Adel Assaad, MD

3/26/2021

To Oral Pathology Biopsy Service Providers

Ref: Welcoming Dr. Assaad to OPBS

Dear Colleagues,

As most of you know, I have been the sole Oral Pathologist at the UWSOD Oral Pathology Biopsy Service (OPBS) for well over a year now. To meet the needs for daily oral biopsy evaluations for our growing community, it was of paramount importance that the OPBS hire a second pathologist, and that this person be a highly skilled, excellent diagnostician. I am very happy to announce that we have found an exceptionally qualified, board certified Head and Neck Pathologist to read oral biopsy specimens for us one week per month.

I am honored to present to you my colleague Adel Assaad MD. Dr. Assaad has served as Chief of Pathology at Virginia Mason from 2015-2017 and has been a Pathologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center since 2007. Prior to moving to Seattle, he was an Assistant Professor at the Columbia University Medical Center from 2005 to 2007.

Dr. Assaad received his MD degree from a highly competitive Medical School in the Middle East, the American University of Beirut, in 2000. After graduation, he spent a year as an intern in Anatomic Pathology at the same institution. Dr. Assaad then came to the United States to continue his pathology training in the prestigious Anatomic Pathology residency program at Columbia University Medical Center. He began his residency there in 2001 and completed it in 2004, serving as Chief Resident in Anatomic Pathology at Columbia University Medical Center from 2003 to 2004. He then completed one year Fellowship (2004 to 2005) in Head & Neck and Endocrine Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, widely acknowledged as one of the best programs in the country for Head & Neck Pathology. In 2005, he became board certified in Anatomic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology.

In addition to his work as a clinician, Dr. Assaad has collaborated over the years in a number of research projects, including investigations of gene expression in pulmonary and thyroid cancer, genetic alterations in head and neck squamous cell cancer, and the roles of gene mutations and HPV and EBV in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. He serves on the Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Pathology Review at Virginia Mason and has served on the ENT Tumor Board Pathology Review at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Furthermore, he taught medical students at Columbia University while on the faculty there. His 25 publications cover the areas of his research collaborations, as well as clinical descriptions of salivary duct carcinoma and other salivary gland tumors, and more.

It is rare enough to encounter a colleague who is so well trained, experienced and knowledgeable in the area of Head and Neck Pathology. It is rarer still to find someone who, throughout their academic and clinical career, has managed to maintain the all important perspective that what matters most is patient care and the welfare of the patient.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Dr. Assaad to OPBS. His contact information is:

Dr. Adel Assaad
Virginia Mason Medical Center
C6-PTH
1100 Ninth Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-223-6861
Email: adel.assaad@virginiamason.org

Dr. Assaad and I look forward to continuing to provide our valued colleagues with prompt and accurate oral pathology diagnoses, and an open door and phone line for questions and discussions.

Wishing you all the very best as we also now welcome spring.

Dolphine Oda, BDS, MSC
Professor & Director
Oral Pathology Biopsy Service

Dr. Assaad CV (PDF).