Peter T Dziegielewski, MD, FRCSC, FACS

Hello, my name is Dr. Peter T. Dziegielewski, or “Dz,” and I am a board-certified otolaryngology-head and neck surgery physician at UF Health.

I am originally from Canada, where I earned my medical degree and completed residency training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Alberta. I then pursued a fellowship in advanced head and neck oncologic surgery, certified by the American Head and Neck Society, at The Ohio State University in Columbus.

Watching “M*A*S*H” as a child inspired me to save lives with my hands. I knew then that I wanted to be a surgeon, and this desire was solidified during my time in medical school. I was drawn to head and neck cancer surgery because of its intricate anatomy and focus on curing disease. The complexity of removing cancer and reconstructing defects fascinated me, as it combined science, technology and art. Seeing my patients survive and live fulfilling lives has been the greatest reward.

My goal has always been to cure cancer and give patients the best possible speech, swallowing, and physical functional outcomes while improving their quality of life. Achieving this balance is a constant focus that drives me to be a lifelong learner and innovator. With each operation, I strive to improve for the next case. I aim to enhance the quality of care I provide to every patient and never stop aiming for perfection.

I specialize in the surgical removal of head and neck masses, tumors, and cancers. This includes the mouth, tongue, jaws, throat, voice box, face, skin, thyroid, parathyroid, salivary glands and other head and neck areas. I use open techniques as well as minimally invasive approaches, including robotic surgery, or TORS. I also specialize in head and neck reconstruction using microvascular surgery (free flaps) and other flaps and grafts. I have a clinical interest in using virtual surgery and 3D modeling for complex jaw and midface reconstruction. My focus is on rebuilding defects to optimize postoperative swallowing, speech, cosmesis and quality of life.

At UF Health, I serve as the director of the University of Florida Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology & Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery. I am also the fellowship director for Advanced Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery at UF Health, accredited by the American Head and Neck Society.

I am an active clinical researcher with an interest in optimizing quality and functional outcomes following head and neck surgery, increasing cancer survival and improving quality of life after head and neck cancer treatment.

Outside UF Health, I am a member of the American Head and Neck Society, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Canadian Association of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology.

I constantly strive to combine world-class care and surgery with research, quality improvement and teaching. I envision a clinic that provides comprehensive care for all domains affected by head and neck cancer. In this clinic, we collect today’s research data to improve outcomes for tomorrow’s patients. As we care for patients and study our outcomes, we also train the next generation of head and neck surgeons from around the region, country, and world.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy coaching my kids’ sports teams, playing guitar, exercising and spending time with my amazing wife.