The only oral and maxillofacial pathologist within 400 miles of El Paso, Dr. Angela C. Chi helps physicians quickly diagnose patients’ conditions.
When professor Angela C. Chi, D.M.D., arrived at the newly established Hunt School of Dental Medicine in 2021, she brought her expert knowledge of oral and maxillofacial pathology, a life-saving specialty that focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases of the head and neck.
One of her first steps upon arriving in El Paso was to establish an oral pathology biopsy service within the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic on our campus. Through the service, clinicians in our Borderplex and across the Southwest submit patient tissue specimens for disease diagnosis. Dr. Chi then offers expert advice after she determines a diagnosis. As with dentistry in general, there’s a big need for oral pathology expertise in our historically underserved region.
“There’s a heavy burden of oral pathologic conditions among patients in our region, and we work closely with our submitting clinicians to provide diagnoses, discuss challenging cases, and support the best possible patient care,” said Dr. Chi.
As the only oral and maxillofacial pathologist within 400 miles of the El Paso region, Dr. Chi offers a quick turnaround for local clinicians and their patients. In most cases, Dr. Chi provides results within one to two business days after receiving specimens.
Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Dr. Chi also trains students to identify diseases of the head and neck, including oral cancer.
“Oral cancer can be disfiguring and deadly if not caught at an early stage, hence the importance of screenings at the dentist’s office,” Dr. Chi said. “Oral cancer screening can save lives.”
Oral Cancer: What You Need to Know
Detection:
Early detection is crucial to the successful treatment of oral cancer. Watch for these symptoms of oral cancer:
White or red patches on the lips or in the mouth.
Bleeding sores that do not heal.
Crusted or roughened areas.
Lumps or hard spots.
Masses and nodules around the head, neck, mouth and jawline.
Pain, tenderness, numbness and swelling.
Prevention
According to the American Cancer Society, not all cases of mouth and throat cancer can be
prevented, but the risk can be greatly reduced by following these recommendations:
Avoid tobacco and alcohol.
Maintain a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Avoid HPV infection and get the HPV vaccine.
Protect lips and face from harmful ultraviolet rays by applying sunscreen and wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
Practice good oral hygiene by brushing teeth twice a day and flossing daily.
Visit the dentist regularly for routine check-ups.
Word of Mouth
Hunt School of Dental Medicine students provide oral health screenings.
Poor dental health is recognized as a “silent epidemic” because of its association with chronic conditions and diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart and lung disease, stroke and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Because many West Texas residents face health disparities exacerbated by a dentist shortage, Hunt School of Dental Medicine students are filling the gap by offering screenings for oral cancer, overall oral health, and general health, including diabetes screenings.
Supported by a Paso del Norte Health Foundation grant, our dental students participate in community health fairs and screen for diabetes using an American Diabetes Association risk test. Patients at a certain risk threshold are provided with a blood test used to diagnose Type 2 diabetes. The students provide education regarding healthy lifestyle choices and connect at-risk patients with appropriate health care professionals for further care and management.
YOU CAN HELP
Support from our community partners saves lives through access to critical breast screening
and patient navigation services. Hope begins HERE at Texas Tech Health El Paso, where cancer prevention and support ensure a brighter future for our Borderplex community.
At Texas Tech Health El Paso, we are committed to growing our own health care heroes and changing the state of health care in our Borderplex. For more information about how you can help, please contact andrea.tawney@ttuhsc.edu or craig.holden@ttuhsc.edu or visit ttuhscep.edu/elpaso/ia/giving/.
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