Cancers Treated:
Specializing In:
Head and neck surgery Transoral Laser Microsurgery (TLM) Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) Local and microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck (free flap surgery)Research Interests:
Surgical outcomes after transoral laser and robotic surgery Surgical management of laryngeal cancer Outcomes and management of thyroid cancerAbout Ayham Al Afif
Biography:
Head and Neck Oncology is a complex and rapidly evolving discipline, which captured my interest during medical school and throughout residency. I received comprehensive fellowship training in all facets of head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I treat all forms of head and neck cancer, with a special interest in transoral surgery, and head and neck reconstruction. I feel very privileged to care for the people of Buffalo and New York.
Positions
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Assistant Professor of Surgery and Oncology
- Co-Director, Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstruction Fellowship
- Department of Head and Neck, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Background
Education and Training:
- 2015 - MD - Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- 2011 - MSc - Microbiology and Immunology (Viral Immunology), Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Residency:
- 2020 - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Fellowship:
- 2021 - Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery - University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Board Certification:
- 2020 - Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
Professional Memberships:
- American Head and Neck Society
- American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
- Canadian Society for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
- Canadian Medical Association
Honors & Awards:
- Resident Teacher of the Year, Dalhousie University
- Charles Ferguson Award in Clinical Research
- James Hammerling Prize in Otolaryngology
- Frederick Banting and Charles Best Master's Award - Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR)
- Canadian Allergy and Immune Diseases Advanced Training Award
Research
Research Overview:
Patient and Tumor Factors Contributing to Distant Metastasis in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Khan U; Al Afif A; Aldaihani A, MacKay C; Matthew H Rigby MH; Rajaraman M; Imran SA; Bullock MJ; Taylor SM; Trites JRB; Hart RD. J of Otolaryngol - Head & Neck Surg. 2020:49(1):78
Transoral microscopic cautery-assisted laser tonsillectomy/tongue base resection (TOMCAT). Ubayasiri K, Al Afif A, Herruer J, Taylor SM. Clin Otolaryngol. 2019;45(2):304-306
The role of repeat fine needle aspiration in improving diagnostic accuracy in thyroid masses. Allen L, Al Afif A, Rigby MH, Bullock MJ, Trites J, Taylor SM, Hart RD. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019; 48:16.
Improving aesthetic outcomes after head and neck reconstruction. Al Afif A, Uys HK, Taylor SM. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018 Aug;26(4):227-233.
Multifocal papillary thyroid cancer increases the risk of central lymph node metastasis. Al Afif A, Williams BA, Rigby MH, Bullock MJ, Taylor SM, Trites J, Hart RD. Thyroid. 2015 Sep;25(9):1008-12.