Uttam Kumar Sinha, MD

Dr. Uttam K. Sinha stands among the world’s leading authorities in Head and Neck Surgery, widely acclaimed for his visionary leadership in clinical innovation, translational research, and global healthcare collaboration. As Professor and Director of the USC Head and Neck Center and the esteemed Watt Family Endowed Chair in Head and Neck Cancer Research, Dr. Sinha leads a premier multidisciplinary team pioneering advances in cancer care, surgical reconstruction, and functional rehabilitation.
A relentless innovator, Dr. Sinha’s research has transformed early cancer detection, immunotherapy, and rehabilitation science. His laboratory is at the forefront of developing next-generation technologies, including nanotechnology-based salivary diagnostics and liquid biopsy platforms for early detection of HPV-related or non-HPV-related cancers and other chronic diseases. His groundbreaking work in cancer immunology and epigenomics is driving new standards in precision medicine. Recognizing the critical need for quality-of-life solutions, he and his team developed BION, a first-in-class platform harnessing neuromuscular electrical stimulation to restore swallowing function for cancer survivors.
Dr. Sinha’s trajectory began with a strong academic foundation culminating in Research Fellowships in Neuroscience and Neuro-oncology at the University of Southern California (USC). He advanced through Residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at USC, before completing elite Clinical Fellowships in Microvascular Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and Laryngology in Lyon, France. These experiences positioned him at the cutting edge of surgical innovation and academic leadership.
A committed mentor and educator, Dr. Sinha has guided the development of the next generation of surgical and scientific leaders. He has established strategic alliances with premier institutions across India, Taiwan, South Korea, and England, elevating global standards in head and neck cancer research and care.
His leadership and scholarship have earned him numerous prestigious honors, including the National Scholarship for Academic Merit (Government of India), the Gold Medal in Surgery (Calcutta University), multiple Excellence in Teaching Awards at USC, and repeated designation as a Top Doctor by Los Angeles Magazine and Castle Connolly. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of Phi Kappa Phi, and a recognized member of the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Sinha published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. Beyond his contributions to medicine and science,
Dr. Sinha founded hncsupport.org, an innovative platform dedicated to patient navigation and survivorship, empowering thousands of head and neck cancer survivors and their families. Through his leadership, Dr. Sinha continues to redefine the future of head and neck surgery and survivorship care worldwide.

• Government of India: National Scholarship for Academic Merit, 1973
• Calcutta University, India: Gold Medal in General Surgery, 1977
• House Ear Institute, USC, Los Angeles, CA: Rupley Fellowship in Neuroscience, 1986
   – 1988
• Alpha Omega Alpha, Gamma Chapter, Southern California: Outstanding Resident Educator, 1992
• Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA: Award of Excellence in Teaching, 2001
• Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA: Award of Excellence in Teaching, 2004
• Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA: Watt Family Endowed Chair in Head and Neck Cancer Research, 2011
• Asian Society of Head and Neck Oncology (ASHNO): Life Member, Advisory Board, 2011
• Pasadena Magazine, Pasadena, CA: Top doctors, 2011
• Los Angeles Magazine, Los Angeles, CA: Top doctors, 2011
• Foundation of Head and Neck Oncology, India: Honorary Life Member, 2012
• Pacific Coast Oto-Ophthalmology Society (PCOOS): President (peer selected), 2012
• City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA: Certificate of Appreciation, 2014
• Ministry of Health, The Parliament of India and Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, Indi: Invited Guest Lecturer, 2013
• Ministry of Health and Innovation, The Parliament of Australia, Canberra, Australia: Invited Guest Lecturer, 2015
• Castle Connolly Top Doctor: Top doctor for 15 years, 2016
• National Academy of Inventors, USC, Los Angeles, CA: Member, 2017
• USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, CA: 2017 Technology Commercialization Award, Saliva-Based Early Detection Diagnostic Tests, 2018 2017 Technology Commercialization Award, Saliva-Based Early Detection Diagnostic Tests
• Society of University Otolaryngologists (SUO): President (peer selected), 2019
• Phi Kappa Phi, USC Chapter, Los Angeles, CA: Member, 2020
• Los Angeles Magazine, Los Angeles, CA: Super Doctors, 2022

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• Matsuo, Koji
• Lenz, Heinz-Josef
• Lin, Dechen
• Hammoudeh, Jeff
• Klausner, Jeffrey