Rahul K. Sharma

Columbia University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Rahul K. Sharma is a head and neck surgical oncologist whose research focuses on improving outcomes for patients with oropharyngeal and oral cavity cancers, particularly through the use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS). His landmark 2021 study on HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer treated with TORS, cited 10 times, addressed a critical knowledge gap by demonstrating that surgical outcomes in this high-risk population are distinct from HPV-positive disease, helping to refine treatment paradigms. More recently, his 2024 national analysis of positive surgical margins in oral cavity and oropharyngeal malignancies, though newly published, highlights a persistent challenge in surgical oncology—identifying trends and predictors of incomplete resection that directly impact patient survival and recurrence. By leveraging large-scale database analyses, Sharma’s work provides actionable insights for surgeons aiming to reduce positive margin rates. His contributions are especially valuable for trainees and clinicians navigating the complexities of HPV-related and HPV-negative head and neck cancers, offering evidence-based guidance on surgical decision-making and the optimization of robotic approaches in challenging clinical scenarios.