Dr. Thayer completed his active duty obligations in 2004 and then began his surgical training in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern/Parkland Hospital in Dallas. During his training he also acquired his Medical degree and General Surgery training at the University of Texas. His broad training included facial trauma, correction of jaw and facial deformities, facial cosmetics, temporomandibular joint disorders, maxillofacial pathology, implantology and soft tissue reconstructive surgery. He completed his residency in 2010 and then completed fellowship in Craniofacial and Reconstructive surgery at the Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia. He is trained in treating pediatric craniofacial defects, pathology and reconstructive procedures. Subsequently, form August 2012 to August 2014 Dr. Thayer served as faculty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He was involved in resident and student education, and also a central part of the University’s Cleft and Craniofacial Team. Additionally, he also engaged in a Reconstructive and Cosmetic surgery preceptorship with Dr. Jaime Flores, a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, from September 2013 to September 2014. He received training in local, regional and microvascular reconstruction of various primary and secondary anatomical defects. His areas of research interest include correction of jaw and facial deformities, trauma and reconstruction of craniofacial defects.
Dr. Thayer is an active member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, American Medical Association and American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). Currently, he has multiple hospital affiliations in San Diego and serves as both the Vice Chair of Surgery and the Chief of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Additionally, he also has an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor at UCSD Medical Center Division of Plastic Surgery. He lectures both domestically and internationally on Facial and Oral Surgery.