Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Wendell G. Yarbrough is a leading head and neck surgeon and researcher whose work has fundamentally shaped the surgical management of oropharyngeal and pediatric airway diseases. His primary research focuses on transoral robotic surgery (TORS), where he has been instrumental in demonstrating its clinical value and oncologic outcomes. In a landmark 2018 study analyzing the first five years of TORS adoption nationwide (45 citations), Yarbrough provided critical evidence comparing long-term outcomes of robotic surgery against traditional approaches like transoral laser microsurgery. He has also pioneered the application of TORS in pediatric populations, developing innovative techniques for conditions such as laryngeal cleft repair and upper airway pathology. His work identifying pretreatment predictors for adjuvant chemoradiation has helped surgeons better select patients who will benefit most from robotic approaches. Additionally, Yarbrough has contributed to the ongoing debate about optimal treatment for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer, comparing survival outcomes between upfront surgery and definitive chemoradiation. Through his combination of clinical innovation and rigorous outcomes research, Yarbrough has established himself as a key figure in advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques for head and neck cancer patients.