JAMSHORO: Recognising a suspicious lesion in the mouth and knowing when it requires further assessment can be an important step towards the early detection of oral cancer. At Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, participants explored these clinical skills through a combination of scientific instruction, a live patient demonstration and supervised practical exercises during a one-day workshop on oral cancer screening.
Organised by the university’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), the professional workshop was held as part of the National Cancer Conference 2026. It aimed to strengthen awareness of oral cancer, reinforce clinical screening skills and emphasise the importance of identifying suspicious oral lesions and arranging timely clinical assessment.
The workshop was conducted under the supervision and coordination of Professor Dr Muhammad Shahzad, Chairman of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, LUMHS, who also delivered the principal scientific lecture.
Professor Dr Ikram Din Ujjan, Vice Chancellor of LUMHS, was designated as the chief guest, while Professor Dr Feroz Ali Kalhoro, Dean of the Institute of Dentistry, LUMHS, was designated as the guest of honour.
Scientific instruction focuses on early recognition
The programme began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome address from Professor Dr Kashif Ali Channar. Welcoming the participants, he highlighted the value of professional training and awareness in the early identification of oral cancer.
The scientific session centred on a comprehensive lecture by Professor Dr Muhammad Shahzad, who discussed the fundamental principles of oral cancer screening, its clinical significance and the essential techniques involved in examining the oral cavity.
The session also provided an opportunity for interactive discussion, with participants exploring how suspicious oral lesions may be identified and why appropriate clinical assessment should not be delayed when an abnormality warrants further investigation.
Early recognition is an important consideration in oral cancer care because suspicious lesions require appropriate evaluation rather than being dismissed or left unassessed. The workshop placed this clinical responsibility at the centre of its educational activities, linking the principles discussed in the lecture with practical screening techniques.
Live patient demonstration brings screening techniques into practice
A key feature of the workshop was a live demonstration of oral cancer screening on a patient by Professor Dr Suneel Kumar. The demonstration gave participants an opportunity to observe the screening process in a practical clinical setting and connect the techniques discussed during the scientific session with their application.
The programme then moved from observation to participation. During a hands-on group activity, participants practised oral screening techniques on one another under professional guidance.
By combining a formal lecture, a live demonstration and supervised practice, the workshop offered a learning format that addressed both the underlying clinical principles and their practical application. The exercises were intended to reinforce participants’ understanding of oral examination and the recognition of suspicious lesions.
Other facilitators included Assistant Professor Dr Bashir Ahmed Jalbani, Assistant Professor Dr Aftab Ahmed Kunbhar, and Dr Abdul Wahid Baloch, who contributed to the educational activities, practical guidance and professional learning environment.
Recognition for facilitators, certificates for participants
The workshop concluded with the presentation of shields and traditional ajraks to the facilitators in recognition of their contributions. Certificates were also distributed among the participants.
The closing proceedings acknowledged the role of the faculty and facilitators in delivering the educational programme and provided formal recognition to those who took part.
Strengthening oral cancer awareness through professional education
The initiative reflected LUMHS’s stated commitment to medical and dental education, public-health awareness and the promotion of early oral cancer detection.
By bringing scientific learning and practical screening exercises together under the National Cancer Conference 2026, the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery sought to reinforce the importance of recognising suspicious oral lesions, assessing them appropriately and ensuring timely referral when further investigation is needed.
For dental and medical education, such training provides an opportunity to revisit essential examination techniques and reinforce the clinical importance of responding appropriately to potentially concerning findings. The workshop’s combination of expert instruction, live demonstration and participant practice placed these skills at the heart of the programme.
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