In Riyadh’s dynamic medical landscape, Dr. Fareed R. Al-Ghamdi stands at the crossroads of surgical precision, subspecialty innovation, and academic leadership. As a consultant in otolaryngology and head, neck, and thyroid surgical oncology at Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC) and Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group (Olaya Branch), he brings deep clinical expertise to some of the most intricate anatomical structures in the human body.

Beyond his daily surgical practice, Dr. Al-Ghamdi plays a pivotal role in shaping future generations of clinicians across the Kingdom in his capacity as Director of the ENT and Head & Neck Surgery Training Program at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS).

Sharpened by Experience

Dr. Fareed Al-Ghamdi’s medical journey is grounded in continuous learning and rigorous subspecialty education across prominent national and international institutions. After graduating with Second Class Honors from King Saud University, he completed his residency training at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, achieving his Saudi Board in Otolaryngology in 2011. He further built upon this foundation with a subspecialty fellowship at King Saud University in 2012. Demonstrating a strong commitment to maintaining global benchmarks of care, he earned certification from the European Board of Head and Neck Surgery (EBORL-HNS) in 2014 and was later inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).

To master the latest surgical advancements and minimally invasive technologies, Dr. Fareed Al-Ghamdi pursued two specialized fellowships in the United States:

  • Augusta University (Georgia, USA): Completed a subspecialty micro-fellowship in head and neck tumor surgery and microsurgery at the Medical College of Georgia in 2016. During an intensive six-month focus alongside world-renowned endocrine surgeon Prof. David Terris, he performed more than 300 delicate thyroid and parathyroid procedures utilizing both traditional open approaches and the da Vinci Surgical Robotic System.
  • University of Miami / Jackson Memorial Hospital (Florida, USA): Completed a second subspecialty micro-fellowship in head and neck reconstructive surgery in 2018, gaining advanced expertise in complex tissue restoration and microvascular reconstruction following tumor ablations.

Today, Dr. Al-Ghamdi holds active medical practice licenses in Saudi Arabia, the State of Georgia (USA), and the State of Florida (USA). This broad international background allows him to integrate high-level surgical practices into his clinical care in Riyadh.

Clinical Expertise in Head, Neck, and Endocrine Surgery

Head and neck surgery addresses vital anatomical regions that govern essential functions such as breathing, speaking, swallowing, and facial appearance. Dr. Fareed Al-Ghamdi’s clinical work combines surgical precision with personalized treatment plans that emphasize both functional preservation and complete disease management:

  • Thyroid and Parathyroid Care: Comprehensive management of thyroid disease, including advanced total and partial thyroidectomy for large multi-nodular goiters and thyroid malignancies. He also performs targeted parathyroidectomy to treat hypercalcemia, parathyroid adenomas, and rare endocrine tumors.
  • Head and Neck Oncology: Surgical resection of both benign and non-benign tumors involving the oral cavity, tongue, pharynx, larynx, and facial skin. When necessary, he performs neck dissections (cleaning of cervical lymph nodes) alongside microvascular or local tissue reconstruction to restore anatomical form and function.
  • Salivary Gland Interventions: Traditional surgical management for parotid and submandibular gland diseases, as well as minimally invasive sialendoscopy (salivary duct endoscopy) to treat obstructive stones and salivary inflammation.
  • Voice, Airway, and Sleep Surgery: Specialized micro-laryngeal laser procedures to address vocal cord polyps, nodules, and early laryngeal tumors, aiming to improve voice quality and breathing. His practice also includes cervical tracheostomy and tracheal reconstruction for severe airway stenosis, as well as surgical procedures for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
  • General Otolaryngology & Pediatrics: Surgical treatment for adult and pediatric conditions, including adenotonsillectomy, septoplasty, nasal fracture reduction, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), and ear ventilation tube placement for fluid accumulation.
  • Outpatient Diagnostics: In-clinic fiberoptic endoscopy of the nose, pharynx, and larynx under local anesthesia, microscopic ear examinations, balance testing, and minor procedures in dedicated procedure rooms.
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A Notable Milestone

In June 2023, Dr. Fareed Al-Ghamdi’s surgical expertise was highlighted when he led a medical team in treating a 36-year-old patient with a massive substernal thyroid goiter. The mass was reported to be approximately nine times the normal size of the gland and extended deep from the neck into the upper thoracic cavity.

Large substernal goiters that extend into the chest present significant technical challenges, as they often require a full sternotomy (splitting of the breastbone) to access thoracic blood vessels safely. However, Dr. Al-Ghamdi’s team successfully mobilized and resected the giant mass through a single, small neck incision, avoiding the need to open the patient's chest.

To ensure patient safety throughout the complex 90-minute operation, the team utilized continuous intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) to identify and protect the recurrent laryngeal nerves responsible for vocal cord function. The procedure was completed without surgical complications, and the patient recovered smoothly, leaving the hospital within 24 hours without requiring intensive care admission. The case illustrates the importance of meticulous preoperative planning, real-time nerve monitoring, and safe anatomical mobilization in complex endocrine surgery.

A Career Built on Growth and Academic Leadership

Beyond his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Al-Ghamdi maintains a strong commitment to medical education, clinical research, and administrative leadership. Since 2019, as Director of the Joint Training Program Committee for Otolaryngology at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), he has overseen training curricula, resident rotation frameworks, and competency evaluations for fellows across the Kingdom.

His contribution to academic literature includes multiple peer-reviewed publications covering surgical safety, rare head and neck pathologies, and medical training:

  • Surgical Precision & Safety: Co-authored research evaluating the combined use of recurrent laryngeal nerve neuromonitoring and surgical magnification loupes to optimize thyroidectomy outcomes.
  • Competency Frameworks: Co-authored a study published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy that established and tested an operative competency assessment tool for nasal septoplasty surgery, helping trainers objectively evaluate surgical skills.
  • Oncology & Rare Pathologies: Published clinical case studies detailing rare head and neck conditions, including parotid carcinosarcoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, adult cavernous hemangioma, cervical Castleman disease, and synchronous salivary gland neoplasms (Cureus, Journal of Surgical Case Reports, International Journal of Surgery Case Reports).
  • Medical Education Research: Documented the impact of global health challenges on otolaryngology residency training programs in Saudi Arabia (Annals of Medicine and Surgery).

Through his combined roles as a consultant surgeon, researcher, and program director, Dr. Farid Al-Ghamdi continues to advance standards in head and neck care while helping prepare the next generation of surgical specialists in Saudi Arabia.

To follow Dr. Farid Al-Ghamdi’s latest patient care insights, surgical updates, and educational videos, visit his TikTok account or his official website at saudithyroid.com.