Institute of Head and Neck Sciences

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 a track on the Head and Neck cancer scenario in the community and to improve
outcomes, data of 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
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 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.

Other Information

IHNS also comprises of four main clinics that dedicatedly focuses on the symptomatology related to the Head and Neck area:

• Neuro-otology clinic(Vertigo/Deafness clinic)

• Sleep and Snoring Clinic

• Allergy Clinic

• Facial Nerve Clinic

• Head and Neck Pain and Screening Clinic

The Disease Management groups and clinics are meant to deliver the best service to our patients by way of multidisciplinary involvement.

Management updates, Morbidity and Mortality assessment and Chemical research discussions take place during the weekly academic club meetings.

The outputs of each treatment are methodically documented, analysed and reviewed by an integrative group of specialists, in order to ensure quality of service, improve critical outlook and also focus on better results.