R. Bryan Bell, M.D., D.D.S., FACS, director of surgical oncology and clinical programs at Providence Cancer Institute, recently was named a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, a prestigious international honor that recognizes excellence in surgical innovation and developments. In addition, Dr. Bell’s program to train future head and neck oncologic and microvascular reconstructive surgeons at Providence Cancer Institute recently received national accreditation.
International honor
Providence Cancer Institute is enormously proud of our colleague, Dr. Bryan Bell for being awarded fellowship ad hominem, the most prestigious designation a surgeon can receive from the college, to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He is one of only four current surgeons in Oregon and 271 surgeons in the United States to achieve this honor.
First named in 1505 as the Barber Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is the oldest surgical organization in the world. Today the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is a modern global network of more than 27,000 medical professionals who work in more than 100 countries around the world.
Dr. Bell is physician executive and director of the Division of Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Clinical Programs at Providence Cancer Institute; director of Surgical Oncology Research at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute; and co-director of the Providence Head and Neck Cancer Program.
Dr. Bell’s clinical activity, teaching and research have been devoted primarily to the comprehensive surgical management of patients with head and neck cancer. He has pioneered the use of virtual surgical planning in head and neck surgery. He was one of the first surgeons on the U.S. West Coast to perform transoral robotic surgery for treating oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancer.
His research for the last 10 years has focused primarily on immunotherapy to enhance the effectiveness of surgery for patients with oral, head and neck cancers. Dr. Bell’s work has resulted in more than 150 scientific articles and book chapters, and he is co-editor of two major textbooks. He has been appointed or elected to leadership positions in many professional societies, boards, foundations and committees, including the National Institutes of Health. As part of his surgical practice, he conducts clinical trials studying reversal of immunosuppression through monoclonal antibody therapy and other technologically advanced interventions. His work bridges basic, translational and clinical activities.
Program accreditation
In addition, Providence’s Fellowship in Head and Neck Oncologic and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery, led by Dr. Bell, recently received accreditation as a two-year program to train the next generation of head and neck/microvascular surgeons.
The training program was begun more than 30 years ago by Providence Cancer Institute affiliated oral and maxillofacial surgeon/otolaryngologist Eric Dierks, D.M.D., M.D., FACS, FRCS(Ed), and recently expanded to consist of two full years at Providence. Previously, the program was split – fellows spent one year training at Legacy Health and one year at Providence. The two-year program now resides at Providence Cancer Institute.
Drs. Dierks and Bell, as well as their current partners and former fellows – Ashish Patel, M.D., D.D.S., FACS; Allen Cheng, M.D., D.D.S., FACS; and Baber Khatib, M.D., D.D.S. – continue to collaborate in training new surgeons in the latest surgical techniques. The training includes bringing technologically advanced, comprehensive surgical services to patients with head and neck cancer, including those of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, salivary glands and thyroid.
Congratulations to Dr. Bell and his team for these well-deserved recognitions.
About the Providence Head and Neck Cancer Program: The Providence Head and Neck Cancer Program, co-directed by Dr. Bell and Rom Leidner, M.D., is a multidisciplinary team – of surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, dental oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, speech and swallowing therapists, nutritionists and nurses – that is dedicated to caring for patients with cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, salivary glands, skull base and thyroid gland. With clinics at the Robert W. Franz Cancer Center and on the campuses of Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, team members collaborate with researchers at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute to provide patients access to the most promising clinical trials and advanced treatment using a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach.
Authored by:
Walter J. Urba, M.D., Ph.D., director of cancer research, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute; senior vice president of research, Providence St. Joseph Health
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