Dr. Samer Fakhri is a fellowship-trained rhinologist and an internationally recognized sinus surgeon and educator with a leadership record in healthcare institutions and specialty societies nationally and internationally. He has practiced in the Houston area for over 15 years and established the division of sinonasal and skull base surgery at UT Houston. Dr. Fakhri has served as the Chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) and as Residency Program Director, Vice-Chair, and co-director of Rhinology Fellowship in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Texas McGovern medical school at Houston. He has trained many residents and fellow surgeons.

Dr. Fakhri received his medical degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He completed his residency training at McGill University Health Center and pursued fellowship training in Rhinology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He also completed a research fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at the Meakins-Christie Laboratories of McGill University. Dr. Fakhri is certified by both the American Board of Otolaryngology and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada.

Dr. Fakhri is a frequently invited national and international panelist and speaker on the management of complex sinus disease and sinonasal tumors. He has served as chair or director to international CME-accredited Rhinology meetings. He also served as chair of the Rhinology education committee of the American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Fakhri has published over 60 scientific articles and book chapters, including descriptions of new minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat complex sinus conditions.

Awards & Publications

• Tenure Award, American University of Beirut, 2018
• The University of Texas Medical School Medal of Excellence, 2015
• Castle Connolly recognized Top Physician, 2014 – Present
• Houstonia Top Doctors, 2013 – Present
• Texas Super Doctors, 2013 – Present
• The University of Texas System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, 2013
• American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head, and Neck Surgery Foundation Honor Award, 2012
• Best Doctors in America, 2010 – 2015
• Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, University of Texas Medical School, 2007 – 2013

Publications

• Saheb Sharif-Askari F, Saheb Sharif-Askari N, Goel S, Fakhri S, Al-Muhsen S, Hamid Q, and Halwani R. “Are patients with chronic rhinosinusitis at increased risk of COVID-19 infection?” Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2020 Oct;10(10):1182-1185. doi: 10.1002/alr.22672. Epub 2020 Aug 19.
• Tyler MA, Lam K; Ashoori F; Cai C; Kain JJ, Fakhri S, Citardi MJ, Cattano C, Luong A. Analgesic effects of intravenous acetaminophen vs placebo for endoscopic sinus surgery and postoperative pain. JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. 2017; 143: 788-794.
• Tyler MA, Russell CB, Smith DE, Rottman JB, Padro Dietz CJ, Hu X, Citardi MJ, Fakhri S, Assassi S, Luong A. Large scale gene expression profiling reveals distinct type 2 inflammatory patterns in chronic rhinosinusitis subtypes. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017, vol.139, no.3, pp-1061- 1064.e4
• Promsopa C, Kansara S, Citardi MJ, Fakhri S, Porter P, Luong A. Prevalence of confirmed asthma varies in chronic rhinosinusitis subtypes. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2016, vol.6, no.4, pp373-7.
• Porter PC, Lim DJ, Maskatia ZK, Mak G, Tsai CL, Citardi MJ, Fakhri S, Shaw JL, Fothergil A, Kheradmand F, Corry DB, Luong A. Airway surface mycosis in chronic TH2-associated airway disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014, vol.134, no.2, pp-325-31.
• Man LX, Farhood Z, Luong A, Fakhri S, Feldman RM, Orlander PR, Citardi MJ. The effect of intranasal fluticasone propionate irrigations on salivary cortisol, intraocular pressure, and posterior subcapsular cataracts in postsurgical chronic rhinosinusitis patients. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013 Dec;3(12):953-7.
• Shaw JL, Fakhri S, Citardi MJ, Porter PC, Corry DB, Kheradmand F, Liu YJ, Luong A. IL-33- Responsive Innate Lymphoid Cells Are an Important Source of IL-13 in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Aug 15;188(4):432-9.
• Lambert EM, Patel CB, Fakhri S, Citardi MJ, Luong A. Optical rhinometry in nonallergic irritant rhinitis: a capsaicin challenge study. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013 Oct;3(10):795-800.
• Ansari M, Guo S, Fakhri S, Citardi MJ, Blanco A, Patino M, Buryanek J, Amato R, Karni R, Brown RE. Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC): Morphoproteomic-guided treatment paradigm with clinical efficacy. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2013 Winter; 43(1):45-53.
• Agarwal G, Hernandez D, Citardi MJ, Fakhri S, Luong A. End-organ testing for allergic rhinitis with fungi is poorly correlated with fungal sensitivity. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Mar;148(3):391-5.
• Clark DW, Wenaas A, Luong A, Citardi MJ, Fakhri S. Staphylococcus aureus prevalence in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis vs other subsets of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013 Feb;3(2):89-93. doi: 10.1002/alr.21090. Epub 2012 Oct 4.
• Cattano D., Gomez-Rivera F., Seitan C., Altamirano A., Patel C., Luong A., Citardi A., Fakhri S., Hagberg C. Platelet Function as Affected by Total Intravenous and Inhalational Anesthesia. J Anesthe Clinic Res 2013 3:197.
• Gomez-Rivera F., Cattano D., Ramaswamy U., Patel C.B., Altamirano A., Man L-X., Luong A.L., Zhongxue C., Citardi M.J., Fakhri S. Pilot Study Comparing Total Intravenous to Inhalational Anesthesia in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Novel Approach of Blood Flow Quantification. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2012 Nov;121(11):725-32.
• Man, L.X., McLean C.C., Pierce M. L., Fakhri S. Endoscopic Trans(naso)orbital Management of Supraorbital Mucoceles with Biliary T-Tube Stenting. Laryngoscope 2012 Sep 10. doi: 10.1002/lary.23581
• Cattano D., Gomez-Rivera F., Seitan C., Altamirano A., Patel C., Luong A., Citardi A., Fakhri S., Hagberg C. Post-Operative Effects: Comparison of Total Intravenous and Inhalational Anesthesia. J Anesthe Clinic Res 2012, S7- 003.
• Alava I., Isaacs S.J., Luong A., Citardi M.J., Fakhri S. Mometasone Furoate Gel: A Novel In-Office Treatment of Recalcitrant Postoperative Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Journal of Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012 Jun 1;41(3):183-8.
• Basanez I.Z, Fakhri S., Ho T., Man L.X. Pathology Quizz case 2: Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2012 Apr;138(4):429.
• Shaw J.L., Ashoori F., Fakhri S., Citardi M.J., Luong A. Increased Percentage of Mast cells and CRTh2+ T cells within Sinonasal Mucosa of Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyp Patients Independent of Atopy. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2012 Feb 16. doi: 10.1002/alr.21021
• Gomez-Rivera F., Fakhri S., Williams M.D., Hanna E.Y., Kupferman M.E. Surgical management of sinonasal hemangiopericytomas: A case series. Head Neck. 2011 Oct 22. doi: 0.1002/hed.21926
• Clark D.W., Wenaas A., Citardi M.J., Luong A., Fakhri S. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: elevated serum immunoglobulin E is associated with Staphylococcus aureus on culture. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 18 JUL 2011, DOI: 10.1002/alr.20079
• Isaacs S.J., Fakhri S., Luong A., Citardi M.J. A Meta-analysis of topical Amphotericin B for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2011 July/August; Volume 1(4):250–254.
• Isaacs S., Fakhri S., Luong A., Whited C., Citardi M.J. The effect of dilute baby shampoo on nasal mucociliary clearance in healthy subjects. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2011 Jan-Feb;25(1):e27-9.
• Cheung E.J., Citardi M.J., Fakhri S., Cain J., Batra P.S., Luong A. Comparison of Optical Rhinometry to Acoustic Rhinometry Using Nasal Provocation Testing with Dermatophagoides farina. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surgery 2010 Aug; 143(2):290-3. Epub 2010 Jun 8.
• Clark D.W., Citardi M.J., Fakhri S. Endoscopic Management of Skull Base Defects Associated with Persistent Pneumocephalus Following Previous Open Repair: A Preliminary Report. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surgery 2010 Jun; 142(6):820-6.
• Webb B., Pereira K.D., Fakhri S. Nasal Foreign Body as the Cause of a Subperiosteal Orbital Abscess in a Child. ENT Journal. Ear Nose Throat J. 2010 Feb; 89(2):E11-3.
• Isaacs S., Fakhri S., Luong A., Citardi M.J. Intraoperative Imaging for OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2009; 42(5): 765-779.
• Cavaretta V., Demian N., Fakhri S. Suppurative thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein: a rare complication of the mandible fracture. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2009 Apr; 67(4):905-9.
• Luong A., Batra P.S., Fakhri S., Citardi, M.J. Balloon Catheter Dilatation for Frontal Sinus Ostium Stenosis in the Office Setting. Am J Rhinol 2008; 22(6): 621-624. Fakhri S. Endoscopic Drainage of Subperiosteal Orbital Abscesses. Operative Techniques in Otolaryngol 2008; 19(3): 195-198.
• Zafereo M.E., Fakhri S., Prayson R., Batra P.S., Lee J., Lanza D.C., Citardi, M.J. Esthesioneuroblastoma: 25-year experience at a single institution. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surgery 2008 Apr; 138(4):452-8.
• Fakhri S., Pereira K.D. Endoscopic Management of Orbital Abscesses. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2006; 39(5): 1037-47.
• Solares C.A., Fakhri S., Batra P.S., Lee J., Lanza D.C.: Transnasal Endoscopic Resection of Lesions of the Clivus: A Preliminary Report. Laryngoscope 2005; 115: 1917-1922.
• Friedman A.., Batra P.S., Fakhri S., Citardi M.J., Lanza D.C. Isolated Sphenoid Sinus Disease: Etiology and Management. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surgery 2005; 133(4): 544-550.
• Fakhri S., Citardi M.J., Wolfe S., Batra P.S., Prayson R.A., Lanza D.C. Challenges in the Management of Sphenoid Inverted Papilloma. Am J Rhinol 2005; 19(2): 207-13.
• Fakhri S., Citardi M.J. Considerations against concurrent functional endoscopic sinus surgery and rhinoplasty. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2004; 12(4): 431-4.
• Fakhri, S., Christodoulopoulos P., Tulic M.K., Fukakusa M., Frenkiel S., Leung D.Y.M., Hamid Q. A. Microbial Superantigens Induce Glucocorticoid Receptor Beta and Steroid Resistance in a Nasal Explant Model. Laryngoscope 2004; 114(5): 887-892.
• Nguyen L.H., Fakhri S., Frenkiel S., Hamid Q.A. Molecular immunology and immunotherapy for chronic sinusitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2003; 3(6): 505-12.
• Fakhri S., Christodoulopoulos P., Tulic M.K., Fukakusa M., Frenkiel S., Leung D.Y.M., Hamid Q. A. Role of microbial toxins in the induction of glucocorticoid receptor-beta in an explant model of rhinosinusitis. J Otolaryngol 2003; 32: 388-93.
• Fakhri S., Levental M., Rochon L., Rappaport J.M. Fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone. J Otolaryngol 2003; 32(2): 132-5.
• Fakhri S., Frenkiel S., Hamid QA. Current views on the molecular biology of chronic sinusitis. J Otolaryngol 2002; 31 (Suppl 1): S2-S9.
• Rappaport J.M., Fakhri S. La maladie de Ménière: mise à jour sur le diagnostic et le traitement. Le Clinicien 2001; 16 (6): 85-101.
• Fakhri S., Manoukian, J.-J., Souaid, J.-P. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery in the pediatric population: outcome of a conservative approach to postoperative care. J Otolaryngol 2001; 30: 15-18.

Book Chapters

• Man L.X., Fakhri S., Luong A., Citardi M.J. Sphenopalatine/internal maxillary artery ligation. In Chiu AG, Palmer JN and Adappa ND. Atlas of Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2018. Chapter 3 (pp. 19-24).
• Man L.X., Fakhri S., Luong A., Citardi M.J. Sphenopalatine Artery Ligation. In: Atlas of Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery. Palmer J.N., Chiu A.G. (Eds). Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2013, Chapter 4.
• Agarwal G., Citardi M.J., Fakhri S., Luong A. Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis. In: Encyclopedia of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Kountakis S.E. (Ed). Springer
• Yuksel S., Fakhri S. Endoscopic sinus surgery in Children. In: Encyclopedia of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Kountakis S.E. (Ed). Springer
• Li-Xing M., Citardi M.J., Luong A., Fakhri S. Endoscopic Surgery of the Skull Base. In: Encyclopedia of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Kountakis S.E. (Ed). Springer
• Isaacs S.J., Fakhri S., Luong A., Citardi M.J. Evaluation & Management of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea. In: Encyclopedia of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Kountakis S.E. (Ed). Springer
• Citardi M., Fakhri S. Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea. In: Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Cummings C., et al. (Eds). Elsevier, Philadelphia, 5th edition, 2010, Chapter 54.
• Chan K.H., Abzug M.J., Fakhri S., Hamid Q.A., Liu A.H. Sinusitis. In: Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice. Leung D.Y.M., Sampson H.A., Geha R., Szefler S.J. (Eds), Mosby, St. Louis, U.S.A., 2003, pp. 309-320.
• Fakhri S., Pélisson D., Guitton D. Compensation for perturbation of gaze and role of vestibular signals in gaze control. In: Information processing underlying gaze control. J.M. Delgado-Garcia, E. Godeaux, P.-P.Vidal (Eds), Elsevier Science, Oxford, U.K., 1994, pp. 53-63.

Webcasts

• Fakhri S. (Chair), Alsaleh A., Mahraj S., Lanisnik B., Urbancic J. Panel on Rhinology Patients’ Pathway and Hospitals’ Capacity Post COVID-19 Outbreak. May 2, 2020. Omnia Health and Informa. https://insights.omnia-health.com/medical-specialities/medtronic-webinar-rhinology-patientspathway-and-hospitals-capacity-post-covid
• Fakhri S., Conley D. The Iceberg Effect in Chronic Rhinosinusitis –Navigating Around it. February 17, 2016. GlobalCastMD https://www.globalcastmd.com/library/details/the-iceberg-effect-in-chronic-sinusitisnavigating-around-it

Research Interests

• Mechanisms underlying decreased sense of smell following COVID-19
• Microbiome characterization in chronic rhinosinusitis
• Mechanisms of inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis
• Innovative approaches to treat sinus, nasal, and skill base tumors

Hobbies & Interests

Dr. Fakhri enjoys fitness training, cycling, sailing, hiking, and history.

Fun Fact

The most exotic place that Dr. Fakhri has visited is Greenland and the arctic circle.