Continuing Education

The 2026 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium is a two-and-a-half-day meeting featuring interactive and case-based educational sessions that cover new multidisciplinary therapies, imaging, immunotherapy, treatment guidelines, supportive care and understanding disparities in head and neck cancer. A major focus is placed on the multidisciplinary nature of disease management and the incorporation of all treatment modalities to achieve best outcomes. Oral abstract and poster sessions highlight cutting-edge science and evidence-based practice. Attendees are able to examine multidisciplinary approaches for treating head and neck cancer, as well as novel therapies that show promise in improving outcomes.

The management of head and neck cancer (HNC) is rapidly evolving with newer modality of treatment available to patients. These modalities include minimally invasive surgery, newer radiation targeting techniques, novel targeted therapy and immunotherapy. In addition, the re-classification of patients with locoregionally advanced human papilloma (HPV)+ oropharyngeal carcinoma into earlier stage groups have engendered some confusion surrounding treatment planning. Many large clinical trials are maturing to establish new treatments or standard of care in HNC patients. Improving QOL in our patients who are living longer is a critical need. There is a need to review current guidelines for HNC survivorship care and identify areas of unmet need. It is imperative that the medical professionals involved in the care of HNC patients remain current in the expanding knowledge of this cancer. This meeting provides attendees the opportunity to gain exposure to the latest science in HNC. Attendees need to determine when and how the latest science will affect their day-to-day practice, and thus be able to narrow competency gaps across the management of different HNC subtypes and stages. They also need to understand how to reduce disparities in the care of cancer patients.

Upon completion of this live activity, attendees should be able to do the following:

• Explain the importance of multidisciplinary care in head and neck cancers (HNC) and how to best apply it for optimal outcomes.
• Describe key advances in systemic therapy, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy in HNC.
• Discuss recent advances in minimally invasive surgery in HNC and when to apply it in treating early and locally advanced disease.
• Illustrate how we can improve disparities in HNC care.
• Determine the importance of interventions in survivorship clinics for long-term side effects.
• Describe key advances in radiation therapy delivery, targeting and differences between various modalities, including novel treatment approaches such as proton and FLASH radiotherapy.
• Discuss complex cases in HNC and how to best utilize current knowledge for decision making.
• Manage toxicities related to the management of HNC.
• Summarize key recent advances in HNC biology.
• Summarize key recent advances in HNC imaging.
• Discuss and implement standard treatment guidelines for various subtypes of HNCs.

This educational forum has been designed to narrow the competency gaps of: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal skills and communication, professionalism, systems-based practice, patient-centered care, work in interdisciplinary teams, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, professional standing, commitment to lifelong learning, cognitive expertise, roles/responsibilities, interprofessional communication and teams and teamwork.

These are 16 of the 19 core competencies embraced by the American Board of Medical Specialties, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Institute of Medicine, the American Board of Radiology and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

This meeting was designed to meet the interests of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, physicists, nurses, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, radiation therapists, radiation dosimetrists, speech language pathologists/scientists, dentists, oral surgeons, swallowing and speech therapists, audiologists, physical therapists, scientists, immunologist and rehabilitation specialists.

ASTRO is an accredited provider of continuing medical education. Since our accreditation is important to us, we plan activities that are compliant with the ACCME, and the content or format of CME activities and related materials will promote improvements or quality in health care and not a specific proprietary business interest or commercial bias. Planning Committee members and speakers are required to disclose the existence of any financial or other relationship with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) or provider(s) of any commercial services discussed in an educational presentation.

Any conflicts of interest are resolved prior to participation. In addition to written disclosure, presenters will disclose any vested interest or their intention to discuss off-label use of pharmaceuticals or devices, if applicable, to the audience at the beginning of their presentation and in accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education standards and the Food and Drug Administration requirements.

In an effort to increase transparency and easy access to all disclosures, faculty, committee and planner disclosure information are available online for the 2026 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium. In addition, disclosure slides will be shown at the beginning of each session. Disclosure information will not be printed in paper versions of the meeting materials.

View the 2026 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium planning committee, faculty and presenters' disclosures of relationships.

Disclaimer

ASTRO is committed to the free exchange of medical education. Inclusion of any presentation in this program, including presentations of off-label uses, does not imply an endorsement by ASTRO of the uses, products or techniques presented.