Annual symposium

Welcome to the Annual Charleston Head & Neck Oncology Symposium, where experts share groundbreaking research and treatments in head and neck cancer.

Join us November 13-14, 2026 at Kiawah Island Golf Resort!

The 5th Annual Head & Neck Oncology Symposium

The 5th Annual Head & Neck Oncology Symposium is a two-day event during which international specialists will present the latest research into the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery from head and neck cancer.

The event will take place Friday-Saturday, November 13-14, 2026 at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

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Meet Our Keynote Speakers

Matthew Old, MD, FACS

Dr. Matthew Old is chair of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Washington and holds the Allison T. Wanamaker Endowed Chair. An accomplished surgeon, educator, and leader, Dr. Old specializes in head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery.

Before joining UW, Dr. Old served as the David E. and Carole Schuller Chair and Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. At Ohio State, he directed one of the nation's largest head and neck surgery programs, overseeing multidisciplinary teams and advancing complex oncologic surgery, microvascular reconstruction, and skull base procedures.

A recognized innovator in reconstructive microsurgery, Dr. Old founded the International Head and Neck Microvascular Fellow Bootcamp and developed collaborative initiatives to enhance surgical training and multidisciplinary care. His mentorship has shaped the careers of numerous residents and fellows nationwide.

Dr. Old's research focuses on head and neck cancer biology, immunotherapy, and precision medicine. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including landmark studies on adenoid cystic carcinoma, circulating tumor DNA and HPV-associated cancers. He has held national leadership roles with the American Head and Neck Society and serves as an examiner for the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

Honored for excellence in patient care and education, Dr. Old is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and recipient of multiple teaching and clinical awards. He is also a strong advocate for physician wellness and leadership development.

A native of Texas, Dr. Old earned his BA in Human Biology from Stanford University and his MD from the University of Texas at Houston. He completed residency at the University of Michigan and fellowship training in Microvascular Reconstruction and Skull Base Surgery at Vanderbilt University.

Nancy Y. Lee MD, FASTRO

Nancy Y. Lee MD, FASTRO, NIH R01 grant funded investigator, is Vice Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology focusing on Experimental Therapeutics. She is also the Proton Service Chief and the Chief of the Head and Neck Radiation Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is also the Associate Director of the Prevention Interception Program at MSKCC. She is also the Multimodality Section Head of the Early Drug Development Service. Dr. Lee has appointments in both Radiation Oncology Department as well as Early Drug Development Group and currently is the Section Head of the Multimodality Therapeutic Section within Early Drug Development.

She is an internationally renowned academic physician whose research, publications (>300 peer reviewed papers), 3 of the best-selling target delineation books, and lectures have helped radiation oncologists across multiple radiation oncologists harness the powers of IMRT and proton therapy. She has dedicated her career to embracing technology, modernizing clinical practice, and bringing radiation oncology to the forefront of cancer medicine. She is also active in the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer where she is a co-author of a consensus statement on immunotherapy use for head and neck cancer and has established multiple industry relationships to take command of trials combining novel therapeutic agents with radiation. Dr. Lee has served on multiple ASTRO committees and editorial boards. At MSKCC, she has been a tireless advocate for patients and dedicated herself to the education of trainees (receiving multiple ARRO teaching awards and mentoring over hundreds of radiation oncologists around the world to successful careers of their own in academic and private practices across the country.

Holly McMillan M.C.D. CCC-SLP, LMP, CLT

Holly McMillan M.C.D. CCC-SLP, LMP, CLT is a Senior Research Speech Language Pathologist and Co-Director of Trismus Clinic at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas School of Public Health, a licensed massage therapist, and certified lymphedema therapist with over 15 years of expertise in oncology and head and neck cancer rehabilitation.

Ms. McMillan leads the manual therapy service lines within the head and neck surgery department and specializes in fibrosis and lymphedema management. She is a co-investigator and collaborator on several active NIH-funded clinical trials in head and neck cancer survivorship.