Andrés M. Bur, MD, FACS, a nationally known oncologist and reconstructive surgeon, will also co-lead the Head and Neck Tumor Center at Siteman Cancer Center
Andrés M. Bur, MD, FACS, has been named chief of the Division of Head and Neck Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery at WashU Medicine and co-director of the Robert Ebert and Greg Stubblefield Head and Neck Tumor Center at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine. He will co-lead the Head and Neck Tumor Center at Siteman alongside fellow directors and WashU Medicine physicians Douglas R. Adkins, MD, a medical oncologist, and Wade L. Thorstad, MD, a radiation oncologist. Bur begins his new roles Oct. 22.
As a nationally recognized head and neck surgical oncologist and reconstructive surgeon, Bur has built an outstanding academic program centered on precision oncology, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, radiomics and translational head and neck cancer research, said Sid Puram, MD, PhD, FACS, the head of the Department of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery and the Lindburg Professor of Otolaryngology at WashU Medicine. Puram, who was appointed head of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery at WashU Medicine in October, previously served as co-director of the Head and Neck Tumor Center at Siteman.
“Dr. Bur’s work has advanced the application of AI to surgical decision-making, imaging, outcomes prediction and clinical workflow while maintaining a strong emphasis on improving patient outcomes through multidisciplinary cancer care,” Puram said. “His track record is one of surgical innovation, multidisciplinary cancer care, mentorship of trainees and translational research.”
Bur joins WashU Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where he has served as the David S. Zamierowski Professor, vice chair of research, vice chair of Innovation and Technology in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and director of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Head and Neck Surgery.
“I look forward to partnering with the remarkable faculty, staff and, above all, patients at WashU Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center,” he said. “By delivering exceptional care and driving innovation, we are collectively building the future of otolaryngology.”
Bur earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering summa cum laude from Tufts University and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Pennsylvania before completing fellowship training in head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery at Emory University.
He co-chairs the American Head and Neck Society Artificial Intelligence Task Force, where he leads strategic planning, educational programming and policy guidelines for AI adoption. He has also led numerous investigations and published in such leading head and neck journals as JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck, Oral Oncology, JAMA Network Open and The Laryngoscope.
Bur is also deeply committed to education and mentorship and has overseen fellow recruitment, curriculum development and national training standards while mentoring the next generation of academic surgeons. Nationally, he serves as chair of the American Head and Neck Society Young Members Service, reflecting his commitment to leadership development and advancing the specialty.
