Bio
Kara D. Meister, MD, FAAP, FACS is a pediatric otolaryngologist and head & neck surgeon. She received her medical degree from Medical University of South Carolina and completed her otolaryngology residency at University of Pittsburgh. She completed a NIH-funded fellowship in head and neck research at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Meister then went on to complete a pediatric otolaryngology fellowship at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department Otolaryngology, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, at Stanford University. Dr. Meister’s research interest involves understanding the use of technology to diagnose and treat pediatric patients, specifically the use of point-of-care ultrasound. She currently serves as the Associate Clinical Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology. Notable projects include serving as the physician lead for the development and introduction of the Epic Care Companion for surgical patients and improving access for surgical services. Dr. Meister completed additional training in innovation through the Stanford Biodesign Faculty Fellowship.
Her clinical interests include airway evaluation and reconstruction, voice and swallowing problems, and treatment of patients with head and neck masses including thyroid nodules and cancer. She is Co-Director, Surgical, of the Children's Thyroid Center at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and is a participating surgeon in the Aerodigestive and Airway Reconstruction Center at Stanford Children’s Health. She is co-editor of the textbook "Pediatric Bronchoscopy for Clinicians" and enjoys advocacy work with the American Academy of Pediatrics Button Battery Taskforce.
Dr. Meister is a member of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) where she serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and is a member of the ATA Guidelines Writing Group for Thyroid Disease & Pregnancy. She is a member of the pediatric committee of the American Head and Neck Society. She is an author and speaker on masses and tumors of the head and neck, thyroid disease, and thyroid cancer in children and adolescents. In collaboration with SHC, she offers novel treatment for thyroid problems in children and adolescents including radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules and transoral, transvestibular thyroid surgery.
Dr. Meister lives in Woodside with her husband and 2 children.
Clinical Expertise:
Children's Thyroid Center, Co-Director, Surgical
Aerodigestive and Airway Reconstruction Center
Thyroid nodules
Thyroid cancer - papillary, follicular, and medullary
Surgical management of hyperthyroidism and Grave's disease
Head and Neck masses
Congenital neck masses
Pediatric Head and Neck cancer
Fetal Airway and Exit Team
Commonly treated diagnoses: Pediatric thyroid cancer, pediatric thyroid masses, Pediatric Head and Neck masses, subglottic stenosis, airway reconstruction, laryngeal reconstruction, tracheal stenosis, noisy breathing, tracheostomy, stridor, complete tracheal rings, vocal fold paralysis, bronchoscopy, Aerodigestive and Airway Reconstruction Center, pediatric voice disorders, Fetal Airway and Exit Surgery
