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 went on to do Post Doctoral Certified Training in Surgical Oncology and Senior Residency in Surgical Oncology from Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, which is considered the apex cancer institute in India. After this he went on to do MCh in Head and Neck Surgery, when he was trained in Micro vascular reconstruction of Head and Neck. 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. During this period he has developed a strong Head and Neck Cancer Disease Management Group by close collaboration with departments like Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Neurosurgery, Pathology, Radiology, Endocrinology and Rehabilitation Sciences. The Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Department at VPS Lakeshore has performed more than 2000 major head and neck cancer surgeries of all levels of complexity during the last five years. To keep a track on the Head and Neck cancer scenario in the community and to improve outcomes, data of all the surgical outcome measures of patients 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. He is a strong proponent of “ 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 series islanded facial artery myomucosal flaps in India, which is a reconstruction method providing like for like reconstruction in head and neck mucosal defects. The Head and Neck unit, under his leadership performed a complex microvascular reconstruction for restoring voice after partial laryngectomy in larynx cancer, which was a first in India. 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 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.