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Walter T Lee

Professor of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences
Head & Neck Surgical Oncology
Duke South Yellow Zone 4000, DUMC Box 3805, Durham, NC 27710
40 Medicine Circle, DUMC Box 3805, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Global Health, Virtue-Based Professional Development and Leadership, Device Development for Cancer Detection, otolaryngology, ENT, Head and Neck Cancer

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences · 2023 - Present Head & Neck Surgical Oncology, Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences
Professor in Radiation Oncology · 2020 - Present Radiation Oncology, Clinical Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2012 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute · 2019 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published June 18, 2021
The $600 Medical Device from Duke That Could Help Doctors Detect Throat Cancer

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Recent Publications


The Role of Sleep Apnea in Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders Among Older Noncardiac Surgery Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Journal Article Anesth Analg · January 1, 2025 BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increased dementia risk, yet its role in postoperative neurocognitive disorders is unclear. Here, we studied whether the severity of untreated obstructive sleep apnea is associated with the severity of ... Full text Link to item Cite

Plasmonics-enhanced spikey nanorattle-based biosensor for direct SERS detection of mRNA cancer biomarkers.

Journal Article Anal Bioanal Chem · December 2024 We present a plasmonics-enhanced spikey nanorattle-based biosensor for direct surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of mRNA cancer biomarkers. Early detection of cancers such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is critical for imp ... Full text Link to item Cite

Abstract PR004: Differential gene expression analysis comparing Black and White patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma reveals suppressed immune response and higher rates P16/HPV DNA discordance in Black patients

Conference Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention · September 21, 2024 AbstractBackground-Human papilloma virus (HPV-positive (+)) oropharynx cancer (OPC) are a distinct neoplastic entity associated with a significant survival advantage compared to HPV- OPCs. The survival advan ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Adapting a machine learning algorithm to predict thyroid cytopathologyin LMIC

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2021 - 2027

Otolaryngology Surgeon- Scientist career Path (OSSP) program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2027

RAPID System for Early Detection of Head and Neck Cancer in Low-Resource Settings

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2027

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University · 2015 M.H.S.
The George Washington University · 1999 M.D.