
2026 ADVOCACY SUMMIT
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 | 09:30 - 17:00
The Summit is free to attend, however, registration is required.
Please only complete registration if you will be attending the Summit in person.
SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT
IGCS-IGCAN invites all advocates involved in gynecologic cancer to submit an abstract for consideration for the IGCS-IGCAN 2026 Advocacy Summit taking in Montreal, Canada on October 3.
All accepted submissions will require an e-poster. A subset will also be selected for oral presentation or featured printed poster presentation.
Review the abstract submission guidelines before submitting to ensure your work is considered. A submission checklist is available to help guide you through the process.
We invite you to submit abstracts on the topics:
- Patient Advocacy & Community Engagement
- Awareness & Education
- Global Health, Equity, and Access
- Patient-Centered Care & Survivorship
- Research & Clinical Trial Involvement
- Prevention & Screening
- Support Networks & Community Organizations
- Policy Development
- Tumor-Specific Advocacy
(Cervical Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Endometrial & Uterine Cancer, Vulvar & Vaginal Cancer, Rare Cancer)

The deadline to submit is May 25, 2026.
The text for both the abstract and poster should be organized into four section headers as follows:
- Introduction/Problem
A brief statement identifying the issue or gap being addressed, includes relevant background information and contexts that establishes the importance of advocacy work.
- Stakeholders
Identify the key individuals, groups, or organizations involved in or affected by this issue.
- Engagement
Describe the methods, strategies, or activities used to engage stakeholders and address the problem. This may include awareness campaigns, community outreach, policy initiatives, educational programs, or patient involvement efforts.
- Results (including ongoing)
A summary of the outcomes and findings resulting from the advocacy work, includes measurable impacts, changes in policy or practice, lessons learned, and implications for future advocacy, research, or healthcare delivery. This section for advocacy posters should focus more on lessons learned and potential takeaways for future projects that others can utilize and learn from. Results should be shared in form format including graph, picture, table, writing statement, other forms, etc.
SUMMIT CO-CHAIRS

DR. TRACEY ADAMS
South Africa
IGCS/IGCAN Advocacy Vice Chair

DR. SHANNON SALVADOR
Canada
Associate Professor at McGill University and President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada
Read bio

CIDALIA SLUCE
Canada
National Manager for the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada
Read bio

ALVINA NADEEM
Canada
Stage 1 ovarian cancer survivor and Ovarian Cancer Canada Board Member
Read bio
Alvina Nadeem is a professional engineer (P.Eng.), change management consultant and certified executive coach whose work focuses on healthcare transformation, systems thinking, and human-centered design. With more than 15 years of experience across engineering, digital transformation, and organizational change, she brings a systems perspective to complex challenges in healthcare and other sectors.
Following her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2023, Alvina began integrating her professional background in systems change with her experience navigating cancer care. This shift led her to become involved in research, advocacy, and governance efforts aimed at improving how cancer systems are designed and experienced.
Alvina serves on the Board of Directors of Ovarian Cancer Canada and the Quebec Cancer Coalition, and is a member of the Public Advisory Council of Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN Canada). She also collaborates with researchers as a patient partner in research with Ovarian Cancer Canada, contributing to projects focused on strengthening patient–researcher collaboration in ovarian cancer research.






Previous Patient Summits
Previous Patient Summits:
2025 IGCS-IGCAN Gynecologic Cancer Survivor-Caregiver Summit
Virtual Event
September 27, 2025
2024 IGCS-IGCAN Gynecologic Cancer Survivor-Caregiver Summit
Dublin, Ireland
October 15, 2024
Click here to view advocacy posters
2023 Virtual Advocacy Survivor Caregiver Summit
Virtual Event
September 25, 2023
2022 Advocacy Survivor Caregiver Summit
New York City, USA
September 28, 2022
2021 Virtual Advocacy Survivor-Caregiver Summit: Connected & Empowered
Virtual Event
September 25, 2021
2020 Survivor-Caregiver Public Summit: Women4Women
Virtual Event
September 26, 2020
Yes to Empowerment: Survivor-Caregiver Symposium
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
September 21, 2019
Eriko-Aotani Patient-Caregiver Symposium
Kyoto, Japan
September 13, 2018
Ovarian Cancer Patient Summit
Lisbon, Portugal
October 28-29, 2016
Knowledge is Power Gynaecological Cancer Forum
Melbourne, Australia
November 8, 2014
Ovarian Cancer Symposium
Vancouver, Canada
October 14, 2012

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