This forum will bring together multidisciplinary cancer care teams to build capability in the safe and effective integration of neoadjuvant immunotherapy for head and neck cancers. Participants will explore emerging evidence, patient selection, treatment sequencing and toxicity management to support coordinated decision-making and greater consistency in clinical practice.
Increased clinician confidence in clinical application
Improved understanding of benefits, risks, and implementation considerations
Enhanced multidisciplinary collaboration
Greater consistency in integrating neoadjuvant approaches into practice
Prof Dixon is an ENT Surgeon specialising in Head and Neck Oncology and Skull Base Surgery. He completed his FRACS in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in Victoria. Following this, he spent two years at the University of Toronto undertaking a fellowship in Head & Neck Oncology, Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, Microvascular Reconstruction and Thyroid Surgery. After further training in Transoral Robotic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania he established the TORS program at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Prof Dixon has a PhD in surgeon-computer interface design (University of Melbourne) and continues research into the integration of technology into the operating theatre and novel operative techniques. Areas of clinical research include TORS, particularly for salvage surgery, Endoscopic & Open Skull Base Surgery and Reconstruction including Extended Orbital Exenteration. He is currently developing assessment tools to better measure intra-operative workload to help guide and refine surgical technology development.
Associate Professor Martin Batstone completed his Medical and Dental degrees at the University of Queensland and was a graduate of the Queensland Oral and Maxillofacial surgery training program. This was followed by three years of additional training in head and neck cancer surgery in Liverpool in the UK culminating in a Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He practices the whole scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery with a special interest in head and neck cancer and reconstructive surgery.
Dr Thai's research investigates the interplay between the tumor microenvironment, the host immune system, and viral causes of head and neck cancer. She places a strong emphasis on improving disparities in patient care, especially for patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
In 2008, Dr Nguyen completed Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medical Science (MBBS, B.Med.Sci) through The University of Melbourne. He went on to complete his internship and residency at Austin Health before commencing advanced surgical training in Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS); a national specialty training program for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
In 2017, Dr Nguyen completed his advanced surgical training and became a board certified specialist as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS). He continued on a path to sub-specialise in Head & Neck Oncology, Robotic Surgery and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery through a fellowship at one of Australia’s leading cancer centres- Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Hospital, NSW. He is also a member of The Australian Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS), the Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Cancer Society (ANZHNCS) and the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
