Who Is Dr. Eric Stelnicki, MD? Credentials and Experience at Children's Plastic Surgery Institute of Florida

Dr. Eric Stelnicki, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon who leads the Children's Plastic Surgery Institute of Florida, a practice focused on pediatric plastic, cranio-maxillofacial, and reconstructive surgery for children and adults. According to the practice's website, he holds the largest and most experienced practice of its kind in the state, is fellowship-trained in pediatric craniofacial reconstruction, and has published 100 peer-reviewed articles. If you are evaluating him for a pediatric or adult reconstructive consultation, the sections below summarize what the practice states about his background and how to weigh it.

Credentials and Recognition

Two of these points are worth separating. The Doximity citation ranking reflects how often his published work is referenced in medical literature — a research-impact measure, not a surgical outcome measure. The "largest and most experienced practice in the state" claim is the practice's own description, so treat it as a self-reported positioning rather than an independently verified ranking.

Clinical Focus Areas

The practice describes three main service lines:

• Pediatric plastic surgery — repairing, reconstructing, and replacing areas of the body with a defect in form or function, ranging from simple excisions of masses and lesions to complex cranio-maxillofacial surgery. The practice treats both pediatric and adult patients.
• Vascular anomalies and hemangiomas — diagnosis and treatment of vascular malformations and hemangiomas using laser therapies, medical therapies, and surgical excision when appropriate.
• Cleft lip and palate — Dr. Stelnicki is described as a leader in cleft lip, nose, and palate surgery, with nearly two decades of experience and thousands of procedures.

He also founded the multidisciplinary Cleft and Craniofacial Center at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in South Florida. That detail matters if you are looking for coordinated care: a multidisciplinary center typically brings together surgery, orthodontics, speech therapy, and other specialties in one care plan, which is often the standard approach for cleft and craniofacial conditions.

What This Means If You Are Choosing a Surgeon

Use the following as decision criteria rather than a single verdict:

• Match the condition to the focus area. If your child's case involves cleft lip or palate, craniofacial reconstruction, or a vascular anomaly, the practice's stated subspecialty focus is directly relevant. For general pediatric plastic surgery questions, the same applies.
• Verify board certification independently. The website states board certification; you can confirm this through the relevant certifying board rather than relying on the site alone.
• Ask about volume for your specific condition. "Thousands of procedures" is stated for cleft surgery broadly. For your child's specific diagnosis, ask how many comparable cases the surgeon performs per year.
• Consider the multidisciplinary angle. If your case needs coordinated care across specialties, the hospital center affiliation is a practical advantage worth asking about during a consultation.
• Use telemedicine for a first pass. The practice offers virtual visits, which the site frames as a way to get a second opinion more easily. This can be a low-commitment way to ask credential and case-volume questions before traveling.

Common Questions

Is he a pediatric specialist or a general plastic surgeon? The practice describes him as fellowship-trained in pediatric craniofacial reconstruction and focused on pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery, while also treating adults.

Does the practice only see children? No. The website states the surgeons are experienced in plastic and reconstructive surgery for both pediatric and adult populations.

What conditions does the practice treat? Pediatric plastic and reconstructive conditions, vascular malformations and hemangiomas, and cleft lip and palate, among others.

How do I start? The site lists a telemedicine appointment option and a "Learn More" path for each service line. Contact the practice directly to confirm current availability, insurance participation, and whether a referral is needed — none of these details are specified on the page.