Dr. Shaffer is a clinical researcher with expertise in study design and biostatistics. She has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles spanning the breadth of pediatric otolaryngology. She is a member of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and the Society of Clinical Research Associates and is a Certified Clinical Research Professional. Her research focuses on the otologic health of children with cleft palate.
- University of Pittsburgh, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Pain Research
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, PhD in Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program
- University of Oklahoma, BS in Microbiology, Minor in Psychology
Education & Training
Randomized clinical trial of non-opioid pain medications after intracapsular adenotonsillectomy. Lu NE, Shaffer AD, Rushchak MV, Maguire RC, Jabbour N, Tobey ABJ, McCoy JL, Chi DH. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2025 Apr 21;193:112361. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2025.112361.
Hearing Preservation Techniques in Pediatric Cochlear Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Madgar O, Shaffer AD, Gerges D, Kitsko DJ, Chi DH. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 May;172(5):1539-1547. doi: 10.1002/ohn.1180. Epub 2025 Mar 7.
Elexacaftor-Tezacaftor-Ivacaftor Improves Sinonasal Outcomes in Young Children With Cystic Fibrosis. Stapleton AL, Kimple A, Goralski JL, Beswick DM, Gupta A, Li DA, Branstetter BF, Nouraie SM, Shaffer AD, Senior B, Zemke AC. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2025 Mar 2:e23555. doi: 10.1002/alr.23555.
Hearing following total ossicular chain reconstruction prosthesis with and without footplate shoe prosthesis. Balogun Z, Dang S, Tarfa R, Haykal N, Shaffer A, McCoy J, Chi D. Am J Otolaryngol. 2025 Mar-Apr;46(2):104561. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104561. Epub 2025 Mar 1.
Disparities in Surgical Intervention in Pediatric Patients With Submucous Cleft Palate and Velopharyngeal Dysfunction. Eljamri S, Reddy PD, Shaffer A, Harley RJ, Jabbour N. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Apr;172(4):1403-1408. doi: 10.1002/ohn.1111. Epub 2025 Jan 7.
Dr. Shaffer is especially interested in the role breast milk plays in establishing and maintaining a microbial environment that promotes middle ear health. She is also involved in projects examining the microbiome of the adenoids and paranasal sinuses in children, including those with chronic rhinosinusitis and cystic fibrosis. Finally, she is investigating systems that streamline and enhance the accessibility of clinical outcomes research in otolaryngology.