Following the recent approval from the University of Chicago to establish Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) as an independent department, Nishant Agrawal, MD, will serve as its inaugural Chair, effective August 1, 2026.
Agrawal is a Professor of Surgery who joined the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) faculty in 2015. Since 2017, he has served as Section Chief of OHNS, providing the strategic foundation that anchored its transition to a standalone department. Collaborating across the institution, he expanded regional clinical volumes, extended care to satellite locations, and strengthened referral networks — contributing to the specialty’s highest national ranking at #11 by U.S. News & World Report in 2025.
An internationally renowned physician-scientist, Agrawal maintains an active clinical practice in complex head and neck surgical oncology, while directing a research portfolio integrating genomics and molecular diagnostics to improve cancer detection, monitoring, and surveillance. NIH-funded since 2009, his major scientific milestones include leading the landmark characterization of the mutational profile of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, earning an AACR Team Science Award for liquid biopsy technologies, and winning the 2022 UChicago Polsky Center New Venture Challenge with OrisDX, a platform focused on transforming early oral cancer detection.
A dedicated educator and leader, Agrawal serves on the Exam Council for the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, as a Special Expert to the National Cancer Institute Head and Neck Steering Committee, and previously on the NIH Cancer Genetics Study Section. In 2025, he was elected to CORLAS, one of the oldest international honorary scientific societies in otolaryngology.
As Chair, Agrawal will guide the strategic transition from a section to a standalone department and oversee its formal launch. Under his leadership, the department will build on its strong foundation by expanding multidisciplinary programs, advancing specialized training, and recruiting exceptional faculty to accelerate the impact of UChicago Medicine and the BSD.
