Research Summary

I have been heavily involved in the field salivary gland cancer research since my postdoctoral experience during residency in the lab of Drs. David Sidransky and Joseph Califano. I joined the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology as a faculty member in 2006 and chose to focus my research efforts on salivary gland tumors, with several NIH and foundation grants awarded since 2007. My focus is on the epigenetic mechanisms of adenoid cystic carcinoma, and the pathways that might lead to its development. I have published many peer-reviewed studies on this topic and have formed many collaborations throughout the country. I recently moved to the University of California San Francisco to lead the Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and will continue in my research there. As a head and neck surgeon, I bring additional clinical expertise which can offer access to tissue and patients, as well as an understanding of the relevant translational questions.

Research Funding

  • September 1, 2012 - August 31, 2016 - Integrated pathway analysis of altered driver genes in adenoid cystic carcinoma, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NIDCR, Sponsor Award ID: R01DE023227
  • July 13, 2012 - June 30, 2014 - array-based screening for the expression and regulation of tumor supressor genes, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NIDCR, Sponsor Award ID: R03DE022591
  • July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2012 - The role of promoter hypermethylation in adenoid cystic carcinoma, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NIDCR, Sponsor Award ID: K08DE018463
  • September 1, 2012 - August 31, 2016 - Integrated pathway analysis of altered driver genes in adenoid cystic carcinoma, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NIDCR, Sponsor Award ID: R01DE023227

Education

Harvard College, BA, 1991-95, Biology
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, MD, 1995-99, Medicine
Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology, Residency, 1999-2006, Otolaryngology
Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology, Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2000-2002, Molecular Genetics
Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology, Advanced training, 2006, Head and Neck Surgery

Honors & Awards

  • 1999
    Elected Alpha Omega Alpha, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  • 2001
    Greater Baltimore Medical Center Resident Research Forum award winner
  • 2005
    Recipient of the Henkel Chief Resident Teacher of the Year Award
  • 2005
    Recipient of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center Outstanding Resident Award 2005
  • 2006
    Tilghman Travel Fellowship recipient for training in endoscopic laser surgery
  • 2007/10
    Recipient of the Otolaryngology Faculty Teaching Award
  • 2011-15
    Voted Baltimore Magazine Top Doc in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology

Selected Publications

  1. Ryan WR, Xu MJ, Ochoa E, Plonowska-Hirschfeld KA, Zebolsky AL, Ha PK, Bewley AF, Mallen-St Clair J, Joshi AS, Coffey CS, Faraji F, MacDonald BV, Houlton JJ, Gobillot TA, Curry JM, Philips R, Hackman TG, Richmon JD, Holcomb AJ, Coughlin AM, Panwar A, Smith RB, Herberg ME, Fakhry C, Cognetti DM Oncologic outcomes of human papillomavirus-associated oropharynx carcinoma treated with surgery alone: A 12-institution study of 344 patients.  View on PubMed
  2. Management of Salivary Gland Malignancy: ASCO Guideline.  View on PubMed
  3. Larson AR, Han M, Webb KL, Ochoa E, Stanford-Moore G, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Ryan WR Patient-Reported Outcomes of Split-Thickness Skin Grafts for Floor of Mouth Cancer Reconstruction.  View on PubMed
  4. Plonowska KA, Ochoa E, Zebolsky AL, Patel N, Hoppe KR, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Ryan WR Nasogastric tube feeding after transoral robotic surgery for oropharynx carcinoma.  View on PubMed
  5. Drake VE, Fakhry C, Windon MJ, Stewart CM, Akst L, Hillel A, Chien W, Ha P, Miles B, Gourin CG, Mandal R, Mydlarz WK, Rooper L, Troy T, Yavvari S, Waterboer T, Brenner N, Eisele DW, D'Souza G Timing, number, and type of sexual partners associated with risk of oropharyngeal cancer.  View on PubMed
  6. Humtsoe JO, Kim HS, Leonard B, Ling S, Keam B, Marchionni L, Afsari B, Considine M, Favorov AV, Fertig EJ, Kang H, Ha PK Newly identified members of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 splice variants engage in crosstalk with the AXL/AKT axis in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.  View on PubMed
  7. Strohl MP, Wai KC, Ha PK De-intensification strategies in HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma-a narrative review.  View on PubMed
  8. Rooper LM, Lombardo KA, Oliai BR, Ha PK, Bishop JA MYB RNA In Situ Hybridization Facilitates Sensitive and Specific Diagnosis of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Regardless of Translocation Status.  View on PubMed
  9. Wai KC, Xu MJ, Lee RH, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Knott PD, Park AM, Ryan WR, Seth R, Ha PK Head and neck surgery during the coronavirus-19 pandemic: The University of California San Francisco experience.  View on PubMed
  10. Strohl MP, Ha PK, Flavell RR, Yom SS PET/CT in Surgical Planning for Head and Neck Cancer.  View on PubMed
  11. Park S, Vora M, van Zante A, Humtsoe J, Kim HS, Yom S, Agarwal S, Ha P Clinicopathologic implications of Myb and Beta-catenin expression in adenoid cystic carcinoma.  View on PubMed
  12. Windon M, Fakhry C, Rooper L, Ha P, Schoppy D, Miles B, Koch W, Vosler P, Eisele D, D'Souza G The Role of Age and Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Oral Cavity Cancers.  View on PubMed
  13. Chang CF, Ei-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Ryan WR, Susko MS, Yom SS, Ha PK Modified technique of submandibular gland transfer followed by intensity modulated radiotherapy to reduce xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.  View on PubMed
  14. Susko MS, Lazar AA, Dhar S, Chan JW, Shiao SL, Chapman CH, Johnson J, Quivey JM, Ryan WR, Heaton CM, Ha PK, Yom SS Improved Tumor Control Related to Radiotherapy Technological Development for Hypopharyngeal Cancer.  View on PubMed
  15. Ochoa E, Larson AR, Han M, Webb KL, Stanford-Moore GB, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Ryan WR Patient-Reported Quality of Life After Resection With Primary Closure for Oral Tongue Carcinoma.  View on PubMed
  16. Rooper LM, Windon MJ, Hernandez T, Miles B, Ha PK, Ryan WR, Van Zante A, Eisele DW, D'Souza G, Fakhry C, Westra WH HPV-positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx, Oral Cavity, and Hypopharynx: Clinicopathologic Characterization With Recognition of a Novel Warty Variant.  View on PubMed
  17. M.J. Windon, G. D'Souza, T. Waterboer, L. Rooper, W.H. Westra, T. Troy, D.M. Pardoll, M. Tan, S. Yavvari, A.P. Kiess, B. Miles, W. Mydlarz, P. Ha, N. Bender, D. Eisele, C. Fakhry Risk Factors for Human Papillomavirus-Positive Nonoropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.  View on PubMed
  18. Windon MJ, D'Souza G, Waterboer T, Rooper L, Westra WH, Troy T, Pardoll D, Tan M, Yavvari S, Kiess AP, Miles B, Mydlarz WK, Ha PK, Bender N, Eisele DW, Fakhry C Risk factors for human papillomavirus-positive nonoropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.  View on PubMed
  19. Wai KC, Strohl MP, van Zante A, Ha PK Molecular Diagnostics in Human Papillomavirus-Related Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.  View on PubMed
  20. Formeister EJ, Baum R, Knott PD, Seth R, Ha P, Ryan W, El-Sayed I, George J, Larson A, Plonowska K, Heaton C Machine Learning for Predicting Complications in Head and Neck Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer.  View on PubMed

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