Ari I. Wirtschafter, M.D.
Dr. Ari I. Wirtschafter serves as the Chief of Surgery and as the Director of Pediatric Surgery at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. He is double board certified in Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery and in Sleep Medicine. Dr. Wirtschafter was named Otolaryngologist of the Year for the State of Florida in 2011 and was also the past President of the Florida Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Wirtschafter completed medical school at Jefferson Medical College and his general surgery internship at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia before completing a residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He currently sees patients at the Boca Raton Sinus & Allergy Center and maintains privileges at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Delray Hospital.
Dr. Wirtschafter is married to his wife, Shoshana, an internist, and is the proud father of four children (3 girls and one boy). He has a golden-doodle named Rocky. In addition to enjoying spending time with his family, he enjoys college football, fitness, and holds a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate.
Certifications
American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
American Board of Sleep Medicine
Education
Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Residency (1999 – 2003)
Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
General Surgery Internship (1998 – 1999)
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MD (1994 - 1998)
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Arts (1989 - 1993)
Leadership Positions
Chief, Department of Surgery, Boca Raton Regional Hospital (2017 – present)
Vice-Chief, Department of Surgery, Boca Raton Regional Hospital (2015 – 2017)
Affiliate Faculty Member, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University (2014 – present)
Vice President, Network of Florida Otolaryngologists (2013 – present)
Director of Pediatric Surgery, Boca Raton Regional Hospital (2013 – present)
President, Florida Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2011 – 2012)
Executive Board, Network of Florida Otolaryngologists (2011 – present)
Executive Board, Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of South Florida (ENTSF) - 40+ Physician Group (3rd Largest Group in US) (2011 – present)
Florida Representative, Medicare Advisory Board, Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (2008 – present)
Honors & Awards
Doctor of the Month- January, Boca Raton Regional Hospital 2016
Otolaryngologist of the Year for Florida, Florida Society of Otolaryngology 2011
Resident Research Symposium, 1st Place, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital 2003
Resident Research Symposium, 2nd Place, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital 2001
Spirit Award, Henry Ford Hospital, Awarded for Excellence in Patient Care, Professionalism, and Leadership 2001
Current Staff Appointments
Boca Raton Regional Hospital
Delray Hospital
Publications
Wirtschafter A, Cherukuri S, Benninger MS: Anthrax: “ENT Manifestations and current concepts.” Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 2002, 126(1): 8-13
Wirtschafter A, Benninger MS, Moss TJ, et al.: “Micrometastic tumor detection in head and neck Cancer: a preliminary report.” Archives of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery 2002, 128(1): 40-3. Senior B, Wirtschafter A, Mai C, et al.: Quantitative impact of pediatric sinus surgery on Facial growth. Laryngoscope. 2000, 110(11): 1866-70.
Chiura AN, Wirtschafter A, Bagley DH: “Upper urinary tract inverted papillomas.” Urology. 1998, 52(3):514-6.
Rosen D, Wirtschafter A, Rao VM, et al.: “Dermoid Cyst of the lateral neck: a case report and literature review.” Ear, Nose Throat Journal 1998. 77(2)129-132.
Wirtschafter A, Schmidt R, Rosen D. et al.: “Expression of the RET/PTC fusion gene as marker for papillary carcinoma in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.” Laryngoscope. 1997. 107(1)95-100.
Presentations
“Obstructive Sleep Apnea: My algorithm for evaluating and treating the patient who snores”- Florida Society of Otolaryngology (FSO)- Annual Meeting 2014
“Developing the modern sleep lab: How changing reimbursements and HST are reshaping sleep medicine.”- Network of Florida Otolaryngologists (NFO) - Annual Meeting 2012
“Mental Toughness: Strategies to improve leadership skills in a medical practice”- Network of Florida Otolaryngologists (NFO) - Annual Meeting 2013
“Instituting home sleep testing in your practice”- Network of Florida Otolaryngologists (NFO) - Annual Meeting 2010
“Coblation Assisted Tonsillotomy, The Henry Ford Experience: A Preliminary Report.” AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting 2002, San Diego, California.
“Quantitative impact of pediatric sinus surgery on facial growth.” 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc. (Trilogical Society -American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology) Orland, Florida, May 2000.
“Micrometastatic tumor detection in head and neck cancer: A preliminary report.” 5th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer. San Francisco, California 2000.
Professional Memberships
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Florida Society of Otolaryngology
Network of Florida Otolaryngology