Zafar Sayed

Zafar Sayed, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Surgery (Otolaryngology) at Yale School of Medicine, affiliated with Smilow Cancer Center. He specializes in head and neck surgical oncology, focusing on transoral robotic surgery for tumors of the aerodigestive tract, thyroid disease, and reconstructive procedures. His research explores stem cell regeneration of the inner ear and deintensification of cancer treatments.

Dr. Sayed earned his MD from Indiana University School of Medicine, completed residency at Northwestern University, and a fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He previously led the head and neck surgical oncology team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, serving as Director of the multidisciplinary tumor board and Principal Investigator of a tumor repository. He also held roles as Chief of Otolaryngology at the Nebraska–Northwest Iowa Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

His clinical expertise emphasizes minimizing patient morbidity through advanced techniques. He is an active member of the American Head and Neck Society and has received research awards from the Triological Society. Dr. Sayed is involved in clinical trials to reduce treatment-related adverse effects and improve outcomes for head and neck cancer patients.