Rodney J Taylor MD, MSPH is the Inaugural Bruce and Isobel Cleland Professor and Chairman of the of Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He joined the faculty in 2001 and is a surgeon-scientist whose clinical practice is dedicated to the comprehensive care of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, patients with Sinus and Skull base disease, Thyroid and Parathyroid conditions and performs minimally invasive, robotic, endoscopic and complex surgical procedures for the management of diseases of the head and neck.
Prior to arriving at the University of Maryland, Dr. Taylor graduated from Harvard College in 1991 with honors where he was also First Class Marshal (Senior Class President), Varsity Football player and was active in both student government and multicultural activities. He attended Harvard Medical School and received his medical degree in 1995. He then completed his residency at the University of Michigan in Otolaryngology- Head and Neck surgery. While at the University of Michigan he also received a master’s degree from the School of Public Health in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis.
Dr. Taylor’s research expertise includes head and neck cancer disparities in treatment and outcome for underrepresented and disadvantaged patients. He also has basic science and translational interests, which include studying ZSCAN4 as part of a system that confers and maintains cancer cell immortality in HNC. Related, he studies the role of ZSCAN4 and its effect on adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) harvested from tonsillar tissue for the development of clinical applications for regenerative medicine following ablative surgical and cancer treatments.
In addition to his clinical and research pursuits, he is a key leader in the UMSOM promoting Diversity and Inclusion and providing Unconscious Bias training for its faculty and staff. Dr. Taylor also serves on the executive committee of the UMSOM Faculty Group Practice. He is chair of the AAOHNS Head and Neck Surgery & Oncology committee and serves on the AAOHNS Diversity of Committee. He is also passionate and active on a local and national level in providing mentorship to increase underrepresented individuals in healthcare and research fields.
