Zafar Sayed, MD

Dr. Zafar Sayed obtained his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine. During medical school, he was inducted into the national medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha and served as chapter president. He then went on to complete a residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center in Chicago, IL. Throughout his residency, he secured several prestigious research awards for work on stem cell regeneration of the inner ear, including from the Triological Society. In 2017, he completed a fellowship in ablative head and neck surgical oncology at the world class Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY.

For six years, Dr. Sayed led the head and neck surgical oncology team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE. While there, he served as Director of the multidisciplinary head and neck tumor board and Principal Investigator for the integrated head and neck tumor repository. He was also heavily involved in clinical research and medical student and surgical trainee education as an Assistant Professor. In 2021, Dr. Sayed was appointed Chief of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the Nebraska – Northwest Iowa Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

In 2023, Dr. Sayed joined the Yale University faculty at Smilow Cancer Center. He treats a variety of benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck and has specialization in transoral robotic surgery. His clinical practice focuses on the treatment of advanced skin cancers, aerodigestive tract tumors, salivary gland tumors, thyroid disease, and reconstruction with an emphasis on improving function and decreasing patient morbidity. He is an active member of the American Head and Neck Society.