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Communities often call upon their university hospitals to help with health screening events. Otolaryngologists can play an important role in prevention and education. We recently evaluated 285 community members at an oral cancer screening event at a community health "expo." An intake form and oral exam identified 67 with conditions that warranted further evaluation: 16 for dental follow-up; 25 for further ear, nose, and throat (ENT) evaluation; and 26 for primary care follow-up. One patient was identified with laryngeal cancer after referral for dysphonia. The event served to increase awareness of oral cancer among high-risk patients via educational materials and podium presentations. There was a positive effect on our university's credibility and reputation in the local community. Medical students interested in ENT received valuable supervised hands-on experience. This screening event identified opportunities for collaboration with local dental societies and primary care physicians for prevention and early detection of oral cancer.

We read with great interest, "Follow-Up Phone Interviews and Attendance Motivation From A Free Head and Neck Cancer Screening." Having recently hosted a community head and neck cancer screening event and shared these findings with the otolaryngology community, we greatly appreciate this most recent contribution to the ongoing discussion. Identifying the motivational factors for being screened is a valuable addition to the literature, as these are important considerations for institutions seeking to hold their own head and neck cancer screening events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]