Jeffrey R. Janus, M.D.

Jeffrey R. Janus, M.D., is chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and a board-certified head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgeon. He specializes in head and neck cancer surgery, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, salivary gland tumors, reconstructive surgery and minimally invasive robotic surgery.

Areas of expertise

Dr. Janus provides surgical care for a wide range of complex head and neck conditions. His areas of expertise include:

• Thyroid and parathyroid surgery
• Throat, mouth and oropharyngeal cancers
• Salivary gland and parotid tumor surgery
• Oral cavity cancer surgery
• Transoral robotic surgery (TORS)
• Microvascular free-flap reconstruction
• Complex head and neck reconstruction

Dr. Janus has particular expertise in thyroid and parathyroid surgery, with an emphasis on preserving voice and optimizing long-term outcomes. He holds a Focused Practice Designation from the American Board of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery recognizing specialized expertise in complex adult thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

Dr. Janus and his team at Mayo Clinic in Florida have performed thousands of thyroid and parathyroid procedures with excellent outcomes.

He is also part of Mayo Clinic in Florida's high-volume transoral robotic surgery (TORS) program. The program's head and neck surgeons were early adopters of single-port robotic technology and have used robotic surgery to treat hundreds of patients with head and neck cancers.

For eligible patients with biopsy-proven tumors of the thyroid, tonsil, tongue base, neck lymph nodes or parotid gland, the team also offers a Next-Day Surgery Program. The program is designed to shorten the time between diagnosis and surgery for select patients, helping reduce the uncertainty and anxiety that can accompany waiting for cancer treatment.

"My goal is to give every patient the most thoughtful and comprehensive care possible," says Dr. Janus. "When surgery is needed, I want patients to understand not only how we can treat their disease, but also how we can protect the things that are important to them, from their voice and ability to swallow to their appearance and quality of life."

Research, innovation and education

Dr. Janus is involved in research, surgical innovation and medical education alongside his clinical practice. His research interests include regenerative medicine and the use of stem cells and tissue scaffolding to repair or rebuild structures of the head and neck.

As department chair, he also leads a team involved in research and numerous clinical trials aimed at advancing otolaryngology and head and neck cancer care. Among them is DART 2.0, a clinical trial evaluating whether post-surgical radiation therapy can be safely reduced for patients with HPV-driven head and neck cancers.

Education and training

Dr. Janus earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine. He completed his otolaryngology residency and advanced fellowship training in head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He remained at Mayo Clinic in Rochester as a practicing surgeon from 2008 to 2019 before joining Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville in 2020.

Dr. Janus is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is board certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Janus enjoys spending time with his family, woodworking, exploring national parks and cheering on his alma mater, the Florida Gators.