 30859040; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6382249.
Zhang RS, Lin LO, Hoppe IC, Swanson JW, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA. Retrospective Review of the Complication Profile Associated with 71 Subcranial and Transcranial Midface Distraction Procedures at a Single Institution. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Feb;143(2):521-530. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000005280. PubMed PMID: 30531617.
2018
Zhang RS, Lin LO, Hoppe IC, Swanson JW, Taylor JA, Bartlett SP. Early Mandibular Distraction in Craniofacial Microsomia and Need for Orthognathic Correction at Skeletal Maturity: A Comparative Long-Term Follow-Up Study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Nov;142(5):1285-1293. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000004842. PubMed PMID: 30511982.
Lin LO, McKenna RA, Zhang RS, Hoppe IC, Swanson JW, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA. A Standardized Perioperative Clinical Pathway for Uncomplicated Craniosynostosis Repair Is Associated With Reduced Hospital Resource Utilization. J Craniofac Surg. 2018 Oct 29. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000004871. [Epub ahead of print]
Naran S, Swanson JW, Ligh CA, Shubinets V, Taylor JA, Bartlett SP. Sphenoid Dysplasia in Neurofibromatosis: Patterns of Presentation and Outcomes of Treatment. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Oct;142(4):518e-526e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000004779.
Lin LO, Zhang RS, Mazzaferro DM, Hoppe IC, Pearl RL, Swanson JW, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA. Influence of Repaired Cleft Lip and Palate on Layperson Perception following Orthognathic Surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Oct;142(4):1012-1022. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000004778.
Judy BF, Swanson JW, Yang W, Storm PB, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA, Heuer GG, Lang SS. Intraoperative intracranial pressure monitoring in the pediatric craniosynostosis population. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2018 Aug 3:1-6. doi: 10.3171/2018.5.PEDS1876. [Epub ahead of print]
Wes AM, Paul N, Gerety PA, Folsom N, Swanson J, Taylor JA, Weinstein MH. A Sustainable Model for Patient follow-up following an International Cleft Mission: A Proof of Concept. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2018 Aug;55(7):977-982. doi: 10.1597/16-159. Epub 2018 Feb 22. PubMed PMID: 28085514.
Zhang RS, Lin LO, Hoppe IC, Wes AM, Swanson JW, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA. Evaluation of parental and surgeon stressors and perceptions of distraction osteogenesis in pediatric craniofacial patients: a cross-sectional survey study. Childs Nerv Syst. 2018 Sep;34(9):1735-1743. doi: 10.1007/s00381-018-3827-5. Epub 2018 May 11.
Liang F, Leland H, Jedrzejewski B, Auslander A, Maniskas S, Swanson J, Urata M, Hammoudeh J, Magee W 3rd. Alternatives to Autologous Bone Graft in Alveolar Cleft Reconstruction: The State of Alveolar Tissue Engineering. J Craniofac Surg. 2018 May;29(3):584-593. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000004300. Review.
Swanson JW, Swanson MA. Strengthening Evidence in Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery. J Craniofac Surg. 2018 Mar;29(2):302-303. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000004101. No abstract available.
Zhang RS, Lin LO, Hoppe IC, Jackson OA, Low DW, Bartlett SP, Swanson JW, Taylor JA. Nasal Obstruction in Children With Cleft Lip and Palate: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study Utilizing the NOSE Scale. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2018 Jan 1:1055665618772400. doi: 10.1177/1055665618772400. [Epub ahead of print]
Chang CS, Swanson JW, Wilson A, Low DW, Bartlett SP. Columellar Reconstruction following Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Injury. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Jan;141(1):99e-102e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000003978.
2017
Yao CA, Imahiyerobo T, Swanson J, Auslander A, De Cardenas D, Figueiredo JC, Mccullough M, Costa M, Vanderburg R, Magee WP 3rd. The Smile Index Part 1: A Large-Scale Study Of Phenotypic Norms For Pre- And Post-Operative Unilateral Cleft Lip. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Sep 14.
Mccullough M, Campbell A, Siu A, Durnwald L, Kumar S, Magee WP 3rd, Swanson J. Competency-Based Education In Low Resource Settings: Development Of A Novel Surgical Training Program. World J Surg. 2017 Sep 6. Doi: 10.1007/S00268-017-4205-2.
Swanson JW, Aleman TS, Xu W, Ying GS, Pan W, Liu GT, Lang SS, Heuer GG, Storm PB, Bartlett SP, Katowitz WR, Taylor JA. Evaluation of Optical Coherence Tomography to Detect Elevated Intracranial Pressure in Children. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2017 Apr 1;135(4):320-328. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.0025. PubMed PMID: 28241164; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5470406.
Swanson JW, Liu GT, Taylor JA. Clarification on Using Ultrasonography to Detect Intracranial Pressure-Reply. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2017 Sep 1;135(9):1005. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.2600. PubMed PMID: 28772296.
Munabi NCO, Swanson JW, Auslander A, Sanchez-Lara PA, Davidson Ward SL, Magee WP 3rd. The Prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease in Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A systematic review of the literature. Ann Plast Surg. 2017. 79(2): 214-220.
Chang CS, Swanson JW, Yu J, Taylor JA. Early, Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Modeling Planned, LeFort 1 Advancement with Internal Distractors to Treat Severe Maxillary Hypoplasia in Cleft Lip and Palate. J Craniofac Surg. 2017. 28(4): 931-934.
Swanson JW, Yu JW, Taylor JA, Kovach S, Kanchwala S, Lantieri L. The Retroauricular approach to the facial nerve trunk. J Craniofac Surg. 2017. 28(2): 347-351.
Swanson JW, Yao CA, Auslander A, et al. Patient barriers to accessing surgical cleft care in Vietnam: A multi-site, cross-sectional outcomes study. World Journal of Surgery. 2017. 41(6): 1435-46. Epub DOI 10.1007/s00268-017-3896-8.
Swanson JW, Aleman TS, Xu W, Ying G-S, Pan W, Liu GT, Lang SS, Heuer GG, Storm PB, Bartlett SP, Katowitz WR, Taylor JA. Optical coherence tomography can noninvasively detect elevated intracranial pressure in children. JAMA Ophthalmology. 2017. 135(4): 320-328.
Swanson JW, Mitchell BT, Cohen M, Solot C, Jackson O, Low D, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA. The effect of Furlow palatoplasty timing on speech outcomes in submucous cleft palate. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2017. 79(2): 156-161.
Ligh CA, Swanson JW, Yu J, Samra F, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA. A Morphological Classification Scheme for the Mandibular Hypoplasia in Treacher Collins Syndrome. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2017. 28(3): 683-687.
2016
Chong DK, Swanson JW. The Essential Anatomical Subunit Approximation Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Jul;138(1):91e-4e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000002257. Review. PubMed PMID: 27348690.
Samra F, Bauder AR, Swanson JW, Whitaker LA, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA. Assessing the midface in Muenke syndrome: A cephalometric analysis and review of the literature. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2016. 69(9): 1285-90.
Xu W, Gerety P, Aleman T, Swanson JW, Taylor JA. Noninvasive methods of detecting increased intracranial pressure. Childs Nerv Sys. 2016. 32(8): 1371-86.
Swanson JW, Samra F, Bauder A, Mitchell BT, Taylor JA, Bartlett SP. An Algorithm for Managing Syndromic Craniosynostosis Utilizing Posterior Vault Distraction Osteogenesis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016. 137(5) 829e-841e.
Yao CA, Swanson JW, Magee WP3, et al. Barriers to Reconstructive Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Cross-sectional Study of 453 Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Patients in Vietnam. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016. 138(5):887e-895e.
Swanson JW, Haas JA, Chen SS, Heuer G, Taylor JA. The effects of molding helmet therapy on spring-mediated cranial vault remodeling for sagittal craniosynostosis. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2016. 27(6):1398-1403.
Chong DA, Swanson JW. The essential anatomic subunit approximation unilateral cleft lip repair. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016. 138 (1): 91e-94e.
Yao CA, Swanson JW, McCullough M, Taro T, Guitierrez R, Bradshaw A, Campbell A, Magee WM Jr, Magee WP3. The Medical Mission and Modern Core Competency Training: A 10-year Followup of Resident Experiences in Global Plastic Surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016. 138(3):531e-538e.
Swanson JW, Mitchell BT, Wink JA, Taylor JA, Bartlett SP. Surgical classification of the mandibular deformity in craniofacial microsomia using 3-dimensional CT. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2016. 4(1): e598.
Swanson JW, Bartlett SP. Congenital ocular dystopia from orbitofrontal bone dysplasia. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016; 137: 125e-134e.
Ligh CA, Fox JP, Swanson JW, Yu JW, Taylor JA. Not all clefts are created equal: Patterns of hospital care utilization among children with cleft lip and palate within 4 years of surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016. 137(6): 990-998e.
Swanson JW, Skirpan J, Stanek B, Kowalczyk M, Bartlett SP. A 30-year international pediatric craniofacial surgery partnership: Evolution from the “Third World” forward. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2016. 4(4): e671.
Swanson JW, Johnston JL, Mitchell BT, Alcorn K, Taylor JA. Perioperative complications in posterior pharyngeal flap surgery: Review of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-PEDS) Database. Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal. 2016. 53(5):562-7.
2015
Mitchell BT, Swanson JW, Taylor JA. A New, Single-Stage, Distraction-Mediated, Cranial Vault Expansion Technique for the Multisuture Deformity. J Craniofac Surg. 2015 Sep;26(6):1923-5. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000002105. PubMed PMID: 26355977.
Morrison SD, Swanson JW. Surgical justice. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2015; 136: 291e-292e.
Mitchell BT, Swanson JW, Taylor JA. A new single-stage, distraction-mediated cranial vault expansion technique for the multisuture deformity. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2015; 26(6): 1923-5.
Tahiri Y, Swanson JW, Talyor JA. Distraction osteogenesis versus conventional fronto-orbital advancement for the treatment of unilateral coronal synostosis: A comparison of perioperative morbidity and short-term outcomes. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2015; 26(6): 1904-8.
Swanson JW, Oppenheimer A, Mufarrej F, Pet M, Arakawa C, Cunningham M, Gruss JG, Hopper RA, Birgfeld CB. Maternofetal trauma in craniosynostosis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2015; 136: 214e-222e.
Arko L, Swanson JW, Fierst TM, Henn RE, Chang D, Storm PB, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA, Heuer GG. Spring-mediated sagittal craniosynostosis treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: technical notes and literature review. Neurosurg Focus. 2015; 38: E7.
2014
Swanson JW, Smartt JM, Saltzman BS, Birgfeld CB, Hopper RA, Gruss JS, Tse R. Adopted children with cleft lip and/or palate: a unique and growing population. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2014; 134: 283e-293e.
Hopper RA, Tse R, Smartt J, Swanson JW, Kinter, SL. "Cleft palate repair and velopharyngeal dysfunction." Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2014; 133: 852e-864e.
2013
Swanson JW, Watt AJ, Vedder NB. Refining the Indications for Collagenase Treatment of Dupuytren Contracture near Skin Grafts. (Reply.) Journal of Hand Surgery (American). 2013; 38: 1264-5.
Swanson JW, Watt AJ, Vedder NB. Skin graft loss resulting from collagenase clostridium histolyticum treatment of Dupuytren contracture: case report and review of the literature. Journal of Hand Surgery (American). 2013. 38(3):548-51.
Swanson JW, Otto AM, Gibran NS, Klein MB, Kramer CB, Heimbach DM, Pham TN. Trajectories to death in patients with burn injury. Journal of Trauma. 2013; 74(1):282-8.
Redding GJ, Kuo W, Swanson JO, Phillips GS, Emerson J, Yung D, Swanson JW, Sawin RS, Avansino JR. Upper thoracic shape in children with pectus excavatum: Impact on lung function. Pediatric Pulmonology. 2013; 48(8): 817-23.
2012
Swanson JW, Avansino JR, Phillips GS, Yung D, Whitlock KB, Redding GJ, Sawin RS. “Correlating Haller Index and cardiopulmonary disease in pectus excavatum.” American Journal of Surgery. 2012; 203(5):660-4
2008
Swanson JW, Colombani PM. Reactive pectus carinatum in patients treated for pectus excavatum. J Pediatr Surg. 2008 Aug;43(8):1468-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2007.11.019. PubMed PMID: 18675637.
Swanson JW, Colombani PC. “Reactive Pectus Carinatum in Patients Undergoing Repair for Pectus Excavatum.” Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2008; 43 (8): 1468-73.
2006
Swanson, JW. “Unveiling the Invisible Hand: Explaining Pharmacies’ Participation in Public-Private Partnerships for Public Health in Vietnam.” Working Paper #77. 2006. Development Studies Institute, London School of Economics.
Brastianos PK, Swanson JW, Torbenson M, Sperati J, Karakousis PC. “Tuberculosis-associated haemophagocytic syndrome.” The Lancet Infect Dis. 2006; 6(7): 447-54.
2002
Swanson, JW. Acid Attacks: Bangladesh’s Efforts to Stop the Violence. Harvard Health Policy Review. 2002. II(2): 85-91.
2000
Swanson, JW. Unnatural Disasters: Health Lessons from Honduras. Harvard International Review. 2000. 22(1): 32-35.
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
2017
Swanson JW, Taylor JA. Distraction of the cranial vault. In McCarthy J, ed. Craniofacial distraction. Springer. 2017: 203-227.
Kotagal M, Swanson JW, Avansino J. “Correlating Haller Index and cardiopulmonary disease in pectus excavatum.” In Saxena, AK, ed., Chest Wall Deformities. Springer International. 2017.
2016
Swanson JW. Anatomical cadaveric dissection of flaps for facial cleft repair. In Carey J, ed. University of Southern California/Operation Smile International Flap Course Manual. 2016. USC Press.
2014
Swanson JW, Smartt JM, Taylor JA. Craniofacial distraction osteogenesis: Basic science. In Taylor JA and Goldstein J, eds. American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons Fellow Curriculum. 2014.
Swanson JW, Klein MB. Upper Extremity Burns and Tissue Injuries. In Weiss APC, ed., Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. 2014.
2001
Swanson, JW., ed. Interfaces of Dilemma in a Global Society: A Textbook of Briefings in International Policy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Model Congress Europe, 2001.