Specializing in head and neck ablative and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Mark Varvares serves as the Chair of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Varvares' clinical interests include squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects, skull base surgery, surgery of the parotid, thyroid and parathyroid glands, surgery of the larynx, and cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses. He also conducts a productive research program in head and neck oncology, studying how surgical pathology of head and neck tumors impact survival. Other research interests include a variety of topics in head and neck reconstruction, the role of oncolytic adenoviruses as a possible therapeutic modality to treat head and neck cancer, and the role of music therapy as an intervention in cancer management.

A 1986 graduate of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Dr. Varvares completed his residency in otolaryngology at Mass. Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School prior to completing his clinical fellowship in head and neck reconstructive surgery there.