Chad A Zender MD

Head & Neck Microvascular Surgery, Head & Neck Oncologic Surgery

Professor, Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati

3113 Bellevue AveCincinnati, OH 45219
Phone+1 513-475-8400
Fax+1 513-475-8228

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Summary

Dr. Chad Zender is an Otolaryngologist based in Cincinnati, OH, specializing in head and neck oncologic and microvascular surgery. He completed his medical education at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, followed by residency and fellowship training in otolaryngology at Loyola University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, respectively. He currently works as an Otolaryngologist and Professor at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and serves as an Attending Physician at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. His expertise includes squamous cell carcinoma, swallowing disorders, skull base surgery, laryngoscopy, and endocrine surgery. Dr. Zender has numerous publications and has been involved in clinical trials focusing on head and neck cancer. Moreover, he has received several honors, including a teaching award from Case Western University and the George Adam's Young Faculty Award from Triologic Societies.

Education & Training

Vanderbilt University Medical CenterFellowship, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2006 - 2007
Loyola University Medical CenterResidency, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2002 - 2006
Loyola Medicine MacNeal HospitalInternship, Transitional Year, 2001 - 2002
Wright State University Boonshoft School of MedicineClass of 2001
Bowling Green State UniversityB.S., Biochemistry, Cum Laude, 1994 - 1997

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Certifications & Licensure

OH State Medical License 2010 - 2027
IL State Medical License 2001 - 2011
TN State Medical License 2006 - 2007
American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Otolaryngology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification Allscripts TouchWorks EHR, Allscripts, 2015-2017
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 2 Certification Allscripts FollowMyHealth, Allscripts, 2015-2017
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 2 Certification Allscripts TouchWorks EHR, Allscripts, 2015-2017

Clinical Trials

Intraoperative Placement of Cesium-131 Permanent Interstitial Brachytherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2016 Dec 21
COMPLETED
EARLY_PHASE1

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

In vitro determination of patient-specific variation challenges the universal RBE gold standard for proton radiation therapy.
Anna Kirstein, Dan Ionascu, Michael A S Lamba, Bianca M Ruffolo, Katherine J Crail
Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology. 2026-01-01
1 citations
Pectoral-Sparing Deltoid Artery Use in the Vessel-Depleted Neck: A Pictorial Essay.
Arvind K Badhey, Priscilla Pichardo, Tazheh A Kavoosi, Brian Cervenka, Dustin Silverman
Head & Neck. 2025-05-01
2 citations
A Single-Cell Transcriptome Atlas of Epithelial Subpopulations in HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative Head and Neck Cancers.
Mary C Bedard, Cosette M Rivera-Cruz, Tafadzwa Chihanga, Andrew VonHandorf, Alice L Tang
Viruses. 2025-03-24

Journal Articles

Safety Recommendations for Evaluation and Surgery of the Head and Neck During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Babak Givi, Bradley A Schiff, Scharukh Jalisi, Lisa A Orloff, Chad Zender, Louise Davies, JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery
Clinical Significance of Sarcopenia among Patients with Advanced Oropharyngeal Cancer
Tamaki A, Manzoor NF, Babajanian E, Ascha M, Rezaee R, Zender CA, Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1/14/2018
Exosomes derived from HIV-1-infected cells promote growth and progression of cancer via HIV TAR RNA
Chen L, Feng Z, Yue H, Bazdar D, Mbonye U, Zender CA, Harding CV, Bruggeman L, Karn J, Sieg SF, Wang B, Jin G, Nature Communications, 1/1/2018

Books/Book Chapters

Netters Surgical Anatomy and Approaches
Chapter: Selective Neck Dissection
Zender C.A., McBeath E., Lavertu P.Editors: Delaney, C..Elsevier2013
Interface of Neurology and Internal Medicine
Chapter: Head, Neck and Skull Base Neoplasms
Zender, C.A., Marzo SJ, Leonetti JP, Kostidis A, Daefer R.Editors: Biller, J..Wolters Kluwer Health2008
Practical Head and Neck Surgery
Chapter: Head and Neck Reconstruction
Hunt J, Zender, C. A., Burkey BBEditors: Petruzzelli GJ.Plural Publishing2008

Abstracts/Posters

Antimicrobial peptide based point-of-care device for oral cancer detection.
Zender, C. A., Gosh, S.K., Gurkan, U., Jin, G., Weinberg, A., Gordon Research Conference, Ventura, CA, 1/1/2017
Opioid Prescribing Patterns.
Zender, C. A., Clancy, Kate, COSM (Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings) AHNS (American Head and Neck Society) Section Meeting, San Diego, CA, 1/1/2017
The Impact of a Head and Neck Oncology Fellowship Program on Otolaryngology Resident Training in a High Volume Center.
Clancy, K., Melki, S., Fowler, N., Rezaee, R., Lavertu, P., and Zender, C.A., AHNS (American Head and Neck Society) 9th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer, Seattle, WA, 1/1/2016

Lectures

"Advances in Oral Cavity Reconstruction"
Mumbai, India - 1/1/2018
"Minimally Invasive Techniques for Oropharyngeal Cancer"
Phoenix, AZ - 1/1/2018
"The cystic neck mass."
Vail, CO - 1/1/2018

Authored Content

Safety Recommendations for Evaluation and Surgery of the Head and Neck During the COVID-19 PandemicApril 2020
Key Findings at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers SymposiumFebruary 2018
Key Findings at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers SymposiumFebruary 2018

Press Mentions

Improving Head and Neck Cancer TreatmentFebruary 15th, 2022
Promising Option Emerges for Treating Cancers Throughout the BodyNovember 1st, 2021
Isoray and University of Cincinnati Physicians Company Sign Research Agreement to Study Treatment of Head and Neck CancersJune 17th, 2020