Dr Krishnakumar Thankappan is presently working as Professor and Head, department of Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India His basic training is in Otolaryngology from BJ Medical College, Pune. He completed MCh in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi and an advanced fellowship in Head and Neck Oncology from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA. He also got trained in Robotic head and neck surgery from South Korea. International Fellowship in Health Technology assessment. Masters in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

He has more than 120 publications in international journals. He serves as a reviewer for more than 10 international journals and is the Associate Editor for Frontiers Journals (Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Oral Surgery) and Journal of Head and Neck Physicians and Surgeons. Has edited two books titled “Basic Concepts in Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology” and “Dysphagia Management in Head and Neck Cancers.”

• Heads one of the first MCh programs in Head and Oncology in India
• Principal investigator for three major multicentric trials in head and neck oncology
• Initiatives to establish a Robotic Thyroidectomy program in India
• Initiatives for the first center to start Sentinel Node Biopsy procedure in oral cancer
• Initiative for Health Economics in Head and Neck Cancers in India
• Initiatives for Applications of Artificial intelligence and Machine learning in Head and Neck Oncology
• Initiatives for the first Comprehensive Dysphagia program in India.