Sandeep Samant

Sandeep Samant, MD is a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. He serves as chief of head and neck surgery and director of the Northwestern multidisciplinary head and neck program, having performed over 8,000 head and neck cancer operations since completing his 1996 fellowship training.

Education

• MD: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (1987)
• MS: All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (1989)
• Intern: All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Rotating Internship (1986)
• Resident: All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (1990)
• Fellow: University of Miami, Head and Neck Surgery and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery (1995)
• Fellow: University of Tennessee Medical Center, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology (1996)

Research Interests

Dr. Samant specializes in minimally invasive robotic and endoscopic techniques for managing oral, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, nasal, sinus, and thyroid cancers. His research integrates surgical innovation with population health analysis, particularly examining social vulnerability impacts on cancer outcomes through indices like SVI. Current work emphasizes functional recovery metrics and health equity in head/neck oncology.

Recent Publications

His 2025 publications reveal dual research trajectories: technical surgical outcomes (free flap complications, swallowing function post-TORS) and socioeconomic determinants of care (surgeon distribution disparities, HPV-cancer vulnerability mapping). This demonstrates a cohesive focus on optimizing both procedural precision and equitable access to advanced head/neck cancer treatments.

Scientific Awards

• Member, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (2014)
• Zodiac Ball Honoree of the Year, American Cancer Society (2012)
• America's Top Doctors, US News and Castle Connolly Medical Ltd (2011)
• Healthcare Heroes, Memphis Business Journal (2008)

Research Leadership

Dr. Samant leads two major clinical initiatives: the Head and Neck Tissue Bank (NU 15N01) collecting biospecimens for biomarker discovery, and the Northwestern Head and Neck Cancer Registry (NU 15N02) aggregating clinical data to analyze cancer subtypes and treatment efficacy. These projects support translational research into genetic factors, treatment resistance, and novel diagnostic tools.

Labs and Teams

As director of the Northwestern multidisciplinary head and neck program, he coordinates a 15+ specialist team including surgical oncologists, radiation therapists, pathologists, and speech rehabilitation experts. His tissue bank and registry operate through dedicated research staff at 201 E. Huron St., Chicago, with active collaboration across Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Developmental Therapeutics Institute.