Oropharyngeal Cancer Treatment Team

The OSUCCC – James oropharyngeal cancer treatment team members include world-renowned subspecialists in the prevention, diagnosis, genetic sequencing and treatment of head and neck cancers.

To make an appointment, please call The James Line at 614-293-5066 or toll-free 800-293-5066. The James Line is a free, confidential telephone service staffed by nurses to provide callers with cancer information and physician referrals. The James line is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.

If you’ve been diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, would like a second opinion or would like to speak with a head and neck cancer specialist, please call The James Line at 800-293-5066 or 614-293-5066 to make an appointment.

Dentistry

Tiffany Kessling, DDS

I’m a prosthodontist specializing in patients whose cancer, cancer therapy, congenital defects, or trauma has affected their oral-facial structures. I focus on dental clearance examinations and fabrication of custom radiographic dosimetry stents prior to cancer therapy. Read More

Head and Neck Surgery

Ricardo Carrau, MD

As a clinician, I’m an otolaryngologist – head and neck surgeon with many clinical and research interests, including head oncology, swallowing disorders, salivary gland disorders and sialendoscopy, endoscopic sinus surgery, endoscopic and open skull base surgery and more. Read More

Stephen Kang, MD

I am an expert head and neck surgeon who specializes in the treatment of benign and malignant head and neck tumors. My areas of special interest are in skin cancers (such as melanomas), salivary gland tumors and tongue cancer. Read More

Matthew Old, MD

I’m an associate professor and director of the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. I was named to the Castle Connolly list of "Regional Top Doctors" from 2015-2019 and was also rated in the top 10 percent of physicians in the nation for patient satisfaction in 2017. Read More

James Rocco, MD, PhD

My focus is providing the very best care for our head and neck cancer patients. I do this by combining my 20 years’ experience as a surgeon with the expertise of colleagues who can provide radiation and medical therapies if needed and with those who provide support for patients as they recover from treatment. Read More

Stephanie Congrove, PA-C

I am a physician assistant in the Department of Otolaryngology at the OSUCCC – James, where I treat patients diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck region, including tongue cancer, throat cancer, laryngeal cancer, thyroid cancer, salivary gland cancer, as well as diseases that may occur from head and neck cancer treatment such as osteoradionecrosis of the mandible, tracheal stenosis and more. Read More

Medical Oncology

Amanda Hettinga, APRN-CNP

I am a nurse practitioner in the Division of Medical Oncology at The James, where I treat patients with head and neck cancers, including tongue cancer, throat cancer, laryngeal cancer and sinus cancer, as well as squamous cell carcinoma. Read More

Bethany Reiner, APRN-CNP

I’m a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at The James, specializing in a subset of psychosomatic medicine called psycho-oncology. That means I work with patients who have cancer and also struggle with psychiatric, mental and behavioral conditions. Read More

Radiation Oncology

Dukagjin Blakaj, MD, PhD

I’m a radiation oncologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at The Ohio State University. I am passionate about practicing medicine as well as research. Read More

John Grecula, MD

I am a board certified radiation oncologist treating patients with radiation therapy as part of a multimodal, comprehensive treatment plan. I specialize in head and neck cancers, base of skull tumors, central nervous system metastases, and lung cancer. Read More

Mauricio Gamez Haro, MD

Eric Miller, MD, PhD

I am a radiation oncologist who specializes in treating patients with gastrointestinal and head and neck cancers. I work as part of a multi-disciplinary team including surgeons and medical oncologists to deliver top-notch care to our patients using specialized treatment modalities like stereotactic body radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, image-guided radiation therapy and Y-90 radioembolization. Read More

Darrion Mitchell, MD, PhD

Ricardo Carrau, MD

Luma Ghalib, MD

Douglas Hardesty, MD

I’m a neurological surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive surgery for benign and malignant brain tumors, especially tumors of the skull base. I serve as an assistant professor of neurological surgery and otolaryngology – head and neck surgery. Read More

Russell Lonser, MD

I'm a professor and chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. I hold the Dardinger Family Chair in Neurosurgical Oncology. Read More

Daniel Prevedello, MD

I’m the director of the Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery Programs at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Read More

Kami Perdue, PA-C

L Arick Forrest, MD

I practice in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery, specializing in voice and swallowing disorders. Both of these health conditions also have significant social implications, and it’s very satisfying to be able to restore these abilities to a patient. Read More

Brandon Kim, MD

Laura Matrka, MD

My focus is in ear, nose and throat surgery. I specialize in voice and airway disorders. I completed additional training in the field of laryngology, giving me expertise in treating voice and airway problems. I treat patients who speak or sing professionally, as well as those with narrowing of the airway. Read More