Faisal I. Ahmad, MD
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Faisal I. Ahmad
Dr. Faisal I. Ahmad is an Associate Professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. As a fellowship-trained head and neck surgical oncologist, his clinical practice focuses on ablative procedures, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), and the comprehensive management of head and neck cancers. His surgical practice encompasses a wide range of disease sites, including the skin, oral cavity, thyroid, larynx, oropharynx, salivary gland, and sinonasal tract.
Dr. Ahmad’s academic and research interests include clinical pathways, quality and safety, and addressing health disparities. During his tenure at his prior institution, he was instrumental in integrating the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) as a patient-reported outcome measure and led center-wide initiatives to screen for and address financial toxicity. He intends to continue and expand these initiatives at MD Anderson to further enhance patient-centered care and patient outcomes.
Dr. Ahmad is an MD Anderson alumnus. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with highest honors followed by his Doctor of Medicine with distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University before coming to MD Anderson for advanced fellowship training in both Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Microvascular & Reconstructive Surgery.
Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Ahmad served as Chief of the Section of Head & Neck Surgery at Baptist MD Anderson (BMDA) in Jacksonville, Florida. His leadership experience includes serving as Committee Chair for the Commission on Cancer and holding key institutional roles such as Epic Physician Champion and membership in the Surgical Block Time, Quality and Safety, and System-Wide Robotics committees. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and has been recognized with the BMDA Spirit of Magnet Physician of the Year Award and the BMDA Professional Collaboration Award for his dedication to clinical excellence and multidisciplinary teamwork.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Head and Neck Surgery, Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Head & Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2012 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, US, Medicine, Doctor of Medicine |
| 2006 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, US, Chemistry with Highest Honors, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2018-2019 | Fellowship, Microvascular & Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2017-2018 | Fellowship, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2012-2017 | Residency, Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2026 | Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure |
| 2026 | Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure |
| 2026 | Arizona Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2026 | Georgia Composite Medical Board |
| 2026 | Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2026 | Alabama Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2026 | Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2025 | Texas Medical Board |
| 2019 | Florida Board of Medicine |
| 2018 | American Board of Otolaryngology |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Chief, Section of Head & Neck Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, 2022 - 2025
Section Chief ad interim, Section of Head & Neck Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, 2022 - 2023
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2020 - 2025
Head & Neck Surgical Oncologist and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeon, Section of Head & Neck Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, 2019 - 2025
Fellow, Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2018 - 2019
Fellow and Clinical Specialist, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2017 - 2018
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Associate Medical Director, Head & Neck Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2026 - Present
Other Professional Positions
EHR Officer, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2026 - Present
Committee Chair for Baptist MD Anderson, Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons, 2025 - 2025
Cancer Liaison Physician for Baptist MD Anderson, Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons, 2021 - 2024
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Medical Practice Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Baptist System Wide Robotics Committee, Baptist Health, 2024 - 2025
Member, Baptist MD Anderson Search Committee for Head, Division of Surgery, Baptist Health, 2024 - 2025
Member, Baptist Surgical Block Time Committee, Baptist Health, 2023 - 2025
Member, Baptist MD Anderson Physician Stewardship Metrics Committee, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2025
Member, Epic Physician Champion, Baptist Health, 2021 - 2021
Member, Baptist MD Anderson Quality and Safety Committee, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2025
Honors & Awards
| 2025 | Baptist MD Anderson Spirit of Magnet Physician of the Year Award, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2025 | The Daisy Team Award (Weaver 7 Surgical Oncology Team), Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2023 | Baptist MD Anderson Spirit of Magnet Award: Professional Collaboration, Baptist Health |
| 2021 | Baptist MD Anderson Spirit of Magnet Physician of the Year Award, Baptist Health |
| 2021 | The Daisy Team Award (Head and Neck Clinic Team), Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2019 | Best Save in Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2017 | Department of Otolaryngology Resident Teaching Award, Oregon Health and Science University |
| 2016 | Chamberlain Resident Research Competition, Oregon Health and Science University |
| 2016 | Resident Research Competition, The Oregon Academy of Otolaryngology |
| 2011 - 2012 | John Idol Medical Scholarship, University of North Carolina School of Medicine |
| 2008 - 2010 | Robert E. Smith Medical Scholar, University of North Carolina School of Medicine |
| 2008 | John B. Graham Research Society, University of North Carolina School of Medicine |
| 2007 - 2012 | Sarah Kenan Medical Scholarship, University of North Carolina School of Medicine |
| 2007 | Francis P. Venable Medal in Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Regional Presentations
- 2026. Practical Updates on the New AJCC Head and Neck Subsite Staging Guidelines. Invited.
- 2011. Cochlear implantation in children with post-linguistic hearing loss. Poster. 13th Symposium on Cochlear Implants in Children. Chicago, Illinois, US.
- 2011. Electrophysiological Recording During Cochlear Implantation: Results in Animals and Humans. Poster. Conference on Implantable Auditory Prostheses. Pacific Grove, California, US.
- 2009. The Effect of Apocynin and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Choroidal Endothelial Cell Reactive Oxygen Species Production. Poster. University of North Carolina School of Medicine Student Research Day. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, US.
- 2007. Factor XIII Levels Are Normal in Afibrinogenemic Plasma. Poster. Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Annual Meeting. Chicago, Illinois, US.
National Presentations
- 2016. Treatment of Sudden SNHL: Patient Characteristics and Outcomes. Invited. American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting. San Diego, California, US.
- 2016. Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Free Flap in Non-Mandible Head and Neck Reconstruction. Invited. American Head and Neck Society International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer. Seattle, Washington, US.
- 2016. Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Free Flap in Non-Mandible Head and Neck Reconstruction. Poster. The Triological Society Combined Sections Meeting. Miami, Florida, US.
- 2015. The Role of Post-Operative Hematoma on Free Flap Compromise. Invited. The Triological Society Combined Sections Meeting. Coronado Island, California, US.
- 2014. Revision Pediatric Laryngotracheal Reconstruction with a Composite Auricular Cartilage and Radial Forearm Free Flap. Poster. American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting. Las Vegas, Nevada, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Hall MK, Howard C, Trullo MC, Crawford AM, Ahmad F. Development and implementation of surgical oncology intensive nurse education program for an inpatient progressive care unit. Clin J Oncol Nurs 29(5):429-443, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40986778.
- DeFazio MV, Arribas EM, Ahmad FI, Le-Petross HT, Liu J, Chu CK, Santiago L, Clemens MW. Application of Three-Dimensional Printed Vascular Modeling as a Perioperative Guide to Perforator Mapping and Pedicle Dissection during Abdominal Flap Harvest for Breast Reconstruction. J Reconstr Microsurg 36(5):325-338, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32000277.
- Ahmad FI, Mericli AF, DeFazio MV, Chang EI, Hanasono MM, Pederson WC, Kaufman M, Selber JC. Application of the ORBEYE three-dimensional exoscope for microsurgical procedures. Microsurgery 40(4):468-472, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31855291.
- Goncalves Filho J, Zafereo ME, Ahmad FI, Nixon IJ, Shaha AR, Vander Poorten V, Sanabria A, Hefetz AK, Robbins KT, Kamani D, Randolph GW, Coca-Pelaz A, Simo R, Rinaldo A, Angelos P, Ferlito A, Kowalski LP. Decision making for the central compartment in differentiated thyroid cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol 44(11):1671-1678, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30145001.
- Farzal Z, Walsh J, Ahmad FI, Roberts J, Ferns SJ, Zdanski CJ. Electrocardiogram Screening in Children with Congenital Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Prevalence and Follow-up of Abnormalities. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 158(3):553-558, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29160150.
- Ahmad FI, Means C, Labby AB, Troob SH, Gonzalez JD, Kim MM, Li RJ, Wax MK. Osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap in nonmandible head and neck reconstruction. Head Neck 39(9):1888-1893, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28675554.
- Ahmad FI, Gerecci D, Gonzalez JD, Peck JJ, Wax MK. The role of postoperative hematoma on free flap compromise. Laryngoscope 125(8):1811-5, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25877478.
- Ahmad FI, O'Dell K, Peck JJ, Wax MK, Milczuk HA. Pediatric airway reconstruction with a prefabricated auricular cartilage and radial forearm free flap. Laryngoscope 125(8):1979-82, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25645935.
- Ahmad FI, Gerecci D, Gonzalez JD, Peck JJ, Wax MK. The role of post-operative hematoma on free flap compromise. Laryngoscope 125(8):1811-5, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25877478.
- Ahmad FI, DeMason CE, Teagle H, Henderson L, Adunka OF, Buchman CA. Cochlear implantation in children with post-lingual hearing loss. Laryngoscope 122(8):1852-7, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22549479.
- DeMason C, Choudhury B, Ahmad F, Fitzpatrick DC, Wang J, Buchman CA, Adunka OF. Electrophysiological properties of cochlear implantation in the gerbil using a flexible array. Ear Hear 33(4):534-42, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22436408.
- Ahmad FI, Choudhury B, De Mason CE, Adunka OF, Finley CC, Fitzpatrick DC. Detection of intracochlear damage during cochlear implant electrode insertion using extracochlear measurements in the gerbil. Laryngoscope 122(3):636-44, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22252968.
- Choudhury B, Adunka OF, DeMason CE, Ahmad FI, Buchman CA, Fitzpatrick DC. Detection of intracochlear damage during cochlear implantation in the setting of a noise induced hearing loss gerbil. Oto Neurotol 32(8):1370-8, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21921858.
- Monaghan-Benson E, Hartmann J, Vendrov AE, Budd S, Byfield G, Parker A, Ahmad F, Huang W, Runge M, Burridge K, Madamanchi N, Hartnett ME. The role of vascular endothelial growth factor-induced activation of NADPH oxidase in choroidal endothelial cells and choroidal neovascularization. Am J Pathol 177(4):2091-102, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20802176.
Review Articles
- Ahmad FI, Su SY, Gross ND. The Role of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Management of Cutaneous Malignancies. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 27(1):119-129, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30420065.
- Ahmad FI, Clayburgh DR. Venous thromboembolism in head and neck cancer surgery. Cancers Head Neck 1:13, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 31093343.
Other Articles
- Ahmad FI, Starling AD, Iacovitti PD, Smith RB How this healthcare team maintained a head and neck cancer surgical practice during COVID-19. ENTtoday, 2021.
Abstracts
- Fitzpatrick DC, Finley CC, Ygoeke N, Choudhury B, DeMason C, Ahmad FI, Turvey B. Tone and Formant Frequency Discrimination in Rabbits. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 34th Mid-Winter Meeting.
- Choudhury B, DeMason CE, Ahmad FI, Buchman CA, Fitzpatrick DC. Effects of Remote Basilar Membrane Damage on Residual Hearing of a Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) Gerbil Model. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings.
- Adunka OF, Choudhury B, DeMason CE, Ahmad FI, Buchman CA, Fitzpatrick DC. Effects of Remote Electrophysiological insertion properties in the gerbil using a flexible array. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM/AHNS).
- DeMason CE, Choudhury B, Ahmad FI, Adunka OF, Fitzpatrick DC. Electrophysiological Recordings During Insertion of a Flexible Electrode in the Cochlea of a Gerbil. 13th Symposium on Cochlear Implants in Children.
- Gonzalez-Castro J, Ahmad FI, Wax MK. Contemporary Review: Improving the Radial Forearm Donor Site. American Academy of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting.
Book Chapters
- Ahmad FI, Jones J. Anesthesia for Free Flap Reconstruction After Head and Neck Surgical Resection. In: Oncologic Critical Care. Springer Nature, 2026.
- Ahmad FI, Zafereo ME, Lai SY. Management of thyroid neoplasms. In: Cummings Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Elsevier Science, 1869-1898, 2021.
- Jones J, Ahmad FI. Anesthesia for free flap reconstruction after head and neck surgical resection. In: Oncologic Critical Care. Springer Nature, 1-15, 2019.
- Ahmad FI, Zafereo ME. Thyroid cancer. In: Conn’s Current Therapy. 1. Elsevier Science, 269-372, 2019.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 11, 2026