It happened! We received the International Development and Education Award (IDEA) from Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, and it was a journey of growth, global collaboration, leadership, mentorship, and more. We have much to share after this breakthrough in our careers.
The ASCO Annual Meeting brings together oncologists, researchers, and health-care professionals to share the latest advancements in cancer care. This year’s meeting was particularly momentous for us—the recipients of the IDEA award. As oncologists and cancer researchers from diverse low- and middle-income countries, our experiences were transformative. In this postmeeting perspective, we share our insights highlighting the profound impact of the program on our professional and personal growth.
The Annual Meeting Experience
This year, the IDEA awardees included 27 clinicians from various fields of oncology practice and research, representing 21 different low- and middle-income countries.1 The program began with a leadership workshop by a wonderful team of mentors led by Frank D. Ferris, MD. The training sessions equipped us with the various aspects of “leadership development”—effective communication, presentation skills, and elevator pitch capabilities in real-time simulated environments. These skills proved invaluable during the conference, enhancing our ability to network and engage with oncologists from around the globe for future collaboration.
For many of us, ASCO24 was our first exposure to such a large-scale conference, with its immensity and the tremendous number of attendees being a common theme. Despite the initial overwhelmingness, the camaraderie and mutual support among awardees made this experience special. The IDEA program facilitated not only professional development but also fostered a sense of “one community and shared purpose.”
We were also fortunate to be exposed to the latest research and advancements in cancer therapy at the meeting, which inspired us to implement novel approaches in our practice, such as stepped palliative care using telehealth methods, which may be supportive in resource-limited settings. Indeed, the combination of hands-on learning and updates from clinical trials and real-world studies reaffirmed the critical role of continuous education in improving capacity building in low- and middle-income countries through ASCO Annual Meetings.
Seven ASCO Presentations
At the ASCO meeting, the IDEA 2024 team presented seven abstracts on topics relevant to low- and middle-income countries. The oral abstract focused on conflict-of-interest reporting in regions where oncology practice and cancer research are evolving.2 The other six abstracts emphasized practical challenges to delivering standard-of-care treatment, the relevance of alternative drugs, and the importance of local evidence in formulating treatment decisions.3-8
It was a wonderful experience to see IDEA awardees attend this session to support their colleagues who presented at this prestigious event. Moreover, the presentations dovetailed beautifully with the simultaneous publication of our study results in JCO Global Oncology2 for the first time, demonstrating one way in which ASCO continues to be the world’s leading cancer society, by providing opportunities for researchers to present their findings without geographic barriers.
Fulfilling Publication
We are the first IDEA cohort to publish our vision of training and research in The ASCO Post, even before we met physically in Chicago for the Annual Meeting.9 Our letter to the editor touched on an important topic, explaining how young oncologists and cancer researchers may guide international cancer societies to build a better future for training for both research and practice. We conceived the idea months before ASCO24 and were all engaged as one team, sharing insights even though we had only known each other for a few days before the idea was developed. The print issue including the letter was distributed at the Annual Meeting, through which it achieved global exposure.
This publication also demonstrates how journals and magazines affiliated with cancer societies, such as The ASCO Post, can actively engage in the global oncology movement. Special thanks go to Cara Glynn, Senior Editorial Director of The ASCO Post, who made this possible for us. It was also a great pleasure for the IDEA awardees to meet with one of The Lancet’s esteemed editors, Vania Wisdom, to discuss various initiatives The Lancet is developing for the global oncology and cancer research community.
More Milestones
At ASCO24, science and joy were beautifully combined. We were thrilled to attend the presidential dinner and other outstanding parallel events, meeting leaders in oncology to gain inspiration. These events not only made the Annual Meeting enjoyable, but also provided a wonderful opportunity to apply our leadership skills and build collaborative relationships. Meeting past and current ASCO Presidents, Robin Zon, MD, FASCO, FACP, and Lynn Schuchter, MD, FASCO, was a significant milestone.
We were particularly delighted to see women oncologists leading the field globally, highlighting ASCO’s commitment to gender equity. Dr. Schuchter’s strategic plan for improving cancer care in low- and middle-income countries—through grants for young African oncologists, ASCO’s training courses for multidisciplinary teams, and a recently signed memorandum of understanding with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer to develop educational opportunities and training meetings in Africa10,11—are all achievements worthy of applause. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Schuchter for her significant contributions to ASCO and wish Dr. Zon the best of luck in her vision for the Society. We sincerely hope Dr. Zon’s presidential tenure will greatly support global oncology and oncologists in low- and middle-income countries.
Visiting leading oncology institutions in the United States and Canada and observing the multidisciplinary approach to cancer care and patient-centered research were additional highlights for many of us. These visits with our mentors provided practical insights and inspiration to enhance cancer care and research in our home countries.
Closing Thoughts
This inspirational experience expanded our horizons, established valuable connections, and significantly contributed to improving patient care and research on a global scale. From the bottom of our hearts, we say, “Thank you” to the magnificent team of ASCO and Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, the commanders of the IDEA 2024 army (Vanessa Sarchet and Ariella Gould), our mentors, donors, sponsors, and everyone who believes in global oncology. We are actively engaged in working together toward improved care and research in low- and middle-income countries. Stay tuned—there’s more to come!
DISCLOSURE: The authors reported no conflicts of interest. The opinions shared are their own and not those of their affiliated institutions.
REFERENCES
1. Conquer Cancer Grants & Awards. Available at https://conferences.asco.org/am/conquer-cancer-grants-awards. Accessed August 21, 2024.
2. El Bairi K, Najem S, Chowdhury AR, et al: Conflict of interest disclosure in oncology: Preliminary insights from the global ONCOTRUST-1 cross-sectional study. JCO Glob Oncol 10:e2400167, 2024.
3. Shrestha R: A study of risk factors and clinico-pathological profile of patients with cervical cancer at BPKIHS: A descriptive cross-sectional study. J Clin Oncol 42(16 suppl):e17515, 2024.
4. Sargsyan A, Zohrabyan D, Safaryan L, et al: Disparities and outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies in LMICs: Retrospective study on current state, efficacy, and challenges in Armenia. J Clin Oncol 42(16 suppl):e23315, 2024.
5. Abuladze M, Surguladze T, Kekelia E, et al: Impact of quality of life and geographic distance on radiation adherence in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer residing in rural areas. J Clin Oncol 42(16 suppl):e13512, 2024.
6. Sharma A, Sharma A, Thakar A, et al: Role of celecoxib in reducing cognitive impairment in patients receiving definitive chemoradiation for head and neck carcinoma: A phase II randomized placebo controlled trial (CELCI-HN study). J Clin Oncol 42(16 suppl):TPS12150, 2024.
7. Thambamroong T, Seetalarom K, Saichaemchan S, et al: Curcumin add-on improves quality of life in patients with locally or advanced head and neck cancer receiving nutritional intervention. J Clin Oncol 42(16 suppl):e24051, 2024.
8. Majumdar KS, Seenivasagam RK, Malhotra M, et al: Can elective neck dissection for oral cancers be planned based on depth of invasion? J Clin Oncol 42(16 suppl):e18042, 2024.
9. El Bairi K, Omar A, Saadi M, et al: We have an IDEA: United in the fight against cancer. The ASCO Post, May 25, 2024.
10. Schuchter L: ASCO’s strategic plan for cancer care in LMICs [video]. Available at https://ecancer.org/en/video/11756-asco-s-strategic-plan-for-cancer-care-in-lmics. Accessed August 21, 2024.
11. Cavallo J: Dr. Lynn M. Schuchter makes the art of oncology and cancer care central to her ASCO presidential term. ASCO Connection, July 7, 2023. Available at https://connection.asco.org/magazine/features/dr-lynn-m-schuchter-makes-art-oncology-and-cancer-care-central-her-asco. Accessed August 21, 2024.
IDEA AWARDEES
Khalid El Bairi, MD
Faculty of Medical Sciences
University of Mohammed VI Polytechnic
Ben Guerir, Morocco
Myriam Saadi, MD
Medical Oncology
Abderrahmen Mami Hospital of Ariana
Tunis, Tunisia
Karishma Sharma, MD
Department of Hematology and Oncology
Aga Khan University Hospital
Nairobi, Kenya
Matheus Andrade, MD
Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo–ICESP-FMUSP
São Paulo, Brazil
Sofia Vidaurre Mendes, MD
Institute D’or of Research and Education (IDOR)
Oncology D’or
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Abeid Omar, MD
Kenyatta University Teaching Referral
and Research Hospital
Nairobi, Kenya
Amalya Sargsyan, MD
Adult Solid Tumor and Chemotherapy Clinic
Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center
Yerevan, Armenia
Lily Gloria Tagoe, MD
Department of Child Health
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
Kinjal Shankar Majumdar, MS, MCh
Department of Head & Neck Surgery
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Manipal, India
David Lee, MD
Department of Clinical Oncology
University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mariam Abuladze, MD, PhD
Todua Clinic, Tbilisi Medical Academy
Tbilisi, Georgia
Aparna Sharma, MD
Department of Medical Oncology
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
New Delhi, India
Tawasapon Thambamroong, MD
Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine
Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine
Bangkok, Thailand
Shama Pandey, MD
Department of Clinical Oncology, Bir Hospital
National Academy of Medical Sciences
Kathmandu, Nepal
Pankaj Singhai, MD
Department of Palliative and Supportive Medicine
Sri Aurobindo University
Indore, India
Emmanuella Amoako, MD
Clinical Affairs
Yemaachi Biotech
Accra, Ghana
Adekunle E. Sajo, MD
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Marina Čalamać, MD
Daily Chemotherapy Hospital
Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia
Belgrade, Serbia
Girum Tessema Zingeta, MD
Intermediate Hospital Oshakati
Ministry of Health and Social Services, Oshakati
Oshana, Namibia
Long Nguyen, MD
Vietnam National Cancer Hospital
Hanoi, Vietnam
Haimanot K. Alemu, MD
Oncology Unit, St. Paul’s Hospital
Millennium Medical College
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
HebatAllah Mahmoud, MD
Clinical Oncology Department
Asyut University Hospital
Asyut, Egypt
Christina V. Malichewe, MD, MMED
Department of Clinical Oncology
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Dar Es Salam, Tanzania
Ramesh Shrestha, MD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences
Dharan, Nepal
Aigul Semetei Kyzy, MD
International Higher School of Medicine
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Ghazal Tansir, MD
Medical Oncology
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
New Delhi, India
Mary Antonette Ong, MD
Philippine Society of Medical Oncology
Quezon City, Philippines
Vivek Ghosh, MD
Department of Clinical Oncology
Birat Medical College Teaching Hospital
Biratnagar, Nepal
