D. Jeffery Higginbotham
University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Papers
4
Total Citations
67
H-Index
4
About
D. Jeffery Higginbotham is a leading researcher in communication sciences and disorders, with a specialized focus on the complexities of team interaction in high-stakes medical environments, particularly robot-assisted surgery (RAS). His work bridges human communication, technology, and patient safety. Higginbotham’s major contributions include pioneering microanalytic studies that reveal how the physical setup of RAS—where the surgeon is remote and team members cannot see each other—fundamentally disrupts natural communication. He has shown that gestures, once a simple pointing tool, become critical yet fragile coordination devices in this context, and that surgical hierarchy can impede the clear communication of risks. His most cited paper, “Are gestures worth a thousand words?” (51 citations), is a landmark study demonstrating the essential role of nonverbal cues in RAS. Other notable works, such as his pilot study on coordinating attention and his analysis of hierarchy’s influence on risk communication, have each garnered 6 citations, underscoring their growing impact. By systematically documenting these communication gaps, Higginbotham’s research provides a vital evidence base for designing better surgical training, team protocols, and technology interfaces, ultimately aiming to reduce errors and improve patient outcomes in the operating room.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Multimodal team interactions in Robot-Assisted Surgery4 citations · 2016