CAHD-ACDH The national voice of Canadian hospital-affiliated dentists cahd@cahd-acdh.ca

Annual Meeting Conference Speaker – Dr. Saunders

Dr. Deborah Saunders

Abstract

The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) is an international multidisciplinary organization dedicated to research, practice, and education in all aspects of supportive care for people with cancer. The International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO) addresses oral complications secondary to cancer and its treatment.  Together MASCC/ISOO have undertaken systematic reviews and developed guidelines for management of the short and long term sequelae of head and neck cancer treatment, oral care during active chemotherapy.  This presentation will focus on the work of these two organizations and evidence-based approach to the development of these guidelines and the translation into patient education. materials.

Deborah Saunders BSc, DDS

Dr Saunders is the Medical Director of the Dental Oncology Program and  Program Lead for the Oral Maxillofacial Rehabilitation Program at the Northeast Cancer Center.  She is an assistant professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and Faculty at the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) and is the Program Lead for the Tobacco Intervention Services at Health Sciences North in Sudbury Ontario.

Dr. Saunders is the Chair of the Oral Care Study Group for MASCC/ISOO and systematic review research chair for the nine oral complications in cancer therapy. She is a member of the joint guideline committee through ISOO and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for oral complications in cancer therapy.  She is the Chair of the Oral Health Strategy through the Ontario Dental Association bridging medically relevant topics in dentistry.

Her research interests are in oral mucositis, radiation and medication induced osteonecrosis of the jaw, genotyping in addictions and tobacco intervention in the oncology setting.  Her other scholarly  interests are in global collaboration and translational transfer of knowledge from research to health care and the patient.