Elizabeth Cottrill

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Elizabeth Cottrill is a leading voice in otolaryngology whose research is reshaping postoperative pain management and advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques. Her most impactful work tackles the opioid crisis head-on through a landmark multiphasic study on opioid-prescribing practices. The first phase, cited 48 times, revealed that over half of prescribed opioids went unused after common otolaryngologic procedures, exposing a critical gap in evidence-based guidelines. Building on this, her follow-up study (6 citations) demonstrated the successful implementation of multimodal, evidence-based protocols to dramatically reduce unnecessary opioid use without compromising pain control. Beyond pain management, Dr. Cottrill is pioneering the future of scarless surgery. Her preclinical feasibility study (8 citations) explored transoral thyroidectomy using a flexible robotic system, a technique that eliminates the traditional neck scar by accessing the thyroid through the mouth. This work positions her at the forefront of remote-access endocrine surgery. Through her rigorous, multiphasic approach, Cottrill has not only provided actionable data to curb opioid overprescription but also opened new doors for patient-centered, cosmetically superior surgical options.