Dr. Larry Hartzell earned his medical degree at The University of Arizona College of Medicine and then completed the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery residency program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He then completed a two-year fellowship-training program in Pediatric Otolaryngology, which included an extensive experience in the comprehensive care of patients with cleft lip and palate as well as other craniofacial anomalies at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He is a Professor of Otolaryngology with Tenure and has served as the Director of the Arkansas Cleft Lip and Palate Team since 2012.

Dr. Hartzell has a passion for education related to cleft lip and palate comprehensive care as well as related topics such as Velopharyngeal Insufficiency.  He participates regularly as an invited lecturer locally, nationally and internationally mostly on topics related to cleft lip and palate surgical and clinical management and outcomes, velopharyngeal insufficiency, and alveolar bone grafting.

He is active in research related to these topics having published peer-reviewed articles as well as book chapters and educational materials. Dr. Hartzell is one of the inaugural members of the Cleft and Craniofacial Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) and is active in other medical societies related to craniofacial care. 

Dr. Hartzell also has a passion for the care of the underserved especially those in foreign countries. He is fluent in Spanish after serving a mission for his church for 2 years in Colombia. Larry has also participated in numerous humanitarian surgical teams from various organizations and with varied compositions including trips to China, Guatemala, Egypt and Ecuador with a particular emphasis on treating patients with clefts. 

Larry is a devoted husband and proud father of 3 children.  He is an active member of his church where he provides regular voluntary service in different capacities. He loves outdoor activities including camping, hiking, boating, surfing and skiing, as well as soccer and volleyball. He is an avid reader (mostly Sci-Fi and Fantasy), watching movies and Lego! And to say he is a fan of Star Wars is an understatement.