Uchechukwu Megwalu, MD, MPH

Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS)

Bio

Dr. Megwalu was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, but spent most of his childhood in Nigeria. He received his undergraduate degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Megwalu received his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine, completed his residency at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and received his MPH degree from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. After residency, Dr. Megwalu joined the faculty at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he served as Director of Otolaryngology at Queens Hospital Center, and Assistant Regional Director of Otolaryngology for Queens Health Network from 2011 to 2015.
Dr. Megwalu Joined the Division of Comprehensive Otolaryngology at Stanford in 2016. His clinical interests include thyroid and parathyroid disorders, head and neck tumors, sinusitis, and chronic ear disorders. Dr. Megwalu conducts outcomes/health services research, with a focus on health literacy, health disparities, and comparative effectiveness research.

Clinical Focus

Comprehensive Otolaryngology
Thyroid Neoplasms
Thyroid Cancer
Parathyroid Neoplasms
Salivary gland tumors
Chronic sinusitis
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Otitis Media
Tympanoplasty
Otolaryngology

Academic Appointments

Professor - University Medical Line, Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery)
Member, Stanford Cancer Institute

Administrative Appointments

Division Chief, Comprehensive Otolaryngology, Stanford University School of Medicine (2019 - Present)
Otolaryngology Clerkship Director, Stanford University School of Medicine (2017 - Present)
Director of Otolaryngology, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY, USA (2011 - 2015)
Assistant Regional Director of Otolaryngology, Queens Health Network, Queens, NY, USA (2011 - 2015)

Honors & Awards

New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation Doctor’s Day Award, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (May, 2015)
Senator Jose Peralta Certificate of Recognition, New York State Senate (January, 2015)
New York City Council Citation, New York City Council (January, 2015)
Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, US Congressman Joseph Crowley (January, 2015)
Queens Courier Rising Stars Award, Queens Courier (January, 2015)
Hyun Taik Cho, MD Research Scholarship Award, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (November, 2009)
Robert Carter Medical School Award, Washington University School of Medicine (5/19/2006)
Distinguished Minority Medical Scholar, Washington University School of Medicine (8/10/2002 – 5/19/2006)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

Member, American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (2006 - Present)

Professional Education

Medical Education: Washington University School Of Medicine Registrar (2006) MO
Board Certification: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Otolaryngology (2012)
Board Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology (2012)
Residency: New York Eye and Ear Infimary (2011) NY
Internship: New York Eye and Ear Infimary (2007) NY
MD, Washington University School of Medicine, Medicine (2006)
Residency, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (2011)
Board Certification, American Board of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (2012)
Board Certification, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (2012)
MPH, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Public Health - Outcomes Research Track (2014)

Contact

Academic umegwalu@stanford.edu

Academic Office Administrative Contact Olga Komin Administrative Associate okomin@stanford.edu Tel: (650) 497-6624

Clinical (Primary)

This is the primary clinic for this clinical provider. For additional clinical locations and information, please visit the link(s) listed below in the 'Additional Clinical Info' section.

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 801 Welch Rd 2nd FL MC 5739 Stanford CA 94305 Tel: (650) 725-6500 Fax: (650) 725-8502

Additional Clinical Info

Stanford Health Care

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

I have an interest in Outcomes/Health Services Research. Specific areas of interest include: health disparities, head and neck cancer epidemiology and comparative effectiveness research using large population-based cancer databases.

Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology and Comparative Effectiveness:
Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common cancer in the world. It accounts for approximately 10% of cancers, with an estimated 130,000 new cases in the United States in 2015. Head and neck cancer is an important cause of cancer mortality, with an average 5-year cumulative survival of 65% in the United States. My research interest is in the use of large datasets, such as the SEER database, to evaluate the impact of sociodemographic and clinical factors on treatment choice and survival outcomes. Ongoing work includes evaluating the comparative effectiveness of treatment options in the management of head and neck cancer.

Understanding Head and Neck Cancer Disparities:
Significant sociodemographic disparities exist in head and neck cancer outcomes. African Americans, uninsured/underinsured patients, and patients with low socioeconomic status have poor outcomes. They are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease, are less likely to receive adequate treatment, resulting in lower survival rates. The mechanisms that drive these disparities are not yet clearly understood. My research focuses on understanding the drivers of disparities in HNC outcomes, in order to develop interventions aimed at reducing them.

Hearing loss and hearing healthcare access:
Hearing loss is the fourth highest cause of disability globally, with 466 million people suffering from disabling hearing loss worldwide. Hearing loss is associated with diminished quality of life due to communication difficulties and limitations in activities of daily living. My research efforts have focused on evaluating the impact of hearing loss on health outcomes, and addressing barriers to hearing healthcare access. I served as the principal investigator in all of these studies. My current research focuses on assessing the comparative effectiveness of strategies to improve hearing health care use, and understanding disparities in hearing loss risk and hearing healthcare access.

Health literacy:
Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic information and services needed to make appropriate decisions regarding their health. It is estimated that 90 million adults in the United States have inadequate health literacy. Health literacy has been shown to impact outcomes in a number of medical conditions. My research efforts have focused on evaluating the impact of health literacy on patient-physician communication and outcomes in otolaryngology patients.

2023-24 Courses

Independent Studies
- Graduate Research
  OTOHNS 399 (Win)
- Medical Scholars Research
  OTOHNS 370 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)

All Publications

Profiles With Related Publications

close
Robson Capasso, MD

Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) and, by courtesy, of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Sleep Medicine)
Clinical Focus
Sleep Surgery, Biodesign, Sleep Medicine
Research Interests
Clinically relevant outcomes for OSA Surgery.
Wearables and Digital Health Technologies for Sleep.
Innovative approaches for OSA Management.
Innovation in Sleep and Otolaryngology

103 Total Publications
close
A. Dimitrios Colevas, MD

Professor of Medicine (Oncology) and, by courtesy, of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) and of Radiation Oncology (Radiation Therapy)
Clinical Focus
Cancer > Head and Neck Cancer, Oncology (Cancer), developmental therapeutics, investigational new drugs, Adverse event( toxicity) evaluation and reporting, Thyroid Cancer, combined chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Medical Oncology
Research Interests
Multi- modality treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

Phase 1 clinical trials

303 Total Publications
close
Mehran Farid, MD

Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Sleep Medicine

6 Total Publications
close
Willard ("Bill") E. Fee, Jr., MD

Edward C. and Amy H. Sewall Professor II in the School of Medicine, Emeritus

149 Total Publications
close
Nancy Fischbein

Professor of Radiology and, by courtesy, of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) , of Neurology, of Neurosurgery & of Radiation Oncology
Clinical Focus
Diagnostic Neuroimaging

215 Total Publications
close
Steven Goodman

Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health, of Medicine (Primary Care and Population Health) and, by courtesy, of Health Policy
Research Interests
I am interested in issues relating to the representation and measurement of evidence in medical research, and determinants of the truth of medical findings, using a Bayesian framework. I also do work in evidence synthesis, comparative effectiveness research, and the ethics of clinical research.

235 Total Publications
close
Chris Holsinger, MD, FACS

Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS)
Clinical Focus
Cancer > Head and Neck Cancer, Thyroid Surgery, Thyroid Cancer, Robotic Surgery, Head & Neck, Paraganglioma, Carotid Body, Thyroid Neoplasms, Parathyroid Surgery, Oropharyngeal Cancer, Throat, Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery
Research Interests
Dr. Holsinger’s surgical practice focuses on the surgical management of benign and malignant diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid and head and neck.

His areas of clinical interest include endoscopic head and neck surgery, including robotic thyroidectomy, transoral robotic surgery and transoral laser microsurgery, as well as time-honoured approaches of conservation laryngeal surgery, supracricoid partial laryngectomy.

275 Total Publications
close
Aya Kamaya, MD

Professor of Radiology (Body Imaging)
Clinical Focus
Oncologic Imaging, Hepatobiliary and pancreatic imaging, Urogenital imaging, Gynecologic Imaging, Thyroid ultrasound, Ultrasound, Body Imaging
Research Interests
Hepatobiliary imaging
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Urologic imaging
Gynecologic imaging
Thyroid imaging
Novel ultrasound technologies
Perfusion CT imaging of abdominal tumors

168 Total Publications
close
Michael J. Kaplan, MD

Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery at the Stanford University Medical Center, Emeritus
Research Interests
1) New therapeutic approaches for head and neck cancer, including immune stimulation possibilities (IRX-2 protocol), integration of biological modifiers, and, eventually, genetic approaches.
2) Head and neck cancer stem cells: identification, characterization, control--in conjunction with the Irv Weissman and Michael Clarke labs in the Stem Cell Institute
3) Development of innovative surgical methods at the anterior cranial base

69 Total Publications
close
Saad A. Khan, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine (Oncology)
Clinical Focus
Medical Oncology

71 Total Publications
close
Peter J. Koltai MD, FACS

Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the Stanford University Medical Center, Emeritus
Research Interests
1 - Establishing HPV subtypes among children in Zimbabwe with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

2 - comparison of techniques for expansion pharyngoplasty for sleep apnea

109 Total Publications
close
Clete A. Kushida, MD, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Sleep Medicine)
Clinical Focus
Sleep Medicine, Sleep Wake Disorders, Neurology
Research Interests
Dr. Kushida is a neurologist and sleep specialist who directs several NIH- and industry-sponsored research studies, focused on topics such as the physical features and neurocognitive changes associated with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, the epidemiology and treatment of restless legs syndrome/periodic limb movement disorder, primary care sleep education and training, and countermeasures for sleep loss.

405 Total Publications