Dr. Ian Witterick
Dr. Ian Witterick is Surgeon-in-Chief at Sinai Health and a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Toronto (U of T). He previously served as Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at U of T from 2012 to 2022.
Prior to becoming Surgeon-in-Chief, Dr. Witterick served as Otolaryngologist-in-Chief at Sinai Health from 2012 to 2024. He has also served as Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee and President of the Medical Staff Association and has been actively involved in clinical and operational leadership, quality improvement, physician engagement, strategic planning, and the advancement of academic surgical care at Sinai Health.
He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and a Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology.
Education
Dr. Witterick earned his medical degree, cum laude, at Western University, then completed his residency in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at U of T, followed by fellowships in head and neck oncology and rhinology and a Master of Science in clinical epidemiology, also at U of T.
He is a graduate of the Program for Chiefs of Clinical Services at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Rotman Advanced Leadership Development Program at U of T.
Research
Dr. Witterick's clinical and research interests include head and neck oncology, rhinology, endocrine disease, and skull base surgery, spanning clinical, translational and basic science work. He has more than 220 peer-reviewed publications and 36 book chapters and has delivered more than 150 keynote and invited lectures across six continents, including as a guest of honour at several international academic meetings. He also serves on the editorial boards of several journals in his specialty and is extensively involved in the supervision and mentorship of medical students, residents, fellows, graduate students, and faculty.
Awards and recognition
Dr. Witterick has received numerous awards for his contributions to medical education and the specialty, including U of T’s Charles Mickle Fellowship Award — presented annually to one faculty member, across the more than 9,000 members of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, for exceptional contributions to medical education throughout their career.
His other awards include the Educational Excellence Award from the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, U of T’s Postgraduate Medical Education Award for Development and Innovation, the Colin R. Woolf Award for Long-Term Contributions to Continuing Education, and two Presidential Citations from the American Head and Neck Society.