Stuart Ginn, MD

A former airline pilot, Dr. Stuart Ginn was born in San Francisco and raised in Salisbury, N.C. He grew up in a family that was heavily influenced by medicine and the life sciences: His mother was an anatomy and biology teacher, his father an internal medicine doctor, and his older brother later became an orthopaedic surgeon. Passionate about flight since early childhood, Dr. Ginn starting flying airplanes when he was 15 and later worked as a flight instructor while a student at the University of Virginia, where he studied English Literature. He was fortunate to accept a job as a pilot with United Express airlines after college. His interest in medicine and the life sciences grew during his flying days, and while visiting his brother (who was an orthopedic surgery resident) at the Wake Forest University Hospital he was brought into the operating room to observe a surgery. After that experience, as he says, “I was hooked.” Following this galvanizing experience, Dr. Ginn decided to pursue a career in medicine and later matriculated to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

During medical school, Dr. Ginn was drawn to the specialty of ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery due to the breadth of the field, which includes voice and hearing issues, cancer, endocrinology and sleep problems, to name a few. He was also drawn to the rapid pace of innovation in the field, and received special training in the medical technology innovation process via the Stanford Biodesign program during residency, consulting on projects ranging from traditional medical devices to digital health initiatives.

“In a single day, we see a range of conditions and problems involving the head and neck region of the body. Since our specialty is uniquely defined by a body region rather than a single body system, we are able to manage problems across nearly every system in the human body, for patients across the entire life span” said Dr. Ginn, whose clinical interests include general ENT, endocrine surgery, medical technology innovation and health safety systems innovation.

Outside of medicine and surgery, Dr. Ginn is married to his college sweetheart, Mary Beth, and together they have two young sons. Trained as a nurse practitioner, Mary Beth also works in the health care industry on operations and administration projects. As a family, the Ginns enjoy staying active, engaging in outdoor activities, and spending time in the mountains and on the water.