Dr. Jacobs and his team were the first to develop and an in vitro- and in vivo-derived cartilage grafts for laryngotracheal reconstruction in a rabbit model. His current research focus is on customizing cartilage grafts for minimally invasive posterior laryngeal expansion procedures. The main thrust of this translatable research has led to the achievement of a successful Frontier Grant application of a translatable research endeavor for pediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction.

Additional research by Dr. Jacobs and his colleagues include the prevention and mitigation of lithium battery injuries in infants and children using both cadaveric and live animal porcine esophagus. In this project the team was able to elucidate the basic mechanism of injury, which involves an alkaline burn from electrically induced hydrolysis of water at the anode pole of the battery. The investigators were also able to demonstrate effective injury reduction with specific mildly acidic beverages such as orange juice and 0.25 percent acetic acid at the time of lithium battery removal and honey and sucralfate (Carafate) in the preoperative time before endoscopic removal. This research has resulted in the National Poison Control Center guidelines being changed in 2018.

Among his notable career achievements to date, Dr. Jacobs received:

• Honorable mention for Basic Research by The Triological Society Council for thesis entitled, "The Development of an In Vitro and In Vivo Derived Tissue-Engineered Cartilage for Pediatric Laryngotracheal Reconstruction in a Rabbit Model"
• Seymour Cohen Award in Pediatric Laryngology at the American Bronchoesophagological Association for “Basic mechanism of button battery injuries and novel mitigation strategies after diagnosis and removal
• Broyles-Maloney Award for Bronchoesophagological Association for use of honey and sucralfate to prevent injuries
• Ellen Friedman Foreign Body Management Award
• Frontier Grant from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for extraordinary clinic care, translatable research, and innovation

BA, University of Pennsylvania, 1982

MD, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, 1986

MLA, University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences, 2014

Medical Director, Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders

Endowed Chair in Pediatric Otolaryngology and Pediatric Airway Disorders

Attending Otolaryngologist

Professor of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 1995-

American Broncho-Esophagological Association, 1999-

American Academy of Pediatrics, Section of Bronchoesophagology, 2000-

American Academy of Pediatrics, Section of Otolaryngology, 2000-

European Laryngological Society, 2012-

American Laryngological Association, 2017-

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Honor Award, 2001

Honorary Lifetime Member, Israeli Society of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, 2009

Fellow, The College of Physicians (Philadelphia), 2012

Triological Society Career Development Award, 2012

New Bioengineering Lab Paves Way for Pediatric Airway Discoveries (Cornerstone blog)