S. Tonya Stefko, MD

  • Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, and Neurological Surgery
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
  • Director, Orbital, Oculoplastics and Aesthetic Surgery Service

Dr. S. Tonya Stefko is an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Oculoplastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Service at UPMC Eye Center. She received her medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh and completed her residency and fellowship training at the Wilmer Eye Institute of The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. She is the 2020 recipient of the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Ophthalmology Chief Resident's Award for Dedication in Resident Education, an award she has won in the past. Dr. Stefko's most recent writing about the "Combined Surgical Approaches In And Around The Orbit.  JNLS-B Skull Base," was accepted for publication May 2020. 

She is currently editing a special edition of the Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B focused on the orbit.  She is also actively participating in the Human Eye Perfusion Project with Dr. Leah Byrne.  In February 2020, she was the chair of the Orbital Education Day at the annual meeting of the North American Skull Base Society in San Antonio, TX, an entire day at this international meeting devoted to surgery in and around the orbit.  She is part of the Center for Cranial Base Surgery at UPMC, a multidisciplinary group devoted to minimally disruptive ways to treat pathology in this very complex anatomic region.  Dr. Stefko is also a very active teacher of medical students, residents, fellows, and an international set of attending surgeons who attend the several-times-annually hands-on courses offered by the Cranial Base Surgery group at UPMC.

Academic Affiliation

2002-Present
Assistant Professor
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh Physicians
Department of Ophthalmology

2002-2003
Visiting Assistant Professor
Johns Hopkins University

June 1994-August 1994
Research Assistant
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Education & Training

  • 1984-1988 Duquesne University, Degree: B.A. 1988
  • 1993-1997 University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Degree: M.D. 1997
  • 1997-1998 Internship, Western Pennsylvania Hospital
  • 1998-2001 Residency in Ophthalmology, The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • 2001-2002 Fellowship in Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital

Representative Publications

  1. Zhou S, Duncan K, Stefko ST. Nonhealing orbital floor fracture in a pediatric patient: A unique presentation of pseudo-silent sinus syndrome. Orbit. 10 Jan 2018: 1-3.

  2. Sorrentino D, Taubenslag KJ, Bodily LM, Duncan K, Stefko T, Yu JY. Superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis: A rare complication of Graves’ orbitopathy. Orbit. 2017:1-4.

  3. Chabot JD, Stefko ST, Snyderman C, Fernandez-Miranda JC.  Multicorridor endoscopic endonasal and supraorbital approach for orbital roof meningioma: 3-dimensional operative video.  Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2017 Jun 1;13(3):401.

  4. Lieber S, Zenonos G, Zwagerman NT, Chabot JD, Stefko S, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Gardner PA.  Pushing the boundaries of the lateral orbitotomy through a lateral canthotomy approach: successful resection of two middle cranial fossa pathologies with extension into the posterior cranial fossa – an anatomical and technical note.  J Neurol Surg B. 2017 Mar;78(S1):S131.

  5. Borghei-Razavi H, Fernandes-Cabral D, Truong HQ, Chabot J, Celtikci E, Wang EW, Stefko ST, Snyderman C, Gardner P, Fernandez-Miranda JC.  Minimally invasive approaches for anterior skull base meningiomas: supraorbital eyebrow, endoscopic endonasal, or a combination of both?  Anatomical study and surgical application.  J Neurol Surg B. 2017 Mar;78(S1):S102-S103.

  6. Koutourousiou M, Vaz Guimaraes Filho F, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Wang EW, Stefko ST, Snyderman CH, Gardner PA.  Endoscopic endonasal surgery for tumors of the cavernous sinus: a series of 234 patients.  World Neurosurg. 2017 Jul;103:713-732

  7. Shazly TA, Stefko ST. Congenital Entropion and Hypotropia Secondary to Duplication of the Inferior Rectus Muscle. J AAPOS. 2016. Accepted-in press.

  8. Richards NQ, Kofler JK, Chu CT, Stefko ST. Intraocular synovial sarcoma. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2016 Jun 16. [Epub ahead of print]

  9. Stefko ST, Snyderman C, Fernandez-Miranda J, Tyler-Kabara E, Wang E, Bodily L, Bilonick RA, Gardner PA.  Visual outcomes after endoscopic endonasal approach for craniopharyngioma: the Pittsburgh experience. J Neurol Surg B. 2016 Aug;77(B4):326-32.  

  10. Chabot JD, Stefko ST, Snyderman CH, Fernandez-Miranda JC.  Multi-corridor endoscopic endonasal and supraorbital approach for orbital roof meningioma: 3-dimensional operative video. Oper Neurosurgery, 2017 Jun 1;13(3):401

  11. Chabot JD, Stefko ST, Fernandez-Miranda JC.  Lateral orbitotomy approach for resection of intraosseous sphenoid wing meningiomas: 3-dimensional operative video.  Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2017 Jun;13(3):399.   

  12. DeKlotz TR, Stefko ST, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Gardner PA, Snyderman CH, Wang EW.  Endoscopic endonasal optic nerve decompression for fibrous dysplasia.  J Neurol Surg B.  2017 Feb;78(1):24-29

  13. Bleier BS, Castelnuovo P, Battaglia P, Turri-Zanoni M, Dallan I, Metson R, Sedaghat AR, Stefko ST, Gardner PA, Snyderman CH, Noguiera JF, Ramakrishnan VR, Muscatello L, Lenzi R, Freitag S.  Endoscopic endonasal orbital cavernous hemangioma resection: global experience in techniques and outcomes.  Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2016 Feb;6(2):156-61.   

  14. Zwagerman NT, Stefko S, Wang E, Fernandez-Miranda J, Snyderman C, Gardner PA.  Endoscopic endonasal approach for orbital and orbital apex lesions: a series of 77 patients.  J Neurol Surg B. 2015 Feb;76(S1):S26-7.

  15. Chabot JD, Stefko S, Wang E, Snyderman C, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Gardner P.  Lateral orbital approach for lesions involving the middle fossa.  J Neurol Surg B. 2015 Feb;76(S1):S15-6. 

  16. DeKlotz TR, Stefko ST, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Gardner PA, Snyderman CH, Wang EW.  Endoscopic endonasal optic nerve decompression for benign pathology of the optic canal.  J Neurol Surg B. 2014 Feb;75(suppl 1):S14.

  17. Gardner PA, Paluzzi A, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Tormenti M, Stefko ST, Snyderman CH, Maroon JC.  “Round the clock” surgical access to the orbit.  J Neurol Surg B.  2015 Feb;(1):12-24.

  18. Paluzzi A, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Stefko ST, Challinor S, Snyderman CH, Gardner PA.  Endoscopic endonasal approach for pituitary adenomas: a series of 555 patients. Pituitary. 2014 Aug;17(4):307-19.

  19. Koutourousiou M, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Stefko ST, Wang EW, Snyderman CH, Gardner PA.  Endoscopic endonasal surgery for suprasellar meningiomas: experience with 75 patients.  J Neurosurg. 2014 Jun;120(6):1326-39.