Dr. Kourosh Parham, MD, PhD, FACS

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Get to know Otolaryngologist Dr. Kourosh Parham, who serves patients in Farmington, Connecticut. 

Dr. Parham is an otolaryngology – head & neck surgeon at UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut. He offers a full range of clinical services in general otolaryngology – head and neck surgery with focus on endocrine surgery and is actively engaged in research and education. 

At the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, he serves as a Professor of Surgery, and as the Director of Research & Program Director of the Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Residency Program. He leads the training of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) residents, and teaches UConn medical students, in the clinic, hospital and operating room settings. 

Affiliated with UConn John Dempsey Hospital, the doctor’s clinical interests include general otolaryngology, geriatric otolaryngology, hearing loss and age-related hearing loss, reflux and swallowing difficulties, in-office esophagoscopy, and thyroid/parathyroid surgery. His subspecialties include parathyroid tumors, nasal/sinus disease, thyroid carcinoma, thyroid nodules and disorders, thyroid/parathyroid disorders, dysphagia, and esophageal disease.

Graduating with his Bachelor of Science degrees in Biological Sciences and Psychology from Northern Illinois University in 1985, Dr. Parham also completed his Master of Arts degree and his Doctor of Philosophy degree at the said establishment in 1987 and 1989, respectively. He then went on to perform his postdoctoral fellowship in auditory neurophysiology at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Dr. Parham earned his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 2000. He is a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners. After medical school, he went on to complete his internship in general surgery and his residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at UConn in 2001 and 2005, respectively.

A year later, in 2006, he attained board certification in otolaryngology through the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, a non-profit organization with the mission of ensuring professional standards in this field since 1924.

Dr. Parham is also an active member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, the Society of University Otolaryngologists, the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and the Connecticut ENT Society.

Attaining fellowship status, he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and Fellow of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society (aka Triological) Society, the most prestigious society in otolaryngology.  He has was also awarded the Jahnigen Fellowship of the American Geriatric Society.

Holding various titles, Dr. Parham is the Immediate-Past President of the Connecticut Ear, Nose & Throat Society and the American Society of Geriatric Otolaryngology. He continues to serve on the Executive Committee of both organizations.  He currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Society of University Otolaryngologists – Head & Neck Surgeons’ Diversity Committee and on the Editorial Boards of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery and the Ear, Nose & Throat Journal.  

His main area of research is focused on development of serological biomarkers for otological disorders using proteins which are specifically expressed in the inner ear.  He has received research funding from the Sandoz Foundation, National Organization for Hearing Research, the National Institute on Deafness and Communicative Disorders, American Geriatric Society and the Triological Society.  His research is currently funded by a grant by the American Tinnitus Association. He was awarded US and European patents for the development of otological biomarkers.  

In 2022, Dr. Parham was recognized by the Women in Otolaryngology section of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery with the He for She Award for his commitment to gender equity in the field. 

Otolaryngology is the oldest medical specialty in the United States. They generally provide the following services: diagnosis and treatment of ENT disorders, as well as head and neck diseases.  Otolaryngologists provide their services to patients across the lifespan from newborn through geriatric.  These services include both medical and surgical management of ENT disorders.  Research that Dr. Parham is engaged in aims to advance patient care in this field.

On a more personal note, he is fluent in both English and Persian (Farsi).

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