First-ever oral cancer screening pop-up clinic held on Bannatyne campus

More than 100 people were screened for oral cancer at a pop-up clinic held in the Brodie Centre atrium.

A oral pathologist examines the inside of a patient's mouth.

November 4, 2024

Estimated Read Time:

2 minutes

Dr. Vimi Mutalik, associate professor of dental diagnostic and surgical sciences, and division head of oral diagnosis at the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, examines a patient at the oral cancer screening pop-up clinic.

November 4, 2024

Estimated Read Time:

2 minutes

Oral pathologists from the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry‘s department of dental diagnostic and surgical sciences led the free oral cancer screening clinic on Oct. 10. The clinic was supported by the dental school’s faculty, staff, students and residents, and was open to the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences community.

“Our goal as a team is early diagnosis,” said Dr. Vimi Mutalik, associate professor of dental diagnostic and surgical sciences, and division head of oral diagnosis. “When oral cancer is caught early, there is a greater chance for a cure. We want to get rid of the problem early so the patient has a better quality of life moving forward.”

When oral cancer is caught early, there is a greater chance for a cure.

Dr. Vimi Mutalik

Dr. John Perry, associate professor of dental diagnostic and surgical sciences and associate dean (academic), said they organized the screening clinic because there is a need in the community to screen patients.

“We thought it was a good idea to have a pop-up here at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and it was an excellent way to raise awareness about oral cancer,” Perry said.

Dr. Mohamad-Hasan Kadhim, assistant professor of dental diagnostic and surgical sciences, said the clinic was a great starting point to build on and work towards holding similar events across the province in the future.

“This was a pilot event to see what small details we need to address, who the key players are and what areas need improvement, so I think overall it was a success,” Kadhim said.

Three people pose for a photo in a dental clinic.

[Left to right] Dr. Mohamad-Hasan Kadhim, Dr. Vimi Mutalik and Dr. John Perry.

The team set up the screening clinic on the stage in the Brodie Centre atrium, which took a lot of planning. They had to figure out how to sterilize their instruments during the eight-hour clinic and needed proper lighting and chairs.

“Logistics was a big issue, and we tried to predict all the things that we needed and all the ways in which we would ensure that things went smoothly. We had to improvise now and then, but it was quite successful, and we were very pleased,” Perry said.

Mutalik said holding the screening clinic in a non-clinical setting gave students a great service-learning experience.

“It was an opportunity for the students to experience what it’s like to see patients outside of private practice or the dental school clinic, and what it’s like to make a diagnosis in a different setting,” Mutalik said.