Mushfiq H. Shaikh, MSc (Path), PhD

Biography

Dr. Mushfiq H. Shaikh is an Assistant Professor of Medical Education at the UTRGV
School of Medicine and serves as the Director of Interprofessional Education.
He teaches Anatomy, Histology, and Pathology, contributing to the training of future
physicians and advancing collaborative healthcare education.

Before joining UTRGV SOM, Dr. Shaikh completed his postdoctoral fellowship training
at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University, Canada, from 2019
to 2024, where he was an MITACS research scholar in Prof. Nichol’s lab. His research was
focused on understanding the genomic and molecular mechanisms driving treatment-resistant cancers and their therapeutic approaches, including the efficacy of immune
checkpoint inhibitors. He earned his PhD in Molecular Cancer Biology from MHIQ, Griffith
University, Queensland, Australia, in 2017, where he trained in the laboratories of Prof.
Nigel McMillan and Prof. Newell Johnson. His doctoral research explored the role of
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck cancers, and identifying HPV E7 & Aurora
kinases as critical therapeutic targets for HPV-associated malignancies.

Dr. Shaikh has extensive teaching experience in oral pathology, head and neck anatomy,
histology, and molecular biology, having taught clinical and research students at medical
and dental schools across multiple countries, including Australia and Canada. He
previously served as an Assistant Professor and Oral Pathologist in the Department of
Oral Pathology and Periodontology at Update Dental College & Hospital, Dhaka. He holds
an MSc in Pathology from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry,
Queen Mary University of London, UK, and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from the
DDC, University of Dhaka.

His research interests focuses on translational oncology, particularly genetic drivers of treatement-resistant cancers, HPV-associated mallignancies, and cancer-related public health disparities.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Director of Interprofessional Education (IPE)

• Leads the implementation and improvement of a longitudinal interprofessional curriculum aligned with IPEC competencies and LCME accreditation
• Collaborates with faculty and partner health profession programs to develop team-based and patient-centered learning experiences.
• Oversees assessment and quality improvement efforts, ensuring measurable outcomes and integration of IPE across the undergraduate medical
• Promotes faculty engagement and interprofessional partnerships to strengthen a culture of teamwork and shared professional responsibility.