Oropharyngeal Cancer: Why it matters!

This course provides a comprehensive overview of oropharyngeal carcinoma, focusing on its epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical presentation. The role of Human papillomavirus (HPV) will be explored, given its strong association with cancers in the oropharyngeal region.  Diagnostic approaches, staging, and patient outcomes will also be covered in this course. 

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Identify risk factors associated with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
• Recognize the clinical presentation of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
• Understand the implications of HPV in terms of clinical outcomes and management.

Dr. Sumita Sam received her DDS from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2017. She completed her oral and maxillofacial pathology residency from the University of Florida in 2022. She entered academia as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Dentistry, where she instructed dental graduate, pre-doctoral, and hygiene students. She participated in UMKC’s oral pathology biopsy service, and also performed clinical consultations for dental patients in both the student and faculty practice clinics.
She returned to UFCD in 2024 as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral Pathology. In her role, she instructs dental students and residents, and participates in UFCD’s Biopsy Service, reading both external and internal cases within the College of Dentistry’s Faculty Practice.
Dr. Sam is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, a fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, and a member of both the American Dental Education Association and Florida Dental Association. She’s published in several peer-reviewed publications and is co-author of the Diagnostic Discussion in the Florida Dental Association’s journal: Today’s FDA.