Dr. Ana Filipa Martins Ferreira Varges Gomes is a senior medical oncologist with internationally recognized expertise in head and neck cancer and extensive leadership experience in clinical oncology, research, health system management and oncology policy. She also has led the development and coordination of thoracic oncology services and multidisciplinary cancer care.
She serves as Head of the Medical Oncology Department at Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, where she leads the lung cancer program and chairs multidisciplinary tumor boards at the Portimão Unit.
She founded and coordinates ONCOSEGUE, a proximity-care oncology program designed to improve continuity, access and patient-centered care, which was a finalist for the Best Health Practices Award 2025 in Portugal. At the European level she is Work Package Leader (Communication) for EUnetCCC, supporting integration of Comprehensive Cancer Centres across Europe.
Her leadership roles have included President of the Portuguese Study Group of Head and Neck Cancer, Secretary of the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Group, European Chair of the ESMO Asia Congress (Head & Neck, 2021) and long-standing membership of the EHNS Board. She is a founding board member of the Portuguese MAKE SENSE Campaign, the European awareness initiative for head and neck cancer under the European Head and Neck Society.
Her academic training includes head and neck oncology fellowships at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, with Dr. Marshall Posner and at UZA Antwerp with Prof. Jan Vermorken. She completed her medical oncology residency at IPO Porto and holds postgraduate qualifications in health management and clinical coding.
Dr. Varges Gomes has authored and co-authored numerous publications in international journals, contributed to ESMO-EURACAN clinical practice guidelines, and served as principal investigator and national coordinator for multiple multinational clinical trials in head and neck cancer. She is a frequent invited speaker at major international oncology congresses and has received awards for cancer awareness and clinical excellence.
Her public service and educational roles include serving as President of the Portuguese Health Parliament, lecturing in medicine and economics at university level, and long-term volunteer work with the Order of Malta supporting vulnerable populations.
Her work spans clinical practice, scientific leadership, policy engagement and patient-centered care, with a sustained focus on improving outcomes for patients with head and neck and thoracic malignancies.
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