USF Health Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Dr. Yael Bensoussan is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and a fellowship-trained laryngologist with advanced expertise in voice, swallowing and upper airway evaluation and treatment. She is also an avid proponent of multidisciplinary care and has led multiple patient-education initiatives around tracheostomy care.

Prior to joining USF Health, she completed her medical school at the University of Montreal and her surgical residency training at the University of Toronto, Canada. She subsequently completed a fellowship in Laryngology (voice, airway and swallowing disorders) at the University of Southern California. Dr. Bensoussan's background also includes a degree in Speech Pathology and a prior career in music, which has led her to her passion for the voice and for laryngeal disorders.

While completing her clinical fellowship, she also obtained her Master of Science (MSc) in System Leadership and Innovations and the Institute of Health Policy, Evaluation and Management at the University of Toronto, Canada, where she worked on applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the laryngology field. She is developing an expertise in integration of AI to the field of voice research and is involved in many projects of healthcare digitization and data-driven care. Passionate about optimization of health systems efficiency and algorithms of care, she is building bridges with multiple partners to integrate technology to optimize the quality of care provided to her patients.

Dr. Bensoussan has served on the Voice Committee of the American Laryngological Association (ALA), and was awarded the Young Faculty/ Practitioner Award of the ALA in 2021 for her research work on AI and gender-affirming voice care.

As a head and neck surgical oncologist, my major focus is the treatment within the head and neck region, affecting the face, neck, mouth and throat. At USF, I help lead a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals, that develop individualized cancer treatment plans, for each of our patients.





I have extensive surgical training and experience, which includes advanced subspecialization within my field of otolaryngology. This allows me to perform a wide array of surgical procedures and particularly focus on reconstructive surgery. This entails taking body parts from one area and transplanting them into the head and neck. This helps maintain a more normal physical appearance and optimizes speech/swallowing function, which can be impacted by cancer or other maladies. I'm able to not only treat a person's disease, but also help to optimize their quality of life long after treatment is complete.





In addition to cancer, I also focus on other complex head and neck conditions, such as those affecting the salivary glands, thyroid, and trachea. At USF, I also engage in various teaching and research activities, which enhance my ability to provide state-of-the-art care to all my patients.