Somtochi Okafor, M.D. (she/her)

  • Clinical Instructor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Rhinology and Sinus Surgery, School of Medicine

Education and training

  • Degrees

    • M.D., 2020, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    • B.A., 2016, University of Texas at Austin

  • Internship

    • Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Duke University Hospital, 2020-2021

  • Residency

    • Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Duke University Hospital, 2021-2025

Memberships and associations:

  • American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Society

Areas of interest

  • Endoscopic sinus surgery, skull base surgery, sinonasal tumors, health outcomes, global surgery

Honors and awards

  • Duke Resident Research Award (2021, 2023, 2025), Honorable Mention Haynes Award for Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 2022

Publications

Selected publications

  • Okafor SI, Patel VM, Lazutkin A, et al. Anteriorly Based Middle Turbinate Flap for Skull Base Reconstruction: A Cadaveric Study and Case Series. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/00034894251357788
  • Sutphin J, Okafor S, Reed SD, Deb A, Silver J, Wallace MJ, Yang JC, Abi Hachem R, Jang DW. Variability in Patient Preferences for Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: Biologic Therapy versus Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. Rhinology. 2024. doi:10.4193/Rhin24.475
  • Okafor S, AlShammari S, Helou V, Mitchell M, Finlay JB, Goldstein B, Jang DW, Abi Hachem R. Olfactory neuroblastoma. Mini-invasive Surg 2024;8:28. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574- 1225.2023.128
  • Okafor S, Muzaffar J, Jang DW, El Sayed I, Abi Hachem R. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Case Presentation and Literature Review of Treatment Innovation with Immunotherapy. J Neurol Surg Rep. 2023; doi: 10.1055/a-2148-2429
  • Okafor S, Gonzalez K, Buckmire R, Francis HW, Cannon TY. Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Coaching to Increase Recruitment, Retention and Belonging. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 12, 90–96 2024; doi:10.1007/s40136-024-00509-1
  • Okafor S, Awaonusi OO, Watts TL, Cannon TY. Salvage Surgery. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2023;56(2):323-331. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2022.12.002
  • Reed W, Okafor S, Cheng J. Pediatric COVID-19 associated acute rhinosinusitis and periorbital abscess: A case report. Otolaryngol Case Rep. 2022; 24:100461. doi:10.1016/j.xocr.2022.100461
  • Taylor DB, Osazuwa-Peters OL, Okafor SI, et al. Differential Outcomes Among Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer Belonging to Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;148(2):119-127. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2021.3425
  • Osazuwa-Peters N, Barnes JM, Okafor SI, et al. Incidence and Risk of Suicide Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer in Rural, Urban, and Metropolitan Areas. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021;147(12):1045-1052. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2021.1728
  • Okafor S, Tibbets K, Shah G, Tillman B, Agan A, Halderman AA. Is the Gender Gap Closing in Academic Otolaryngology Subspecialties? An Analysis of Research Productivity Differences between Male and Female Otolaryngologists. Laryngoscope, 00:1-7, 2019.

Publications