Jennifer R. Grandis, MD
Director, Head and Neck
Cancer Program
Welcome to the Head and Neck Cancer Program of UPMC Cancer Centers. As the director of the Program, I hope that this site provides you with basic information about head and neck cancers and introduces you to the personnel and activities of the Program.
Our interdisciplinary program includes studies in early detection, prevention and treatment of head and neck cancer. Members of our Program include head and neck surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and researchers who are dedicated to the care of head and neck cancer patients. Clinical resources include the Division of Head and Neck Oncology within the Department of Otolaryngology, with head and neck medical and radiation oncologists who specialize in the care of head and neck cancer patients; as well as experts in speech rehabilitation and swallowing and nurses who are specially trained in the care of patients following surgery for head and neck cancer. This multidisciplinary approach allows us to provide the best medical care for our head and neck cancer patients.
In addition to the clinical expertise of the physicians, speech pathologists and nurses who care for head and neck cancer patients, our Program includes a large number of scientific investigators whose research efforts are focused on head and neck oncology. These laboratories are studying methods to prevent new and recurrent cancers, developing vaccines, gene therapy and immunotherapy. In addition, several labs are engaged in elucidating the genetic alterations which characterize head and neck cancer cells in an effort to exploit these findings for therapeutic purposes.
I hope that the following pages will be a useful resource for those interested in learning about head and neck cancers and the Head and Neck Cancer Program. We welcome your input and ideas, as well as your support.
Jennifer Rubin Grandis, MD, FACS
Vice Chair for Research
UPMC Endowed Chair in Head and Neck Cancer Surgical Research
Department of Otolaryngology
Professor of Otolaryngology & Pharmacology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Program Leader, Head & Neck Cancer Program
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor
