The AHNS Foundation and the AHNS Diversity Service are excited to announce the AHNS Dr. Eddie Méndez Research Fellowship Award!
Deadline: October 20, 2025.
Thanks to the very generous contributions of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) members and supporters, the AHNS Research and Education Foundation is pleased to announce the second offering of the Dr. Eddie Méndez Fellowship Award.
The AHNS is honoring our colleague, friend, the late Dr. Eduardo “Eddie” Méndez, a prominent physician-scientist who earned his MD with honors from the University of Maryland in 1999. He completed an Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency training program at the University of Washington followed by his Advanced Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Microvascular Reconstructive fellowship training at the University of Washington. In 2006 he became faculty at the University of Washington. Eddie became the director of the Translational Research Program at the affiliated Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He led an NIH-funded laboratory examining the genetic expression of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma in effort to identify novel treatment pathways.
Dr. Méndez was passionate about research and training the next generation of head and neck surgeon-scientists. Therefore, this award is intended to expose an under-represented minority medical student to the field of Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery. Students with an interest in exposure to head and neck oncologic research are encouraged to apply. To round out the experience, clinical exposure and direct patient care will be a component of this year long research experience. Currently, less than 5% of practicing Otolaryngologists identify as minority providers. The AHNS recognizes the importance of increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in our surgical subspecialty to achieve the best outcomes for all head and neck cancer patients we serve.
The Dr. Eddie Méndez Fellowship awardee will receive $10,000. The recipient is expected to work with their research mentor to create a budget related to their proposed research. It is required that a portion of the budget be used for travel expenses to the AHNS annual meeting. The remaining funds may be used at the discretion of the recipient and mentor.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Completion of at least M2 year prior to fellowship year (June 2026)
- Identify as underrepresented according to the 2023 biennial report, Diversity and STEM: Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities, from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, including:
- individuals from racial/ethnic groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latin Origin, Asian Pacific Islander, American Indian
- Persons with Disabilities
- Individuals who are first-generation college graduates
- Copy of your CV
2 Letters of Recommendation:
- Letter of Recommendation from your chosen research mentor
- Letter of Recommendation from the Medical School Dean’s stating in good standing, and approval for a 1-year gap during medical school to undertake this research fellowship.
Students must be in good standing at an accredited US medical school, or US school (see eligibility criteria) - Personal statement: goals of research experience, how this fellowship experience will impact the applicant’s career trajectory, why this particular research subject and/or lab is of interest for the applicant and what he/she/they plan to gain from the opportunity (skills/knowledge) (2 pages maximum 1,000 words single spaced) Please include in the personal statement your underrepresented minority status.
Research Proposal:
The applicant is expected to work with their mentor to help shape the research proposal. Applicants may select a mentor of their choosing. In addition, mentors who have expressed an interest in providing an excellent research experience in head and neck cancer can be found below. All areas of research are welcome, including but not limited to basic science, computational, and clinical based research. The proposed project should be briefly described, however the applicant is not expected to prepare a scientific proposal. (Not to exceed 3 pages)
- This will necessitate the applicant identifying a potential mentor(s). The student will need to speak to the mentor to determine the feasibility of the “match.” The student will need to determine if the research project and opportunity with the mentor is sufficient to sustain a 1-year fellowship.
Research Expectations:
- Awardees are expected to submit an abstract for oral presentation at the AHNS annual meeting at COSM. Recipients who are unable to prepare an abstract for COSM must notify the AHNS office.
- In addition, the AHNS Dr. Eddie Méndez Fellowship in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery awardee will have the opportunity to present their research during the AHNS Awards Ceremony, which takes place during COSM 2027 April 7-11, 2027 | Seattle Convention Center’s Arch Building and the Sheraton Grand Hotel Seattle, Washington.
- Any published manuscript supported by the AHNS Dr. Eddie Méndez Fellowship in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery award should cite the AHNS Research & Education Foundation as a funding source.
The AHNS Dr. Mendez Award to Disseminate 2025
Theresa Guo
University of California, San Diego
My research work focuses on identification and targeting of aberrant splicing events in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We have previously developed our own algorithm and pipeline for identifying clinically relevant splicing events which are tumor specific with a program called OutSplice as well as prediction of immunogenicity of predicted peptides using SINE. Therefore our current work seeks to evaluate the role of identified splice derived neoantigens as targets to enhance immunotherapy treatment response in HNSCC, as well as expanding analysis to other solid tumors.
Potential projects for one year research project include:
(1) Evaluating the efficacy of splice derived neoantigen based vaccines in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy in murine mouse models of head and neck cancer, with a goal to optimize vaccine design and validate T-cell response
(2) Collect, culture and evaluate patient derived samples (tumor and peripheral blood) to assess for immunogenicity of splice derived neoantigens in patients to assess the potential of splice derived neoantigen vaccines to enhance immune response
(3) Evaluate the role of splice derived neoantigens in non-HNSCC preclinical models to establish their role in other solid tumors including skin cancer
Nikki Schmitt
Emory University
We are involved in basic science, translational, and clinical research, focused on drug development and drug repurposing to improve anti-tumor immune responses in head and neck cancer. We are also interested in immuno-aging. The ideal project would incorporate analysis of blood and tumor samples from cancer patients with clinical outcomes data, focusing on the role of immune aging in responses to therapy. Experiments testing new drugs or involvement in ongoing clinical trials are additional possibilities.
The student would need to have salary and benefits from another source. Medical students within the state of Georgia can apply for the Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) program with the Georgia CTSA, which provides funding and coursework for one year.
Sufi Thomas
University of Kansas Medical Center
Potential projects:
Development of antifibrotic agents for the prevention of and treatment of radiation induced fibrosis.
Understanding the role of the microbiome in an animal model of osteoradionecrosis.
Delineating the role of doublecortin like kinase 1 in mediating locoregional invasion in head and neck cancer.
Developing therapeutic targets for secretory autophagy in cancer associated fibroblasts.
Mary Jue Xu
University of California San Francisco
My research focuses on interventions that improve access to and quality of head and neck cancer care in resource-constrained health systems in the United States and internationally. Some of the ongoing projects and that a research student could become involved with is
- Expansion of a preventative dental care intervention integrated into surveillance visits: We are currently studying the integration of integrating fluoride varnish and education in HNC surveillance visits at San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco's safety net hospital. We are looking to expand this more broadly and understand policy and health provider barriers to broader dental preventative care among our patient population.
- Adaptation and implementation of the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative drivers to improve tracheostomy care in Tanzania: There are many avoidable complications associated with tracheostomy care. In high income countries, the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative (GTC) has developed a set of drivers to improve care and decrease complications. In this study, we aim to adapt and implement these drivers at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania. The study is entering the intervention adaptation and implementation phase, which a research student could support.
- Design and implementation of a multidisciplinary tumor board for head and neck cancers in a resource-constrained health setting: In Tanzania, we are working with a multidisciplinary team to design a tumor board amid a resource constrained health system. The study will likely be in the phase of piloting and implementing the model and a student could be involved with this phase.
- Otolaryngology Training of Primary Care Providers in Rwanda: In Rwanda, we are working on implementing a train the trainer model to expand knowledge of otolaryngology skills among primary care providers. This is particularly critical given that there are fewer than 30 ENTs among a population over 11 million in the country. We have adapted simulation-based curriculum created for medical school students and have implemented this for over 40 primary care providers. The next phase of this is expanding this more broadly using a train the trainer model.
There are additional projects based in San Francisco focused on access and delays to care. Finally, many of the international projects can be continued/ worked on remotely as well.
Submission Deadline: October 20, 2025.
AHNS Dr. Eddie Méndez Fellowship Award Medical Student Application
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