Research 

Research is a core component of the Advanced Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstructive Fellowship. Fellows are expected to actively participate in ongoing clinical research projects during their year of training, with opportunities to contribute to meaningful advancements in head and neck cancer care, endocrine surgery, and microvascular reconstruction.

Faculty Research Interests

• Dr. Ralph Tufano is pioneering the use of state-of-the-art technology for thyroid nodule ablation and has authored over 270 peer-reviewed publications. His research focuses on minimally invasive techniques, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, and improving functional outcomes.
• Dr. Peter Vosler and Dr. Wesley McIlwain lead clinical outcomes research initiatives aimed at:
  • Reducing time to adjuvant radiation therapy after surgery
  • Decreasing opioid use following advanced head and neck surgery
  • Improving dental restoration following oral cavity resections

Representative Publications

Dr. Ralph Tufano

• Pace-Asciak P, Russell J, Solorzano C, Berber E, Singer M, Shaha AR, Khafif A, Angelos P, Nixon I, Tufano RP. The utility of parathyroid autofluorescence as an adjunct in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Head Neck. 2023. PMID: 37807364.
• Pace-Asciak P, Tufano RP. Future Directions in the Treatment of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2023. PMID: 37634983.
• Kandil E, Omar M, Attia AS, Shihabi A, Shaear M, Metz T, Issa PP, Russell JO, Tufano RP. Radiofrequency ablation as a novel modality in the USA for treating toxic thyroid nodules: case series and literature review. Gland Surg. 2022. PMID: 36221276.
• Miller JR, Tanavde V, Razavi C, Saraswathula A, Russell JO, Tufano RP. Cost comparison between open thyroid lobectomy and radiofrequency ablation for management of thyroid nodules. Head Neck. 2023. PMID: 36200695.
• Pace-Asciak P, Russell JO, Tufano RP. Improving Voice Outcomes after Thyroid Surgery and Ultrasound-Guided Ablation Procedures. Front Surg. 2022. PMID: 35599805.

Dr. Peter Vosler

• Trakimas DR, Colloca L, Fakhry C, Tan M, Khan Z, Vosler PS. Study protocol: randomized controlled trial of conditioned open-label placebo (COLP) for perioperative pain management in patients with head and neck cancer. BMJ Open. 2023. PMID: 37419646.
• Lopez J, Reategui ML, Rooper L, Koch W, Fakhry C, Mydalarz W, Tan M, Eisele DW, Mandal R, Vosler P, Gourin CG. Node count as a quality indicator in surgically treated mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngoscope. 2022.
• Trakimas DR, Perez-Heydrich C, Mandal R, Tan M, Gourin CG, Fakhry C, Koch WM, Russell JO, Tufano RP, Eisele DW, Vosler PS. Peri-operative pain and opioid use in opioid-naïve patients following inpatient head and neck surgery. Front Psychiatry. 2022. PMID: 35873237.
• Saraswathula A, Gourin CG, Vosler PS. Guide to enhanced recovery for cancer patients undergoing surgery: Head and neck cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021. PMID: 33891196.
• Vosler PS, Orsini M, Enepekides DJ, Higgins KM. Predicting complications of major head and neck oncological surgery: an evaluation of the ACS NSQIP surgical risk calculator. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018. PMID: 29566750.

Contact Us