Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Harb, MD, to our practice. Dr. Harb is a Board-Certified Otolaryngologist, Head and Neck Surgeon, and fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon with extensive training in cosmetic and functional procedures on pediatric and adult patients alike. Learn more about her below.
Shelby Stockton: (00:01)
Welcome to the South Florida ENTs audio blog. I'm Shelby Stockton, and today I sat down to welcome South Florida ENT's newest member - otolaryngologist, Dr. Jennifer Harb. We discuss her passion for otolaryngology and why she chose the field. Dr. Harb tells me about her interest in plastics and shares her patient care philosophy. South Florida ENT is honored to get to work with Dr. Harb. Take a listen and get to know her a little better yourself.
Shelby Stockton: (00:27)
Dr. Harb, thanks so much for spending some time with me today.
Dr. Harb: (00:31)
Thank you so much. It's so nice to be here.
Shelby Stockton: (00:33)
I want to officially welcome you to South Florida ENT. We're very excited to have you.
Dr. Harb: (00:39)
Thank you. I'm excited to be here.
Shelby Stockton: (00:41)
I just want to ask you a few questions so our patients can get a little more familiar with you.
Dr. Harb: (00:45)
Sure.
Shelby Stockton: (00:46)
Question number one, why otolaryngology?
Dr. Harb: (00:49)
So, I found otolaryngology as a medical student, and I found that I really enjoyed the complex anatomy and all the ways that everything interacted in the head and neck area. And so early on in medical school, I sought additional exposure to otolaryngology. So, I shadowed extra... I spent extra time shadowing and getting to know the doctors and the procedures and the whole breath of otolaryngology. And so I kind of decided, early on in my medical school career, that that's what I wanted to pursue. And then through residency, I kind of gained more of an interest in the plastics, facial plastics sort of part of otolaryngology, specifically cranial disorders and post cancer resection reconstructions, and also aesthetic surgery. And so kind of following through on that whole trajectory, I decided to do a specific fellowship in facial plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery. So, that's kind of how I landed where I am and why I chose otolaryngology.
Shelby Stockton: (02:00)
What are your focus areas of care?
Dr. Harb: (02:04)
So, I really enjoy a lot of general otolaryngology, whether that's parotidectomies or thyroidectomies. I enjoy doing those sort of procedures, but I do have a specific focus on facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. So, that includes everything from reconstruction after a traumatic accident or a post-cancer resection to aesthetic surgery, so rhinoplasties, facelifts, brow lifts, the whole kind of gamut of cosmetic surgery as well.
Shelby Stockton: (02:35)
That's exciting. I find that to be very exciting and fascinating.
Dr. Harb: (02:37)
I think it's exciting too.
Shelby Stockton: (02:39)
Me too. What is your patient care philosophy?
Dr. Harb: (02:43)
So, I think this is especially important in facial plastics in that it's important to get the input of the patient and really work together with the patient to advise or to come up with a treatment care plan. But I mentioned that this is especially born in facial plastics because in facial plastics, there's a lot... There's often many roots that you can go down to achieve a goal. So, it's really important to discuss all of those options with the patient and kind of see where their goals lie and what I think is possible, to figure out the path where that converges so we can achieve the goals together. So, I really try to involve the patient in the decision making process. And then the other part of it, I really value honesty, transparency throughout the entire process.
Shelby Stockton: (03:35)
Yeah, I think that's really important, especially with plastics, because it's so, I mean, excuse the pun, but on your face.
Dr. Harb: (03:40)
Right.
Shelby Stockton: (03:41)
I mean, you're presenting yourself to the world that way.
Dr. Harb: (03:43)
Yes.
Shelby Stockton: (03:44)
That makes sense to me. So, what are you excited about starting with South Florida ENT?
Dr. Harb: (03:49)
I'm really excited to kind of just start working in the different neighborhoods, kind of meeting all the different types of patients, seeing what they're interested in, seeing what procedures they request, what their concerns are. I anticipate different people, obviously come in with different concerns, and I'm kind of excited to just sort of see what all those different populations kind of present with and what they're interested in. So, I'm just sort of excited to get started.
Shelby Stockton: (04:17)
Definitely. One more question about would be patients, what would you say to a patient who's really, really nervous about plastics? And what would you say to them, for them to come into you, talk to you?
Dr. Harb: (04:31)
Yeah, I would say that I think that's a very reasonable emotion to be feeling. I think it's important to emphasize that just because you book an appointment with a plastic surgeon doesn't necessarily mean that you're booking surgery. You're not necessarily signing up for any sort of procedures. It's okay to just come in and have questions and have a consultation just to kind of see what your options are. And it's okay to not book anything and never come back if you don't ever want to. But if you have questions, this is kind of an open forum and open time to just sort of air whatever's on your mind, and we can discuss the different options. And if you like it, great. And if you think, "No, you know what, maybe not for me, not right now," that's okay, too.
Shelby Stockton: (05:11)
Right. Laid back.
Dr. Harb: (05:14)
Yes. Yes. There's no... You're not automatically signing up for anything when you walk in the door. It's a very easy sort of, come in, tell me what you're thinking, and we can kind of discuss that issue.
Shelby Stockton: (05:24)
Perfect. Thank you so much for spending some of your lunch time with me. I know you're very busy.
Dr. Harb: (05:29)
I really appreciate you taking the time, so thank you very much.
