The Department of Surgery

Stacy Stephenson, MD

Associate Professor
Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Research

Research Focus

The Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine focuses on novel approaches for re-growing bone and nerves that have been damaged due to injury. Drs. Stephenson and Masi are particularly interested in healing bone and nerve damage in the arms and legs using carbon-based nanomaterials - structures that directly stimulate the growth of fat-derived adult stem cells to become new bone and nerve cells to repair injuries. They have recently shown that, using these materials, new nerve and bone cells can be generated that might one day be used clinically to repair damaged tissues. The laboratory is also investigating whether new blood vessels can develop within these therapeutic nanomaterials to help improve nerve and bone growth leading to enhanced tissue regeneration. Their long-term goal is to improve care and outcomes of patients by using their own body's fat-derived adult stem cells to repair injuries that cannot be treated by traditional methods.

Current Publications

Clegg DJ, Deek AJ, Salomon BJ, Blackburn C, Fahmy MD, Heidel RE, Stephenson SM, Herbig KS, Chun JT, Carlson ER, Boukovalas S..
Mandible reconstruction in a rural population: Comparison of radial forearm and free fibula flap outcomes. J Craniofac Surg. 2024 Jan-Feb 01;35(1):119-124. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000009832. Epub 2023 Nov 8.

Hall PT, Stubbs C, Pedersen AP, Billings C, Stephenson SM, Greenacre CB, Anderson DE, Crouch DL.
Effect of polyester-based artificial tendons on movement biomechanics: A preliminary in vivo study. J Biomech. 2023 Apr;151:111520. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111520. Epub 2023 Mar 6.

Clegg DJ, Salomon BJ, Porter CG, Mazonas TW, Heidel RE, Chun JT, Herbig KS, Stephenson SM, Lloyd JM, Boukovalas S.
The impact of travel distance and income on breast reconstruction after mastectomy in a rural population. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2023 Feb 2;11(2):e4802. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004802. eCollection 2023 Feb.

Crouch DL, Hall PT, Stubbs C, Billings C, Pedersen AP, Burton B, Greenacre CB, Stephenson SM, Anderson DE.
Feasibility of implanting a foot-ankle endoprosthesis within skin in a rabbit model of transtibial amputation. Bioengineering (Basel). 2022 Jul 27;9(8):348. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering9080348.

Crouch DL, Hall PT, Stubbs C, Billings C, Pedersen AP, Burton B, Greenacre CB, Stephenson SM, Anderson DE.
Feasibility of implanting a foot-ankle endoprosthesis within skin in a rabbit model of transtibial amputation. Bioengineering (Basel). 2022 Jul 27;9(8):348. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering9080348.

Current Presentations

Stephenson S. Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Pathogenesis and Surgical Movement. Presented at Surgery Grand Rounds; 2022 September-15; Knoxville, TN.