Ayad
Ali
Ayad  Ali
House Staff
Additional Information

Start Year: 2023

College/University: McGill University

Medical SchoolUniversity of Cincinnati 

Residency Program: 7-Year Research Track

Pronouns: He/his/him

Clinical and Research Interests

​​​​​​​In broad strokes, I am currently torn between Rhinology and Skullbase Surgery, and Fascial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery. I am currently pursuing immunoprofiling of sinonasal tumors as well as exploring the immunologic mechanisms that promote efficient wound healing.

What were you looking for in a residency program?

Duke OHNS was the ideal program for me as it would provide me with a broad-base education of all subspecialties of ENT. Moreover, it truly embodies the surgeon-scientist ideal that I strive to achieve with a rich research environment at Duke University, particularly within the field of Immunology, Cancer Biology, and Engineering. Lastly, our training environment is quite collegial, warm, and welcoming, making it the ideal atmosphere to develop long-lasting relationships.

What advice do you have for incoming interns?

​​​​​​​Intern year is tough mentally and physically. Take the small wins and celebrate them. Don't dwell on your mistakes, they will happen, learn from them and move on. Plan fun things to look forward to as a way to help you get through your training! Keep an open mind and remember that caring for patients is our top priority.  

What do you like best about living in Durham and the Triangle?

As a foodie, I absolutely love the outstanding variety of cuisines available within the triangle! Also, having the oceans to our east and mountains to our west make weekend getaways that much more memorable. The Triangle is also the perfect place to raise a family.

What do you like to do outside of Duke?

Spending time with my wife, exploring new hiking trails and parks within the Triangle, and trying new restaurants. Also working out, rock climbing, and road-tripping.

Honors and Awards

  • Presidential Medal of Graduate Student Excellence (2021)
  • Albert J. Ryan Fellowship (2020)
  • Excellence in Graduate Mentorship Award (2020)
  • AAI Trainee Abstract Oral Presentation Award (2020)
  • NIH T32 Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Targeting of Immune Disorders (2019)
  • Invited Short-Talk for The 18th Meeting of the Society for Natural Immunity NK2019 (2019)
  • AAI Trainee Abstract Oral Presentation Award (2019)
  • National MD/PhD Conference Sponsorship Award (2019)
  • AAI Young Investigator Oral Presentation Award (2018)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Grant (2015) 
  • James McGill Major Renewable Scholarship (2015)
House Staff