Harris P. Mosher Award
Giovana R. Thomas, MD, associate professor of otolaryngology at the University of Miami in Florida, was awarded the Mosher Award in recognition of her thesis in clinical research, “Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Induced Oropharyngeal Cancer in Hispanics in the U.S.: Differences in Clinical Presentation and Survival Outcomes.”
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July 2016Dr. Thomas’ study is the first to describe the clinical details of Hispanic patients with HPV-induced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).
Giovana R. Thomas, MD and TRIO President Fred Owens, MD
The incidence of HPV-induced OPSCC is increasing at an epidemic rate. Specifically, in the years 1988-2004, incidence of the disease increased by 225%. Likewise, research on the subject has increased, leading to a greater understanding of what Dr. Thomas described as a new and peculiar disease. In general, patients with HPV-induced OPSCC are middle-aged Caucasian men who are, more often than not, professionals with a history of multiple sexual partners. Thankfully, HPV-related OPSCC carries a favorable survival rate.