Difficult Decisions in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery

Zhen Gooi, MD, specializes in the care of patients with benign and malignant head and neck tumors. Within the field of head and neck surgery, his clinical interests are reconstruction of the head and neck, transoral robotic surgery and de-escalation of treatment for patients with HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Dr. Agrawal's work has achieved international recognition in the field of head and neck surgical oncology, and head and neck cancer genetics. Under his leadership, a team of researchers completed a landmark study that examined the genome of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.  His group then followed up by publishing the genomic landscapes of the remaining major head and neck cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, medullary thyroid cancer, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.  Dr. Agrawal then applied these findings to identify tumor DNA as a biomarkers that improve cancer diagnostics in the saliva and plasma of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.  His research is focused on the application of cancer genetics to design diagnostic approaches to reduce morbidity and mortality from head and neck cancer. In addition to his clinical and research contributions, Dr. Agrawal is an accomplished educator -- teaching medical students, residents, and fellows about the management of patients with head and neck cancer. Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Dr. Agrawal was an associate professor at John Hopkins University.