Meet Niels Kokot, MD

Dr. Kokot is an otolaryngologist at Keck Medicine of USC, who specializes in all aspects of head and neck surgery.

Here’s what you won’t find on his resume.

Baseball was his first career choice.

“Growing up I loved baseball, but once I realized I couldn’t be a professional baseball player, I wanted to become a doctor.”

Family takes up his free time.

“When I’m not working, I’m spending time with my wonderful family. We love to take trips to Hawaii.”

If he could work somewhere else, it might be NASA.

“I’m fascinated by space travel, exploration and the science behind it. If I had a chance to change careers with anyone, it would be with an astronaut.”

This inspirational phrase keeps him going.

“The best advice I have ever received is, ‘Never good, always better, never better, always best.’”

He gives his best to each and every patient.

“I feel that every patient deserves the best care possible, and therefore, I try to give my very best effort to each patient. My patients inspire me to be the best I can be.”

He offers support through a patient’s entire journey.

“The most rewarding part of my job is being able to guide patients through their head and neck cancer care. This not only includes guiding patients through surgery and the immediate postoperative period, but it also includes guiding patients through their long-term recovery. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate patients who are cancer-free after five years.”

He believes technology has made a difference in cancer care.

“Head and neck cancer surgery has seen resurgence, with the application of robotics in the treatment of cancers of the oropharynx. We are now able to treat cancers in this area, in a minimally invasive fashion.”

His colleagues keep him going.

“The best part of working at Keck Medicine of USC is the fact that I get to work with a number of talented, caring individuals.”

Rehabilitation is crucial to his work.

“We offer all aspects of care in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery. In addition to focusing on the surgical treatment of patients, we also focus heavily on the rehabilitation of the head and neck cancer patient to improve quality of life for our patients.”

View Dr. Kokot’s full biography and schedule an appointment.

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