Eric J. Kezirian, MD, MPH
Accepting new patients

Eric J. Kezirian, MD, MPH

(he/him)
  • Otolaryngology
Santa Monica Head & Neck Surgery | 1131 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 302, Santa Monica, CA 90401

About

A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Kezirian is internationally recognized for his expertise in the surgical treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. A prolific researcher, he uses the latest advances in the field to provide each patient with the most appropriate and effective treatment plan.

Motivated by the desire to improve outcomes in sleep surgery, Dr. Kezirian’s own research examines critical questions, such as improving surgical evaluation and the effectiveness of sleep surgery. He applies this research to enhance the selection of procedures and deliver results for patients, and his research is used similarly by surgeons around the world. He is one of a handful of sleep surgeons to have received major funding from the National Institutes of Health, charitable foundations, and industry.

Dr. Kezirian is a past president of the International Surgical Sleep Society, the world’s preeminent organization dedicated to the surgical treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. He is double board-certified in otolaryngology—head and neck surgery and sleep medicine. This dual training improves his understanding of snoring and sleep apnea as well as treatment selection and outcomes. He has worked with numerous established and startup companies in the development of novel technologies and approaches in diagnosis and treatment. He has multiple patents in the field.

Upon graduating magna cum laude from Harvard College, Dr. Kezirian received a MSc degree from the University of Oxford and MD degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed residency training at the University of Washington and a sleep surgery fellowship at Stanford University. He has been chief of sleep surgery as a full-time faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Southern California before coming to UCLA.

Memberships in Scholarly or Professional Societies

  • American Board of Otolaryngology
  • American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
  • Fellow, American Academy of Sleep Medicine
  • Fellow, American College of Surgeons
  • Past President, International Surgical Sleep Society
  • Fellow, Triological Society

Languages

English

Education

Fellowship

Sleep Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 2004

Residency

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, 2003

Internship

General Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1998

Degrees

MPH, University of Washington, 2000
MD, University of Pennsylvania, 1997

Recognitions

Locations

Santa Monica

Santa Monica Head & Neck Surgery

Head and Neck Surgery| Pediatric Head and Neck Surgery| Head and Neck Medical Oncology +1 more specialty

Hospital Affiliations

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

Research

Interests

Dr. Kezirian’s research addresses some of the most important questions facing patients with obstructive sleep apnea and snoring and the surgeons who treat them:

  • Does surgery for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea work?
  • How do we choose procedures that are most likely to succeed in individual patients?
  • What are the risks of sleep apnea surgery?
  • Are there new treatments for snoring and sleep apnea that are effective?

The National Institutes of Health is supporting his innovative clinical trial evaluating the role of soft palate surgery and specific medications to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Centivo
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Health Net of California
  • Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
  • L.A. Care
  • Medicare Advantage
  • MultiPlan
  • UFCM Health System
  • Prime Health Services
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • TRICARE
  • UnitedHealthcare

The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change. 
Please contact your benefits coordinator or health insurance company directly to verify coverage.

Visit our health insurance information page for more details.

Recognitions

  • Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2024
  • Super Doctors® Southern California, 2012, 2013, 2015-2024
  • Castle-Connolly Top Doctors, 2016-2023
  • Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2022
  • Top Doctors, Pasadena Magazine