Jayakar Nayak

Head and neck surgeon, Rhinologist, Otolaryngologist, Ear, nose, and throat specialist

Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Stanford Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery. 

Dr. Jayakar Nayak was born and raised in New Jersey, and received his BA with a concentration in Neurosciences from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed his MD/PhD education (PhD in immunology), as well as residency in otolaryngology, at the University of Pittsburgh. After pursuing additional Fellowship training in Rhinology and Endoscopic Sinus/Skull Base Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, he was recruited to join the Stanford faculty in Fall 2009.

Dr. Nayak is an expert in congenital, acquired and genetic nasal and sinus disorders and in their treatment through medical and surgical alternatives. These include oral medicines, topical sprays and personalized use of medicinal compounds, as well as options that span micro-invasive, minimally invasive, external surgical approaches, and endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery where appropriate. He also serves as the chief of research in rhinology, and heads a basic science and translational research laboratory with three main areas of interest — i) nasal epithelial biology and stem cell regeneration in health and disease; ii) upper airway immunology dysfunction in chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and rhinosinusitis, as well as acute scenarios such as SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) exposure, and iii) empty nose syndrome and improving surgical procedures to optimize nasal breathing. The ultimate goal of his career is to identify ways to safely and effectively treat debilitating inflammatory and infectious sinus disorders, and improve the health and quality of life of his patients, who now hail from all around the world. Through his bench-to-bedside research, his team seeks to define the cellular and molecular determinants that lead to chronic nasal and sinus problems, in order to design more effective, targeted and affordable treatments. He also hopes to define the best methods to perform turbinate surgery to eliminate the possibility of empty nose syndrome, and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Nayak has received numerous honors including the Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Top Notch Award, the highest civilian award bestowed by the U.S. Navy for significant contributions to the Navy or its members, and the Triological Society Career Development Award to support his research endeavors. He has received 5-year R01 grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well research funding from the CA Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), and the Stanford SPARK program, He is a contributing author on over 110 peer-reviewed publications, serves as an invited reviewer for several medical and scientific journals, and has been invited to speak both nationally and internationally on numerous topics in modern rhinology practice, sinus and skull base surgery, and cutting edge research in rhinology.