Education

  • Stanford University, Fellowship, 2023, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
  • University of California San Francisco, Residency, 2022, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
  • University of California San Francisco, MD, 2017, Medicine
  • UCSF Advanced Training in Clinical Research Certificate Program, 2016, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • University of California Berkeley, BS, 2011, Chemical Biology

Honors & Awards

  • 2021
    UCSF Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Best Overall Resident Research Award
  • 2017
    Alpha Omega Alpha, UCSF
  • 2016
    American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology Charles Ferguson Award
  • 2014
    UCSF Dean’s Prize in Clinical and Translational Research
  • 2011
    UC Berkeley, Department of Chemistry Bruce Howard Memorial Award
  • 2011
    Phi Beta Kappa

Selected Publications

  1. Wai KC, Okholm TLH, Ha PK, Marquez DM, Tenvooren I, Jones KB, Spitzer MH. The tumor microenvironment of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors. Head Neck. 2024 Jul; 46(7):1625-1636.  View on PubMed
  2. Abdulbaki H, Ha PK, Knott PD, Park AM, Seth R, Heaton CM, Wai KC. Postoperative inpatient surgical complications following head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer. Head Neck. 2024 Mar 06.  View on PubMed
  3. Lee RH, Truong A, Wu X, Kang H, Algazi AP, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Ryan WR, Ha PK, Wai KC. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in salivary gland cancers treated with pembrolizumab. Head Neck. 2024 Jan; 46(1):129-137.  View on PubMed
  4. Harris JE, Patel NN, Wai K, Rosbe KW. Management of Pediatric Persistent Asymptomatic Cervical Lymphadenopathy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Jan; 170(1):69-75.  View on PubMed
  5. Rahim MK, Okholm TLH, Jones KB, McCarthy EE, Liu CC, Yee JL, Tamaki SJ, Marquez DM, Tenvooren I, Wai K, Cheung A, Davidson BR, Johri V, Samad B, O'Gorman WE, Krummel MF, van Zante A, Combes AJ, Angelo M, Fong L, Algazi AP, Ha P, Spitzer MH. Dynamic CD8+ T cell responses to cancer immunotherapy in human regional lymph nodes are disrupted in metastatic lymph nodes. Cell. 2023 03 16; 186(6):1127-1143.e18.  View on PubMed
  6. Lee RH, Evans C, Laus J, Sanchez C, Wai KC, Knott PD, Seth R, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Ryan WR, Heaton CM, Park AM, Ha PK. Patterns of Postoperative Trismus Following Mandibulectomy and Fibula Free Flap Reconstruction. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Jan 16; 15(2).  View on PubMed
  7. Lee RH, Wai KC, Chan JW, Ha PK, Kang H. Approaches to the Management of Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Nov 20; 14(22).  View on PubMed
  8. Mukherjee A, Ha P, Wai KC, Naara S. The Role of ECM Remodeling, EMT, and Adhesion Molecules in Cancerous Neural Invasion: Changing Perspectives. Adv Biol (Weinh). 2022 Sep; 6(9):e2200039.  View on PubMed
  9. Cheung CK, Chew J, Wai K, Calkins SM, Ha PK, Ryan WR, Cunha A, Yom SS, Hsu IC, Chan JW. Feasibility of accelerated image-guided high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy with inverse planning simulated annealing (IPSA-HDRBT) for post-operative treatment of pathologically node-negative squamous cell carcinomas of the oral tongue. Brachytherapy. 2022 Sep-Oct; 21(5):686-691.  View on PubMed
  10. Jiam NT, Cai Y, Wai KC, Polite C, Kramer K, Sharon JD. Is the clinical head impulse test helpful in cochlear implantation candidacy evaluation? World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Mar; 9(1):45-52.  View on PubMed
  11. Zebolsky AL, George E, Gulati A, Wai KC, Carpenter P, Van Zante A, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Ryan WR. Risk of Pathologic Extranodal Extension and Other Adverse Features After Transoral Robotic Surgery in Patients With HPV-Positive Oropharynx Cancer. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021 12 01; 147(12):1080-1088.  View on PubMed
  12. Wai KC, Kang H, Ha PK. Molecular Markers that Matter in Salivary Malignancy. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2021 Jun; 54(3):613-627.  View on PubMed
  13. Strohl MP, Wai KC, Ha PK. De-intensification strategies in HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma-a narrative review. Ann Transl Med. 2020 Dec; 8(23):1601.  View on PubMed
  14. Wai KC, Xu MJ, Lee RH, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Knott PD, Park AM, Ryan WR, Seth R, Ha PK. Head and neck surgery during the coronavirus-19 pandemic: The University of California San Francisco experience. Head Neck. 2021 02; 43(2):622-629.  View on PubMed
  15. Cai Y, Gulati A, Jiam NT, Wai KC, Shuman EA, Pletcher SD, Durr ML, Chang JL. Evolving Otolaryngology Resident Roles and Concerns at the Peak of the US COVID-19 Pandemic. Head Neck. 2020 12; 42(12):3712-3719.  View on PubMed
  16. Cai Y, Jiam NT, Wai KC, Shuman EA, Roland LT, Chang JL. Otolaryngology Resident Practices and Perceptions in the Initial Phase of the U.S. COVID-19 Pandemic. Laryngoscope. 2020 11; 130(11):2550-2557.  View on PubMed
  17. Wai KC, Strohl MP, van Zante A, Ha PK. Molecular Diagnostics in Human Papillomavirus-Related Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cells. 2020 02 22; 9(2).  View on PubMed
  18. Wai KC, Hibbs AM, Steurer MA, Black DM, Asselin JM, Eichenwald EC, Ballard PL, Ballard RA, Keller RL, Trial of Late Surfactant (TOLSURF) Study Group. Maternal Black Race and Persistent Wheezing Illness in Former Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial. J Pediatr. 2018 07; 198:201-208.e3.  View on PubMed
  19. Keller RL, Eichenwald EC, Hibbs AM, Rogers EE, Wai KC, Black DM, Ballard PL, Asselin JM, Truog WE, Merrill JD, Mammel MC, Steinhorn RH, Ryan RM, Durand DJ, Bendel CM, Bendel-Stenzel EM, Courtney SE, Dhanireddy R, Hudak ML, Koch FR, Mayock DE, McKay VJ, Helderman J, Porta NF, Wadhawan R, Palermo L, Ballard RA, TOLSURF Study Group. The Randomized, Controlled Trial of Late Surfactant: Effects on Respiratory Outcomes at 1-Year Corrected Age. J Pediatr. 2017 04; 183:19-25.e2.  View on PubMed
  20. Wai KC, Keller RL, Lusk LA, Ballard RA, Chan DK, Trial of Late Surfactant (TOLSURF) Study Group. Characteristics of Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns Undergoing Tracheotomy: A Secondary Analysis of the Trial of Late Surfactant Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 01 01; 143(1):13-19.  View on PubMed

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