Current Environment: Production

Medical Services

Specialties

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English
  • Farsi

Education

Medical School

DMD

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

2004, Boston, MA

Medical School

MD

Harvard Medical School

2007, Boston, MA

Residency

General Surgery

Massachusetts General Hospital

2009, Boston, MA

Residency

Chief Resident, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Massachusetts General Hospital

2010, Boston, MA

Professional History

Dr. Salim Afshar practices the full scope of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, with a specific interest and focus on pathology of the maxillofacial region. In addition to surgically managing cysts and tumors of the maxillofacial region, he performs corrective jaw (orthognathic) surgery, and dentoalveolar surgery, which includes placement of dental implants and the extraction of wisdom teeth. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is an attending surgeon in the Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery at Boston Children's Hospital where he trains surgical residents and students.

His research interests include pathology of the maxillofacial region, innovation and healthcare delivery, both locally and internationally. Dr. Afshar is an active faculty member of the Program of Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard Medical School, and is a Clinical Advisor to the Innovation & Digital Health Accelerator Program (IDHA) at Boston Children’s Hospital. In addition, he is the founder of several products and companies and continues to be active in innovation as a mentor and advisor through the Harvard iLab and IDHA focusing on strategy and design.

Originally from Boston, Dr. Afshar completed his undergraduate work at Boston University before receiving his DMD from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He then received his MD degree from Harvard Medical School and completed residency training in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital. His training included two years as a general surgery resident as well as training in pediatric oral and maxillofacial surgery both here at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Afshar has many ongoing clinical research projects focused on improving treatment outcomes in several areas of pediatric oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Media

Caregiver Profile

Meet Dr. Salim Afshar

Publications

  1. Are We Overlooking Vascular Anomalies in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Training? J Maxillofac Oral Surg. 2025 Feb; 24(1):30-35. View Abstract

  2. Task-sharing spinal anaesthesia care in three rural Indian hospitals: a non-inferiority randomised controlled clinical trial. BMJ Glob Health. 2024 Aug 16; 9(8). View Abstract

  3. Interest in global surgery rotations among oral and maxillofacial surgical residents in the United States. J Dent Educ. 2024 Jan; 88(1):30-41. View Abstract

  4. A multi-disciplinary team approach to pediatric malignant mandibular tumors. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2023 May; 168:111547. View Abstract

  5. We Asked the Experts: Innovative Venture Investing as a Model for Strengthening Global Surgery. World J Surg. 2023 02; 47(2):445-447. View Abstract

  6. The global reach of social media in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2023 Sep; 27(3):513-517. View Abstract

  7. Trends in Work Relative Value Unit Production in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Jan; 80(1):10-12. View Abstract

  8. Assessment of global health programs at accredited dental schools in the United States. J Dent Educ. 2022 Jan; 86(1):29-37. View Abstract

  9. The Need for Global Surgery Education in the United States Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Training Pipeline. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2021 Nov; 79(11):2189-2192. View Abstract

  10. Desmoid tumors of the head and neck in the pediatric population: Has anything changed? Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Jan; 140:110511. View Abstract

  11. Calcifying synovial sarcoma of the tongue with SS18 rearrangement: a rare variant in a rare location. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2021 11; 132(5):e186-e189. View Abstract

  12. Simulation capacity building in rural Indian hospitals: a 1-year follow-up qualitative analysis. BMJ Simul Technol Enhanc Learn. 2021; 7(3):140-145. View Abstract

  13. Relieving Emergency Department Burden During COVID-19: Section 1135 Waivers for Dental Case Diversion. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020 12; 78(12):2110-2111. View Abstract

  14. Congenital Disseminated Pyogenic Granuloma: Characterization of an Aggressive Multisystemic Disorder. J Pediatr. 2020 11; 226:157-166. View Abstract

  15. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: An Opportunity to Improve Surgical Care and Advance Sustainable Development Globally. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2020 Aug; 32(3):339-354. View Abstract

  16. Implications of Private Equity in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020 Sep; 78(9):1456-1458. View Abstract

  17. Does Fee-for-Service Medicare Reimbursement Incentivize Volume Over Value Among Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020 06; 78(6):870-876. View Abstract

  18. Surgathon: a new model for creating a surgical innovation ecosystem in low-resource settings. BMJ Glob Health. 2020; 5(2):e002162. View Abstract

  19. Artificial Intelligence and its role in surgical care in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet Digit Health. 2019 12; 1(8):e384-e386. View Abstract

  20. Utilizing a Physician Scribe in a Pediatric Plastic Surgical Practice: A Time-driven Activity-based Costing Study. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019 Oct; 7(10):e2460. View Abstract

  21. How Often Do Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons Lose Malpractice Cases and Why? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019 Dec; 77(12):2422-2430. View Abstract

  22. Reconstruction of Congenital Microtia and Anotia: Analysis of Practitioner Epidemiology and Postoperative Outcomes. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019 Jun; 7(6):e2318. View Abstract

  23. Do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Over-Prescribe Opioids After Extraction of Asymptomatic Third Molars? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019 Jul; 77(7):1332-1336. View Abstract

  24. What is the Prevalence of Undiagnosed Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome in Children With an Odontogenic Keratocyst? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019 Jul; 77(7):1389-1391. View Abstract

  25. Treatment of Craniosynostosis: The Impact of Hospital Surgical Volume on Cost, Resource Utilization, and Outcomes. J Craniofac Surg. 2018 Jul; 29(5):1233-1236. View Abstract

  26. The Impact of Surgical Volume on Outcomes and Cost in Cleft Repair: A Kids' Inpatient Database Analysis. Ann Plast Surg. 2018 04; 80(4 Suppl 4):S174-S177. View Abstract

  27. From blockchain technology to global health equity: can cryptocurrencies finance universal health coverage? BMJ Glob Health. 2017; 2(4):e000570. View Abstract

  28. Addressing the high rate of opioid prescriptions for dental pain in the emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2018 Jan; 36(1):138-139. View Abstract

  29. Implementing World Health Assembly Resolution 68.15: National surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia strategic plan development--the Zambian experience. Bull Am Coll Surg. 2017 06; 102(6):28-35. View Abstract

  30. A hidden opportunity within surgery in low- and middle-income countries. Healthc (Amst). 2016 Dec; 4(4):271-273. View Abstract

  31. Customized repair of fractured mandibular reconstruction plates. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2012 Oct; 70(10):e563-73. View Abstract
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