Dr Mehmet Sen

Dr Mehmet Sen completed his medical school training in Izmir and specialist training in radiation oncology in Istanbul, Turkey. He later subspecialised in head and neck cancer and set up a multidisciplinary academic unit in 1991 in Dokuz Eylul University Medical School. He was appointed as Professor of radiation oncology in 2001 and was clinical lead for the head and neck cancer unit until 2003.

He chaired the Turkish Oncology head and neck cancer studies group between 2001-2003 and also contributed to ESTRO teaching courses as a teacher in the Evidence Based Oncology course between 1999-2004.

He moved to the UK in 2004 joining Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust as a Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Honorary senior lecturer and was the lead for the nonsurgical head and neck team (2008-2019).

He contributed to the NCRI head and neck clinical studies group as a member (2006-2015) and then chair of the systemic treatments and radiotherapy subgroup (2006-2011). During this time notable achievements included establishing links between national and international research groups and chaired the EORTC Head and Neck – radiotherapy subgroup (2011-2015)

Throughout his career he has recognised and embraced the multidisciplinary nature of head and neck cancer management as a clinical oncologist team member and the key importance of education and research in improving outcomes and quality of life of life of head and neck cancer patients. He is now partially retired from his current clinical responsibilities and continues to teach and support research activities. His research interest includes improving outcomes by combined treatments and evaluation of recurrence patterns in head and neck cancers and potential individualisation of disease management. He is currently contributing to on-going national randomised clinical trials as local PI, National lead arm, TMG member and safety chair. He currently contributes to BAHNO activities as council member and the chair of BAHNO International committee and also supports York Head and neck Oncology annual meeting.