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About

Justine Oates is a leading clinician-researcher in speech-language pathology, specializing in the functional outcomes of head and neck cancer treatment. Her work centers on swallowing and communication recovery following transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal cancer, a field where she has made pivotal contributions. Oates’s research is distinguished by its rigorous use of instrumental assessments, such as fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES), to objectively measure post-surgical function. Her most cited paper (2021, 25 citations) critically highlights the heterogeneity in prior studies and underscores the need for standardized, objective swallow evaluations to guide clinical decision-making. A key contribution is her prospective work (2020, 9 citations) describing the acute recovery of swallow function in the immediate postoperative period, providing essential benchmarks for patient counseling and rehabilitation. Oates has also advanced understanding of outcomes for advanced or recurrent disease (2021, 7 citations), a particularly challenging patient group with limited evidence. Her work directly informs surgical and rehabilitative protocols, helping to balance oncologic control with quality of life. For students and researchers, Oates exemplifies how rigorous, clinically-grounded research can translate into improved, patient-centered care in head and neck oncology.