About Nicholas J. Panetta, MD
Dr. Nicholas J. Panetta is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, as well as faculty at the Center for Women’s Oncology at the Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. Panetta practices the most advanced breast reconstruction techniques, with expertise in microsurgical free flap reconstruction (SIEA, DIEP, muscle-sparing free TRAM, GAP, TUG), nipple-sparing reconstruction, direct-to-implant one-stage reconstruction, and oncoplastic “breast-sparing” reconstruction. He has also established USF Health’s and the Moffitt Cancer center’s comprehensive program in the surgical management of lymphedema, performing microsurgical procedures to treat cancer related lymphedema (lymphovenous bypass, vascularized lymph node transfer, suction assisted lipectomy). Additionally, his practice encompasses the entire broad spectrum of plastic surgery, including general reconstructive surgery and aesthetic surgery. Dr. Panetta’s research interests are focused on clinical outcomes of the surgical management of cancer related lymphedema, as well as the development of novel cell-based therapies utilizing adipose-derived stem cells. Dr. Panetta graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Biology. Subsequently, he matriculated at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he graduated with a distinction of Honors in Surgery in 2004. He completed his general surgery training at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, and is board certified in general surgery. He completed a plastic surgery research fellowship at Stanford University, where he served as the Hagey Fellow in Pediatric Regenerative Medicine. Following the completion of his general surgery training, he completed a three year residency in plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Subsequently, he remained in Pittsburgh to complete further fellowship training in microvascular and reconstructive surgery. He has been on faculty in the division of plastic surgery at the University of South Florida since the completion of his training. Dr. Panetta is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Plastic Surgery, and the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery, the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons. He has been awarded the American College of Surgeons Resident Research Scholarship, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health Child Health Research Institute Award (Stanford University), and was co-investigator on a NIH/NIDCR R21 grant. To date, he has been lead or contributing author on over 60 published abstracts, manuscripts, and book chapters, and regularly lectures in scientific and clinical research at regional and national meetings.
