I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Matthew Mifsud, MD, FACS, as the permanent chair of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
Dr. Mifsud assumes this role following a period of exceptional leadership as acting chair, during which he guided the department with steadiness and vision after the untimely loss of our esteemed colleague and prior chair, Dr. Tapan Padhya. His appointment reflects both his outstanding contributions to date and the strong confidence we have in his ability to lead the department into its next phase of growth.
A nationally recognized head and neck surgeon, Dr. Mifsud serves as chief of the Division of Head & Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery and associate professor at USF Health. He graduated magna cum laude from Boston College and received his MD from Tufts University School of Medicine, where he was elected to the local AOA chapter. He served his ENT residency at USF and completed advanced fellowship training in head and neck surgical oncology and microvascular reconstruction at the University of Toronto and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. He is board-certified in otolaryngology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Matthew Mifsud
Dr. Mifsud has built one of the nation’s most advanced clinical programs in complex head and neck surgery. Under his leadership, the USF Health/Tampa General Hospital microvascular program has become a high-volume center of excellence, performing more than 100 complex reconstructions annually with outstanding outcomes. His work in enhanced recovery pathways has helped reduce ICU utilization and accelerate patient recovery, an approach increasingly recognized as a national model. He also founded the Center for Advanced Salivary Gland Surgery, a uniquely comprehensive program that has rapidly grown into a leading referral destination in Florida.
Beyond clinical excellence, Dr. Mifsud is a proven academic leader, educator and innovator. He has served as associate residency program director, directed major educational initiatives including resident boot camps and multidisciplinary symposia, and maintains an active research portfolio spanning clinical trials, outcomes research and survivorship in head and neck cancer. His scholarly work, national leadership roles within the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery and commitment to multidisciplinary care have positioned him as a rising leader in the field.
Looking ahead, Dr. Mifsud is deeply committed to advancing the department’s extraordinary trajectory in clinical excellence, education and research. This includes continued expansion of high-quality, team-based care for complex disease, further development of innovative programs such as the Institute for Voice and Hearing Innovation, and strengthening key partnerships across USF Health, Tampa General Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Mifsud on this well-deserved appointment. We are fortunate to have a leader of his caliber guiding the department as we continue our mission of improving the health and lives of the communities we serve.