S E S S I O N 1

08:00 – 08:10 WELCOME

A/Professor Carsten Palme MBBS FRACS
Mrs Gail O'Brien AO

08:10 – 08:25 PATIENT'S PERSPECTIVE

Ms Carissa Watt

08:25 – 09:10 A CENTURY OF PROGRESS BY SURGICAL GIANTS

Jatin P. Shah, MD, PhD (Hon), DSc (Hon), FACS, FRCS Ed
(Hon), FDSRCS (Hon), FRACS (Hon), FRCSDS (Hon), FRCSI
(Hon)
The past century has seen major strides in the diagnosis,
treatment and rehabilitation of patients with Head and Neck
Cancer. This presentation will highlight the monumental
discoveries and contributions of surgeons and scientists in the
field of Head and Neck Cancer which have been instrumental in
establishing or shifting paradigms in its modern day treatment.

09:10 – 09:50 INNOVATIONS AND CREATIVITY IN HEAD & NECK

ONCOLOGY: LESSONS LEARNED (WHAT WOULD
CHRIS THINK?)
Patrick J. Gullane, CM, OOnt, MB, FRCSC, FACS, FRACS
(Hon), FRCS (Hon), FRCSI (Hon)
What is the future of Head and Neck Oncology? With Chris
O’Brien’s journey as our starting point, this presentation will
recognise the pioneers in Head and Neck surgery, before taking
us through changing trends in Head and Neck Cancer in
incidence, etiology and disease management. Major
technological developments, the evolution of ablative surgery
(organ preservation and reconstruction), and the impact of
molecular biology are key areas of innovation in cancer
management. What might the next 50 years hold?

09:50 – 10:15 MORNING TEA

 S E S S I O N 2

10:15 – 10:55 LESSONS FROM MD ANDERSON'S PATIENT

EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
Randal S. Weber, MD, FACS
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is at the
forefront of the emerging field of patient experience, examining
myriad aspects of a patient’s encounter with cancer services to
improve care. In 2017, Randal S. Weber, MD, took on the new
role of MD Anderson’s Chief Patient Experience Officer. He will
speak on the program’s inception and development, challenges
faced and current state.

10:55 – 11:25 ANZHNCS FOSTERING CLINICAL COLLABORATION

AND LEADING MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH: A
CHRIS O’BRIEN LEGACY TODAY
Dr Julia Maclean, PhD
Since Professor O’Brien founded the Australian and New Zealand
Head and Neck Society (ANZHNCS), this multidisciplinary group
has flourished. Speech Pathologist, Dr Julia Maclean, is the
President of ANZHNCS today. She will speak about the Society’s
contribution to fostering collaboration with the Asia Pacific
Region and international colleagues, the MDT approach, and the
Nursing and Allied Health Research that has affected change in
the international arena of Head and Neck Cancer management.

11:25 – 11:55 MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY FOR HEAD AND

NECK CANCER: TRANS ORAL ROBOTIC SURGERY
Professor Suren Krishnan OAM FRACS, MB, BS
Head and Neck Cancer and its treatment can impact basic
functions such as safe and easy breathing, swallowing and
speech. But for a subset of patients, the minimally invasive Trans
Oral Robotic Surgery can be performed safely, efficiently and
with good outcomes. Professor Krishnan OAM will talk about this
surgical approach and how Artificial Intelligence and Machine
learning will enhance the capability of Trans Oral Robotic
Surgery.

11:55 – 12:25 PANEL DISCUSSION

Moderated by A/Professor Sydney Ch'ng MBBS, FRACS, PhD
The speakers will take questions from the audience and Professor
Sydney Ch'ng.

12:25 – 13:15 LUNCH

 S E S S I O N 3

13:15 – 13:45 PRACTICE DEFINING RESEARCH: AN AUSTRALIAN

AND NEW ZEALAND CONTRIBUTION
Professor Sandro V. Porceddu BSC, MBBS (Hons), FRANZCR,
MD
Having established an environment of collegiality, Professor
O’Brien provided the opportunity for practice defining research
in Australia and New Zealand through inter-collaboration. This
keynote presentation will focus on research  with global impact
resulting in the refinement of the management of the neck
following chemoradiotherapy (PET protocol) and the world’s first
successful randomised trial in advanced cutaneous head and neck
cancer (POST study).

13:45 – 14:15 PRACTICE CHANGING TRIALS OF IMMUNE

CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS IN HEAD AND NECK AND
CUTANEOUS SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS
Professor Danny Rischin MBBS (Hons), FRACP, MD
Professor Rischin will present the results of two major trials
which he has co-led. The first is Keynote-048, which establishes
the role of pembrolizumab in first-line treatment of
recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer. The second is the
role of cemiplimab in locally advanced/metastatic cutaneous
squamous cell carcinoma.

14:15 – 14:45 FROM LABORATORY TO CLINIC: HOW

REVOLUTIONS IN TISSUE PATHOLOGY WILL
TRANSLATE INTO PATIENT CARE
Professor Elizabeth Salisbury MB BS (Hons), FRCPA, FFOP,
FFSC (RCPA), FIAC
A number of advances and 'quiet revolutions' have taken place in
the discipline of Tissue Pathology over the past decade, many of
which are still in evolution. These advances have fundamentally
altered the way Anatomical Pathologists understand, diagnose
and report cancers, delivering sophisticated information to guide
patient care. Molecular pathology, bio-banking, digital pathology
and AI are powerful tools that are shaping the current and future
practice of Anatomical Pathology and personalised oncology.

14:45 – 15:15 PANEL DISCUSSION

Moderated by Professor Michael Boyer AM MBBS FRACP
PhD
The speakers will take questions from the audience and Professor
Michael Boyer AM.

15:15 – 15:45 AFTERNOON TEA

 S E S S I O N 4

15:45 – 16:15 HEAD AND NECK CANCER: THE AUSTRALIA

PERSPECTIVE
Professor William B. Coman AM MD, FRCS, FRCS, FRACS,
FACS
This presentation looks at the evolution of management of Head
and Neck Cancer in Australia. Each Australian state has been
fortunate to have surgeons co-operating with radiation
oncologists and medical oncologists to offer treatment which
optimises survival and quality of life for patients. The formation
of the multidisciplinary clinic has been a major advance in the
consideration of every aspect of patient care. Active high quality
scientific research is currently ongoing and will be demonstrated
in this paper.

16:15 – 16:30 FELLOW’S PERSPECTIVE OF PROFESSOR CHRIS

O’BRIEN’S INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
INITIATIVE
Mr Graham Smith BDS (Hons), MBChB, FDS RCS (Eng), FRCS
(Eng), FRCS (OMFS)
Prof Chris O'Brien created and expanded a funded clinical
fellowship program in which international surgeons from various
disciplines are appointed to one-year training posts in tertiary
Head and Neck Oncology. Dr Graham Smith, a Consultant Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgeon at St George’s Hospital, London, and
Kingston Hospital NHS Trust, Surrey, was the Head and Neck
Fellow in 2003. He will speak on the Fellowship experience, how
it prepared him for his career, and its role in establishing links
with RPA and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in the years since.

16:30 – 17:30 PANEL DISCUSSION: 'OPEN MDT'

Moderated by A/Professor Chris Milross MBBS MD FRANZCR
FRACMA FAICD
Speakers will discuss patient cases in the style of a
multidisciplinary meeting. They will be joined by Head and Neck
Cancer patient, The Hon Justice Lindsay Foster (FCA), and Nurse
Practitioner Justine Oates NP, RN.

17:30 SYMPOSIUM CLOSE

18:00 EVENING CELEBRATION