Division of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

Faculty of Medicine

Dr. Ayham Al Afif

Assistant Professor

Head shot_Al Afif
Division of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

Email: ayham.alafif@dal.ca
Phone: 902-473-7564
Fax: 902-425-0552
Mailing Address: 
Room 3056, 3rd Floor Dickson Building 5820 University Avenue Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9
 
Research Topics:
  • Head & Neck Oncology
  • Skull Base Surgery
  • Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery

Education

  • BSc, Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University
  • MSc, Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University
  • MD, Dalhousie University
  • Residency, Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University
  • Fellowship, Head & Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction, Univeristy of Alabama at Birmingham

Research and Clinical Interests

Dr. Al Afif's clinical interests include the treatment of mucosal and cutaneous head and neck tumors, skull base tumors, and advanced thyroid cancer. He is also interested in microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck. His research interests focus on oncologic outcomes in head and neck mucosal cancers, as well as virtual surgical planning and dental rehabilitation in complex oromandibular reconstruction.

Selected Publications

  • Su YR, Ganry L, Ozturk C, Lohman R, Al Afif A, McSpadden R, Frias V, Pu JJ. Fibula flap reconstruction for the mandible: Why is it still the workhourse? Atlas Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2023; 32 (2): 121-127.
  • Al Afif A, Rigby MH, MacKay C, Brown TF, Phillips TJ, Khan U, Trites JRB, Corsten M, Taylor SM. Injetion laryngoplasty during transoral laser microsurgery for early glottic cancer: a randomized controlled trial. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022; 51(1):12
  • Ma SJ, Santhosh S, Chatterjee U, Gill J, Lovoli A, Farrugia M, Wooten K, Gupta V, McSpadden R, Kuriakose MA, Markiewicz MR, Al Afif A, Hicks WL, Platek ME, Sheshdari M, Day AR, Repasky E, Singh A. Defining the optimal threshold and prognostic utility of pre-treatment hemoglobin level as a biomarker for survival outcomes in head and neck cancer patients receiving chemoradiation. Oral Oncol. 2022; 133: 106054
  • Khan U, Al Afif A, Aldaihani A, Mackay C, Rigby MH, Rajaraman M, Imran SA, Bullock MJ, Taylor FM, Trites, JRB, Hart RD. Patient and tumor facts contributing to distant metastasis in well-differentiated thyroid cancer: A retrospective cohort study. J Otolaryngol - Head :& Neck Surg 2020; 49(1): 78.
  • Al Afif A, Farmer R, Bance M. Outcomes of transmastoid resurgacing for superior canal dehiscence using a cartilage overlay technique. Laryngoscope. 2019; 239(9): 2164-2169.

Selected Awards and Honours

  • MD Class of 1996 Resident Teacher of the Year Award, Dalhousie University
  • James Hammerling Prize in Otolaryngology
  • B.L. Jewett Memorial Prize in Head and Neck Oncology Research
  • Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canadian Master's Award - Canadian Institute for Health Research
  • Charles Ferguson Award in Clinical Research - Second Place - American Society for Pediatric Otolaryngology

Board Certification

  • Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
  • Diplomate, American Board of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery

Society Memberships

  • Fellow, American College of Surgeons
  • Member, American Head and Neck Society
  • Member, Canadian Society for Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Employment

Assistant Professor of Surgery, Department of Head and Neck, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York (2021-2024)

Leadership and Administrative Positions

Co-director, Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstructive Fellowship, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York