OBSERVATIONS IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ORAL CANCER OVER THE PAST 45 YEARS Lessons remain in identifying malignant disorders and prevention across health settings
With
Professor Peter Thomson,
Head of Dentistry and Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences
James Cook University, Cairns
SEGMENT
Filmed in the Gold Coast | May 2026
Peter Thomson is Academic Head of Dentistry and Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Sciences in the College of Medicine & Dentistry at James Cook University, Australia. A UK and Australian specialist in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Medicine, he qualified BDS from Manchester University and MBBS from Newcastle upon Tyne, gaining Fellowships in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Ireland and Glasgow and a Fellowship in Surgery from Edinburgh, specializing in Head & Neck Oncology.
He completed MSc and PhD degrees in epithelial biology and cancer research at Manchester University, where he was Lecturer, before returning to Newcastle in 1996 as Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. In 2009, he was appointed Hunterian Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and in 2011 King James IV Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. In 2014, he gained a Manchester Higher Doctorate (DDSc) for oral oncology research, and in 2016 an MD from the University of Bath for his thesis on interventional management of potentially malignant disorders.
Developing an extensive international profile, Peter was appointed Visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore in 2014 before joining the University of Queensland’s School of Dentistry as Professor of Maxillofacial Surgery & Academic Clinical Director in 2016. He was recruited to The University of Hong Kong in October 2017 to become Associate Dean at the Faculty of Dentistry and Director of the Prince Philip Dental Hospital. He has also held Academic Head and Dean of Dentistry positions at the University of Central Lancashire, UK and Griffith University in Australia. He was invited to join James Cook University as Head of Dentistry in 2021.
Author of more than 350 research papers and 2 oral cancer textbooks, Peter is an internationally recognised authority in oncology, population health and dental education. His research emphasis encompasses oral carcinogenesis, epithelial cell biology, and the early diagnosis and interventional management of cancer.
Source: James Cook University website
Media access credit: Oral Health Association of Australia (OHAA)
-
Chiropractors commence Spinal Health Month with research in mental health
A new Australian-first clinical research study has found promising results for reducing the mental health impacts of chronic musculoskeletal pain by combining online psychological therapies with routine physical care. The research, funded by the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) and conducted through CQUniversity and Macquarie University’s MindSpot programme, highlights the strong connection between chronic pain and mental wellbeing.
-
Improved treatment in advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma
A global clinical trial successfully reduced toxicity and side effects in advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma patients by using a modified treatment regimen.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Professor Mark Hertzberg in his role in the ALLG HD10 Clinical Trial and as a former Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG), an organisation involved in improving the treatments and lives of blood cancer patients.
-
Career advice from an Emergency Physician in Research
Associate Professor Viet Tran, an experienced emergency physician at the Royal Hobart Hospital. He spoke with Australian Health Journal about the crucial role of emergency departments as the frontline of hospitals, providing immediate care, diagnosis, resuscitation, and serving as a safety net for the healthcare system. Prof. Tran highlights the importance of understanding the daily responsibilities and core aspects of a specialty when choosing a medical career.
