TGH Cancer Institute and USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Head & Neck Oncology Symposium faculty (l-r): Dr. Douglas E. Politz, Dr. Marshall Posner, Dr. Tara Mokhtari, Dr. Mark Tabor, Dr. Heyoung McBride, Dr. Matthew Mifsud
The power of academic medicine was on full display Saturday, May 3, as medical experts from across Florida gathered in West Palm Beach for a Head & Neck Oncology Symposium.
Hosted by the Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Cancer Institute and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, sessions explored cutting-edge, team-based approaches to treating complex head and neck cancers. Topics ranged from breakthrough uses of HPV DNA and immunotherapy for skin cancer to the latest in transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Sessions also included a primer on parathyroid gland surgery, the management of sinonasal malignancies and the latest techniques in radiation therapy. The symposium featured faculty from the TGH Cancer Institute and the TGH Ear, Nose & Throat Institute —both recognized among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report 2024-2025.
The TGH Ear, Nose & Throat Institute is a world-class center of excellence offering a full spectrum of services for patients with conditions impacting the entire head and neck region. Leveraging its affiliation with USF Health, the institute has grown into a comprehensive care and research hub.
Matthew Mifsud, M.D., FACS, vice-chair of the USF Health Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery and chief of the Division of Head & Neck Oncology/Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery, was one of the symposium’s organizers and presenters. He said the symposium was particularly important because most head and neck cancers are not well understood. “Getting out into the community and increasing physicians’ awareness of the various types of cancers and how to treat them is important.”
Dr. Mifsud also stressed that the treatment of head and neck cancers has changed over the past 15 or 20 years, noting that care is much more multidisciplinary. “If you are a community provider treating patients with these cancers, you must think about it collaboratively — working with a surgeon, a medical oncologist or other specialists. It’s crucial to consider when to mix and match treatments,” he said. “Our symposium demonstrates how we’re thinking about these cancers now, which helps guide physicians to the best possible treatment options for their patients. Of course, Tampa General is an available resource when patients may need more complex care.”
Dr. Mifsud founded the Head & Neck Tumor Board at Tampa General and USF Health, integrating advanced surgical techniques, evidence-based medicine and cutting-edge technology to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
“The tumor board is a vehicle that places all the team members in one room at the same time,” said Dr. Mifsud. “This is normally hard to do, so TGH offers this advantage.” The tumor board meets weekly to review and strategize personalized treatment plans for each patient. This collaborative approach ensures comprehensive patient care, addressing every aspect — from initial diagnosis to treatment and follow-up.
Marshall Posner, M.D., a medical oncologist, presented information about both the evolving roles of HPV DNA for the management of oropharyngeal cancers and immunotherapy for the management of nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck. A world-renowned research scientist, Dr. Posner recently joined the TGH Cancer Institute | Cancer Center of South Florida practice in Palm Beach County. In addition to caring for head and neck cancer patients, he serves as the medical director of the Cancer Center Clinical Trial Office, which will offer cancer patients in the Palm Beaches and on the Treasure Coast expanded access to groundbreaking cancer trials.
Dr. Posner felt the symposium offered a great overview of the resources available at Tampa General. “As a medical oncologist, I don’t work in isolation. For instance, I work very closely with ENT surgeons, nasal surgeons and radiation oncologists,” he said. “TGH offers resources that help me with patients, especially those needing complex care. It’s important to have access to peers with different perspectives. You’ll invariably learn something new and this ultimately leads to better patient outcomes.”
For more information about the Ear, Nose & Throat Institute at Tampa General Hospital, visit TGH.org/ENT.
