Head and Neck Oncology & Reconstructive Surgery

Dr. Shawn T Joseph

Senior Consultant - Surgical Oncology, Head & Neck and Director of Institute of Head & Neck Sciences (IHNS)

Qualification

MBBS, MS (ENT), DNB (ENT), MCh (Head & Neck Surgery)

Experience

Dr Shawn T Joseph started the Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Department at VPS Lakeshore Hospital in July 2014. Since then the department has grown and developed into one of the finest in the country capable of handling the most complex head and neck cancer cases. It is one of the few Head and Neck units in the country which does the entire spectrum of head and neck cancer surgeries like microvascular reconstruction, transoral laser surgeries for larynx cancers and endoscopic skull base surgeries. The Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Department at VPS Lakeshore has performed more than 3000 major head and neck cancer surgeries of all levels of complexity during the last seven years.




During this period a strong Head and Neck Cancer Disease Management Group could be created by close collaboration with departments like Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Neurosurgery, Pathology, Radiology, Endocrinology and Rehabilitation Sciences.




To keep track of the Head and Neck cancer scenario in the community and to improve outcomes, data on cancer and surgical outcome measures are documented for periodic analysis and improvement. The outcomes at the Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Department at VPS Lakeshore, measured in terms of surgical margin clearance and survival figures match the best internationally.




The head and neck oncology department at VPS Lakeshore practices “ No facial scar surgery for oral cancer” which aims to avoid facial incisions whenever possible for patients with oral cancer. The Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Department here has the largest published series of facial artery-based myomucosal and bone flaps, which is a reconstruction method providing like-for-like reconstruction in head and neck mucosal defects. He was also the leader of the team which described “TAMMIL”, a new surgery for preserving voice in selected larynx cancers, for patients in whom complete removal of the voice box was the only option available before. The technique was published in top peer-reviewed international journals. He has also described new surgical techniques in partial resection for larynx cancer and facial nerve identification.




He is the founder Director of the “ Institute of Head and Neck Sciences”, at VPS Lakeshore Hospital. He initiated “ Kocher’s Club”, which is an academic club meant for promoting discussion and innovation in Head and Neck Sciences.