This annual lectureship honors J. Gershon Spector, MD, who served the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery from 1971 to 2015.

Mark Varvares, MD

2024 Spector Lectureship

This year’s address will be given by Mark Varvares, MD, the John W. Merriam/William W. Montgomery Professor and chair of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School.

His clinical interests include squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects, skull base surgery, surgery of the parotid, thyroid and parathyroid glands, surgery of the larynx, and cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses.

The inagural Head & Neck Cancer Survivorship Symposium will be held later that same day, where Varvares will discuss his personal cancer journey with cancer survivors and their families (details below).

Varvares will also present, “The Role of Intraoperative Ultrasound in the Management of Early Tongue Cancer” to the St. Louis ENT Club on the evening of April 23.

Date: April 24, 7:00am CST

Location: Ogura Lecture Hall, 8th floor Mid Campus Center

Title: “Leadership”

A virtual option will be available. To receive the Zoom link, please contact Brian Faddis.

2024 Spector Research Symposium

Enjoy a variety of presentations that highlight the spectrum of head and neck cancer research conducted here at Washington University School of Medicine.

Date: April 24, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Location: Ogura Lecture Hall, 8th Floor Mid Campus Center

Agenda: Coming soon

A virtual option will be available. To receive the Zoom link, please contact Brian Faddis.

2024 Washington University Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Symposium

Cancer patients and their families and caregivers are invited to join us for this special presentation by Dr. Varvares, followed by a reception and refreshments.

Date: April 24, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: Connor Auditorium, 1st Floor, Farrell Learning and Teaching Center, 520. S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Title: “A Surgeon’s perspective on surviving cancer while caring for cancer patients


Gershon Spector, MD headshot
J. Gershon Spector, MD

J. Gershon Spector Lecture in the Biology of Cancer

The purpose of this lectureship is to invite nationally and internationally known investigators to serve as lecturers at Washington University.  The lecturer should be an accomplished fundamental biologist studying the mechanisms and biology of cancer.  Areas of highest interest include molecular mechanisms, biophysics and bioengineering, including nanotechnology.  The lectureship should be coordinated with the academic programs of the Siteman Cancer Center in the Department of Otolaryngology.


Spector Lecturers (Established 2017)

  • 2023 – Richard J. Wong, MD
  • 2022 – David Hayes, MD
  • 2021 – Eben Rosenthal, MD
  • 2019 – Cherie-Ann Nathan, MD
  • 2018 – James W. Rocco, MD, PhD
  • 2017 – John Sunwoo, MD, PhD