Dr. Patel is the Residency Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/ Head and Neck Surgery at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Cornell University. After his time at Cornell, he attended Dental School at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York City.Dr. Patel obtained his Medical Degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He completed a General Surgery Internship and an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport. After residency, Dr. Patel expanded his scope of practice by completing Fellowships in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery, Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery, and Pediatric Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery. His clinical practice and research interests include reconstructive craniomaxillofacial / head and neck surgery, oncologic surgery, cleft surgery, and dentoalveolar surgery.He frequently travels internationally for humanitarian outreach to deliver care to patients with clefts or pathological conditions. When not spending time with his work family, he loves woodworking, looking after his garden, and traveling with his wife Purna and son, Ian.