Alexander G. Chiu, MD

Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

Dr. Alexander G. Chiu, M.D. is Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Arizona.  He is the co-Chair of the Banner-UA Academic Management Council and was appointed to this role by University of Arizona President Ann Weaver Hart. This 7 person board oversees the academic and clinical mission of the Banner University Medical Group in both Tucson and Phoenix.   Dr. Chiu has served in many leadership roles in the College of Medicine and Health Network, including Acting Chair of the Department of Surgery, UAHN Surgery Service Line Chief, UAHN Director of Perioperative Services, Chair of the UA Health Network Practice Plan Oversight Board, Chair of the UAHN Faculty Practice Group Committee, co-Chair of the UA COM Faculty Affairs Committee and co-Chair of the AMC Compensation Committee.

Dr. Chiu is internationally renowned in the field of endoscopic and minimally invasive surgery of the nose, sinuses and skull base. His surgical expertise is in endoscopic sinonasal and skull base tumor surgery, frontal sinus surgery, revision endoscopic sinus surgery, and endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.   Prior to his arrival at UA, Dr. Chiu was as associate professor and director of the Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery Fellowship Program in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Chiu completed his medical degree at Albany Medical College and residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in sinus and skull base surgery at Stanford University.

Dr. Chiu is an editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy and the editor of 2 textbooks: Sinonasal Tumors and Atlas of Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery.   He has published more than 125 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on sinus and skull base surgery.   The recipient of the Honor Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Chiu has directed over 15 international rhinologic and skull base conferences in the world and is a frequent invited lecturer and instructor at Otolaryngology conferences and society meetings of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, American Rhinologic Society and North American Skull Base Society. 

Dr. Chiu has been named to the following honor lists: Best Doctors of America, Castle and Connolly Top Doctors, Top Docs Tucson Lifestyle, Best Doctors by Suburban Life Magazine and Southern Jersey Magazine and Consumers Research Council for Best Doctors. He is a Fellow of the Triological Society and serves as an oral board examiner for the American Board of Otolaryngology.

Clinical specialties

Endoscopic and minimally invasive techniques to remove benign and malignant tumors of the nose, sinuses, and skull base:

  • Frontal sinus surgery
  • Revision endoscopic sinus surgery
  • Endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks
  • Endoscopic sinonasal tumor surgery
Research

Dr. Chiu is actively involved with research involving the topics of chronic rhinosinusitis, sinonasal tumors and outcomes of sinus and skull base surgery.  His current research interests center around the development of a novel multi-modal endoscope for sinonasal tumor and skull base surgery, outcomes of minimally invasive sinonasal tumor and skull base surgery, the effects of surgical therapies on the sinonasal microbiome and the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis recalcitrant to conventional medical and surgical therapies. He has pioneered an animal model for the study of topical medications for sinusitis and has held multiple foundation and industry grants for the study of topical medications and outcomes for novel surgical instruments and techniques for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Education and Training

Degrees:
MD: Albany Medical College, 1997
Internship:
Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DC, 1997-1998
Residency:
Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DC, 1998-2002
Fellowship:
Rhinology and Sinus Surgery, Stanford University, CA, 2002-03
Board Certification(s):
American Board of Otolaryngology, 2003