Jo-Lawrence Bigcas, MD, is an assistant professor in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the otolaryngology residency program director. He is a board-certified otolaryngologist, fellowship-trained in head and neck surgical oncology and microvascular reconstruction. He received his bachelor’s in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles and his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Dr. Bigcas, originally from San Diego, CA, completed his otolaryngology head and neck surgery residency at the McGovern Medical School in the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, which includes training at Memorial Hermann Hospital Texas Medical Center, Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. During his residency, Dr. Bigcas became interested in high acuity otolaryngology cases and subsequently fostered his interest in head and neck cancer patients and complex head and neck reconstruction. Following residency, he completed a prestigious fellowship at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, in head and neck surgical oncology, skull base surgery, and microvascular free flap reconstruction.

Upon completing the fellowship, Dr. Bigcas joined the Kerkorian School of Medicine Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department. He proudly serves the Las Vegas community with a wide array of skills and procedures. His primary clinical interests are in the treatment of head and neck cancer patients, salivary and thyroid disease, cancer prevention, skull base surgery, robotic surgery, and head and neck reconstruction. He also has clinical interests in other subspecialties of otolaryngology including craniomaxillofacial reconstruction, advanced endoscopic sinus surgery, anterior and central skull base approaches, cerebrospinal fluid leak repair, facial reanimation, and surgical education for medical students, residents, and fellows.

Prior to medical school, Dr. Bigcas had a career in engineering and technical writing. He also has a background in molecular biology research with stints at UCLA, The Scripps Research Institute, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and Rice University. He is interested in innovating technology in medicine and hopes to find niches where his prior experiences and training meet his clinical interests.

For patient services, please contact the UNLV Health Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Clinic.