David Forner, MD, MSc

David Forner
Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Otolaryngology Education Lead
Medical School
Available to mentor
David Forner, MD, MSc
David Forner
Clinical Assistant Professor
  • About
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
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  • About

    Dr. Forner is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Michigan. Clinically, Dr. Forner is a Head and Neck Surgical Oncologist and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeon.

    Dr. Forner received his Bachelor of Science with Honors from the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada. He graduated from Dalhousie University Medical School in 2013, having received several academic honors. He then completed residency training in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery at Dalhousie University, during which he completed a Masters in Clinical Epidemiology within the prestigious Institute for Health Policy, Management , and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Doctor Forner completed fellowship training in Advanced Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Microvascular Surgery at the University of Michigan.

    Qualifications

    • Master of Science (MSc)
      University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
      2019 - 2020
    • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
      Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada
      2013 - 2017
    • Bachelor of Science in Biology (BSc)
      University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada
      2008 - 2012

    Center Memberships

    • Center Member
      Center for History, Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Ethics in Medicine
    • Center Member
      Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation

    Research Overview

    Dr. Forner has a diverse research interest within Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, including in decision-making, clinical trials, patient reported outcome measures, and economic evaluation. His primary research focus is on shared decision-making, decisional conflict, and decision regret amongst patients with head and neck cancer.

    Recent Publications

    See All Publications
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      Impact of Nodal Yield and Dissection Extent on Regional Control in Head and Neck Melanoma
      Forner D, Thomas EA, McLean SA, Stucken CL, Malloy KM, Heft Neal ME, Davis MJ. 2026 Oct 10;
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      Impact of Nodal Yield and Dissection Extent on Regional Control in Head and Neck Melanoma
      Forner D, Thomas EA, McLean SA, Stucken CL, Malloy KM, Heft Neal ME, Davis MJ. 2026 Oct 10;
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      Incidence, Diagnostic Evaluation, and Healthcare Utilization Among Adults Presenting with a Cystic Neck Mass
      Forner D, Pozin MA, Prince ME, Casper KA, Heft Neal ME, Buchakjian MR, Yalamanchi P. 2026 Oct 10;
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      Incidence, Diagnostic Evaluation, and Healthcare Utilization Among Adults Presenting with a Cystic Neck Mass
      Forner D, Pozin MA, Prince ME, Casper KA, Heft Neal ME, Buchakjian MR, Yalamanchi P. 2026 Oct 10;
    • Presentation
      Surveillance During Hnca Survivorship: Practical Considerations for Community Practice Otorhinolaryngologist
      Forner D, Heft Neal ME, Panwar A, McCammon S. 2026 Aug 10;
    • Presentation
      Surveillance During Hnca Survivorship: Practical Considerations for Community Practice Otorhinolaryngologist
      Forner D, Heft Neal ME, Panwar A, McCammon S. 2026 Aug 10;
    • Journal Article
      Combined Positive Score and Cost-Effectiveness of Perioperative Pembrolizumab for Head and Neck Cancer.
      Coyle AH, Hutton DW, Buchakjian MR, Casper KA, Forner DW, Hawley S, Heft Neal ME, Malloy KM, Mierzwa ML, Prince ME, Shah JL, Sweicicki PL, Shuman AG, Stucken CL, Veenstra CM, Worden FP, Yalamanchi P. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2026 Aug 6; DOI:10.1001/jamaoto.2026.2124
      PMID: 42560690
    • Presentation
      Tracheostomy: Technique, Timing, & Decannulation session (as part of the Foundation of Surgical Critical Care Summer School) for General Surgery Residents
      Forner D. 2026 Aug 5;

    Featured News & Stories

    medical sign in green with A symbol on it
    Health Lab

    Addressing body-image distress in head and neck cancer patients

    Michigan Medicine joins a clinical trial led by Medical University of South Carolina, who has developed a disease-specific cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) called BRIGHT that’s targeted toward head neck cancer patients with body image distress, a common problem.