Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation honored recipients of the 2020 Medical Student Rotation for Underrepresented Populations (MSR), Resident Travel Awards for Underrepresented Populations (RTA), Long-Term International Fellowship (LIFe), and International Development and Education Awards (IDEA) during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program on May 29–31.
Each award supports the work and interests of early-career researchers and medical professionals and helps facilitate the recruitment and retention of individuals from low- and middle-income countries and populations underrepresented in medicine to oncology careers.
“Now more than ever, we see the need to share health information at a global level, and patients with cancer need a diverse, informed workforce delivering quality care to prevent and treat all types of cancer,” said Thomas G. Roberts, Jr., MD, FASCO, Chair of the Conquer Cancer Board of Directors. “Conquer Cancer is honored to unite with generous donors to advance oncology professionals around the world so they can share information to better serve patients everywhere.”
2020 Medical Student Rotation for Underrepresented Populations
The MSR provides clinical or clinical research rotations for U.S. medical students from underrepresented populations in medicine who are interested in a career in oncology and pairs them with an oncology mentor. Award recipients participate in a 4-week rotation in a variety of care and research settings.
The 2020 MSR recipients include:
2020 Resident Travel Awards for Underrepresented Populations
The RTA provides funding for medical residents from underrepresented populations in medicine to attend an ASCO Annual Meeting, where recipients will get the chance to network with oncologists, participate in educational sessions, and develop a deeper understanding of the oncology field.
The 2020 RTA recipients include:
2020 Long-Term International Fellowship
The LIFe provides early-career oncologists in low- to middle-income countries with support and resources needed to advance their training by deepening their relationship with a mentor in the United States, Canada, or European Union. During the 1-year fellowship, the recipients receive valuable training and experience, which they use to effect change in cancer care in their home country.
Fidel Rubagumya, MD, MMed
The 2020 LIFe recipient is Fidel Rubagumya, MD, MMed, of Rwanda Military Hospital.
Dr. Rubagumya will undertake his LIFe at Queen’s University under the mentorship of Christopher Booth, MD, FRCPC, to pursue the project “From Theory to Practice: Implementing the Choosing Wisely Africa Recommendations.”
2020 International Development and Education Awards
The IDEA connects early-career oncologists in low- and middle-income countries with oncology leaders based in Canada and the United States to establish mentoring relationships. The award includes registration to the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program and a post-meeting visit to the mentor’s institution, with the goal of developing a long-term, knowledge-sharing relationship to improve cancer care in the mentee’s home country.
The International Development and Education Award in Palliative Care (IDEA-PC) provides this same opportunity for early-career oncologists with a specific interest in palliative medicine.
The 2020 IDEA recipients include:
The 2020 IDEA-PC recipients include:
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