2024 Board of Directors Candidates

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

Personal Statement:
I am a Director of the KazIOR, President of the Kazakhstan Cancer Society, Professor, PhD, MD, Active member of Kazakhstan National Academy of Sciences, IGCS Council for Asia and Oceania, member of ASCO International Affairs Committee, contributor to the Lancet Commission on Cancer and Health System, active participating member of ESMO and UICC. I have more than 30 years’ work experience in cancer care services.

IGCS has proved itself as a powerful and motivating organization, which has a significant impact on the overall development of gynecological cancer care globally. Having joined the IGCS over a decades ago as a member, I have been increasingly engaged in its activities, which lead to my participation as an organizer of the IGCS regional conference held in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2017.

Since then, we have developed strong educational programs with IGCS experts while engaging a large network of gynecological oncologists from all regions of Kazakhstan, Central Asian countries and selected Caucasus countries into the knowledge exchange and learning process. We have conducted tumor boards and didactics in the framework of Project ECHO, coordinated several regional meetings under the auspice of IGCS, where Kazakhstan was a platform to strengthen the educational relationships of a majority of Central Asian countries and Georgian Gyn Oncologists with leading IGCS international experts.

For the last several years, Kazakhstan has been increasing the landscape of IGCS’ impact in the Eurasian region. As a result of successful cooperation and mentoring, a Gynecological Session of Congress of Kazakhstan oncologist radiologists was held under the auspices of IGCS in December 2020 and in April 2023. More than two thousand oncologists from Kazakhstan and multiple neighboring regions as well as international leading experts in gyn cancer fields from all over the world, healthcare professionals, representatives of non-profit and non-governmental organizations, press, media, and many other valuable contributors attended the significant regional event.

Thanks to my involvement in the work of IGCS, I have a clear and complete understanding and full commitment to the aims, principles, and values of the IGCS to be applied and to the best capacity. I am dedicated to the promotion of a comprehensive approach to cancer care, from prevention and early detection to rehabilitation and palliative care, on the regional level and internationally, with the focus on countries with limited resources.

I believe that my extensive professional experience and longstanding understanding of the developments in one of largest regions will allow me to contribute to the development of high-standard cancer care services in developing countries and countries with limited resources. It will be my honor to serve IGCS Community as Vice President for the upcoming term.

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

Personal Statement:
The mission of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society is to enhance the care of patients with gynecologic cancer worldwide through education and training and public awareness. My interest to serve as Secretary/Treasurer on the IGCS Board of Directors stems from my alignment with this mission and my desire to make further progress. Educating our constituents, training the next generation of health care providers, and informing the populations that we serve will allow us to offer the best care globally. I feel that my prior and current experiences in these three components of our mission have best prepared me to serve in a leadership role.

One of the highlights of my professional career has been to serve as the co-Program Chair of the 2022 Annual Meeting of the IGCS. It was the first in-person meeting that we have had since the pandemic. For over a year, my co-chair, Audrey Tsunoda, and I worked tirelessly with the IGCS team to have a record-breaking meeting that presented the best research studies, provided the most up to date learning opportunities, and featured world-renowned speakers (including one of the developers of the COVID vaccine). The educational value of such a conference is priceless. Sessions focused on cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries, surgical pearls that help surgeons reproduce the best outcomes regardless of their geographic region, and the most advanced, game-changing systemic therapies. Financially, we had record-breaking industry support that also made the meeting a success. In 2023 and 2024, I have been given the opportunity to work as an advisor on the Annual Meeting. I am committed to our future success.

As an international organization, we need to continue to integrate into our communities and raise awareness about gynecologic oncology. I often lecture to local advocacy groups, including Gilda's Club and the NOCC, on the importance of prevention and overall gynecologic oncology care. I am honored to be a board member for Hearing the Ovarian Cancer Whisper (HOW), a Palm Beach based patient advocacy group. I am also extensively involved with the advocacy group Turn the Towns Teal, which has the primary goal of turning September into the color teal honoring Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.

I have been given the tremendous responsibility and opportunity to serve as the Chair of the Uterine Cancer Awareness Month working group within the IGCS. Our goal has been to turn June into Uterine Cancer Awareness Month. This initiative will have a global impact. Raising community awareness will also aid in improving our philanthropic efforts. This revenue stream is invaluable and necessary to achieve our overall goals. As the Secretary/Treasurer, I plan to build upon prior successes and help to lead our organization into the future. There are so many opportunities to continue to make the IGCS the preeminent society for gynecologic oncology and I plan to take advantage of these opportunities.

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

Personal Statement:
Representation and Collaboration at IGCS: A Vision from Latin America

Being a part of the IGCS as a member of the gynecological oncology community is not only a privilege but also a profound source of motivation both professionally and personally. It is an honor to work alongside a dedicated team that extends knowledge and fosters collaboration on a global scale.

As part of a dynamic research network in Latin America, our goal is to engage actively in global strategies that enhance patient care. By seeking a position on the IGCS Board, I aim to strengthen our representation and boost our contribution to worldwide initiatives. Our commitment is to work tirelessly to educate and empower clinicians and researchers across the globe, advocating for systematic enhancements in care. I place a special focus on developing targeted strategies that are adaptable to the unique challenges faced by low and middle-income regions.

Serving on the IGCS Board of Directors would be an extraordinary opportunity to represent Latin America and the Caribbean. This role is not only exciting and challenging but also deeply gratifying. By uniting our efforts, we can achieve greater advancements in the fight against gynecologic cancers.

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

Personal Statement:
It will be my great honor to serve in the role of board member for Europe in IGCS, a society that I have been an active member of for almost 20 years. Along with ESGO, where I have served as a council member in the period 2017-2021; I have helped to shape and evolve the voice of the gynaecological oncology community worldwide, through the development and launching of practice relevant guidelines, quality indicators, centre accreditation specifications, educational activities, international exchange programmes and crosslinking of national and international gynae oncology societies.

Being originally Greek, but having lived and worked in Germany for 20 years and now living and working in the United Kingdom for 10 years, I have deep knowledge of the significant challenges and conflicts arising from the strong national variations in practice, clear differences in philosophy and mentality, and most importantly the strongly varying healthcare resources and access to care that exist across the different cancer centres and hospitals across the globe. In my previous role as the chair of the Guidelines Committee of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS), chair of the Guidelines Committee of ESGO, and member of the German AGO Ovarian Cancer Group, I have contributed towards homogenising these differences, in an effort to standardize care across Europe, and beyond, reduce inequalities and dilute the impact of the post code lottery effect in patients care.

My vision is to continue promoting excellence in the management of women’s cancers across the globe and to equate differences and variations in practice that lead to suboptimal patients’ outcome. The advocacy vision of IGCS has been continuously evolving in the last decades, promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the global curriculum program for gyn oncology training. Along with optimising outcomes, care, and education at first line, my aim will be to extend efforts and multidisciplinary also in the palliative sector. We must emphasize a global nursing curriculum and education around psychooncological aspects under a holistic umbrella to complement care also at the last stages of our patients' journey. We need to address philanthropy to help our mission particularly around our fellowship programme.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us significant lessons of how we as a gynaecological oncology community can work together diminishing all borders and restrictions for the sake of our patients. I was fortunate to be part of the initiation team that launched the COVIDSurg- Gynaecological Oncology study bringing together colleagues and friends from Europe, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa. We were able to give a strong signal of the camaraderie, collegiality, and spirit of human and professional bonding in unprecedented times of universal crisis. We have identified weaknesses and gaps in the healthcare systems worldwide and ways to address them. My vision will be to take these lessons learnt and networks built, from a dark space into the light and use them to promote excellence across all levels.

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

Personal Statement:
My vision for serving on the IGCS Board of Directors is rooted in a deep commitment to ensuring that every woman facing gynaecological cancer receives the highest standard of care and support, regardless of her circumstances.

1. **Empowerment through Education**: I believe in the power of education to empower women to become active participants in their own healthcare journey. By providing accessible and culturally sensitive education, we can equip women with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their health.

2. **Advocacy for Equity and Access**: I am passionate about advocating for policies and resources that break down barriers to care and ensure equitable access to life-saving treatments and support services for all women, regardless of their background or geographical location.

3. **Holistic Support Services**: Recognizing that gynaecological cancer affects every aspect of a woman's life, I am committed to championing holistic support services that address the emotional and practical needs of women and their families throughout their cancer journey.

4. **Global Collaboration and Partnerships**: I believe in the power of collaboration to amplify our impact and reach even the most underserved communities. By forging strategic partnerships and leveraging resources, we can maximize our efforts to improve outcomes for women facing gynaecological cancer worldwide.

5. **Research and Innovation**: I am dedicated to advancing research and fostering innovation in gynaecological cancer care, with a focus on developing more effective prevention strategies, treatments, and supportive care measures to improve patient outcomes.

6. **Continuous Learning and Capacity Building**: I recognize the importance of ongoing education and training initiatives to enhance clinical capacity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). By investing in the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals, we can ensure that women in need receive high-quality care no matter where they live.

I am inspired by the work that IGCS has accomplished thus far, despite resource constraints, and I am eager to contribute my skills, experience, and passion to furthering the organization's mission. Together, we can transform the landscape of gynaecological cancer care, bringing hope, dignity, and improved outcomes to women around the world.

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

Personal Statement:
IGCS members working in Africa and the Middle East face unique challenges in delivering high quality, equitable patient care to women affected by gynecologic cancers. By applying for the IGCS Board of Directors, I would like to gather with other practitioners in my region to join forces in an effort to learn more about these challenges and understand the landscape of oncology on a regional level.

Cancer in Africa is characterized by late diagnosis, limited access to treatment, and poor patient outcomes. As the burden of gynecologic cancers in the region is still in the rise, together with the other leaders in the region will help IGCS identify the needs of international members; I also plan to facilitate and encourage member involvement in IGCS’s global activities. As a Board Member I will plan to regularly meet with peers in the region in order to:

• Advise IGCS leadership on the needs and challenges of members in our region.
• Help IGCS to identify and adapt programs and services that can be used to address regional challenges.
• Identify opportunities and best practices that could enhance the professional development of members in the region.
• Provide a forum for members of the region to network, collaborate, and work on local solutions.
• Raise awareness of and increase engagement with IGCS opportunities.

As Africa and the Middle East face a shortage in the oncology workforce – from oncologists to radiotherapy technicians, to pharmacists, nurses, medical physicists, and pathologists, we will promote working with health ministries and hospitals to expand, train, and support the oncology workforce, including oncologists, radiotherapy technicians, and pathologists. Also, we will work to improve access to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, diagnostics, and pain relief by shaping the market to function better.

Specialty: Medical Oncology

Personal Statement:
I am a medical oncologist specializing in novel therapies in gynecologic cancers and sexual health after a cancer diagnosis. In addition, I have developed a passion as an advocate in the quest for equity. As the Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Professional Integrity at SWOG and as the Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement at Legorreta Cancer Center, I am responsible for ensuring all stakeholders have the opportunity to be heard and be a part of movements that are aimed at improving care for people with cancer – locally, nationally, and internationally.

I believe these various interests and experiences particularly align with the goals of the IGCS. We can all become better clinicians and better people when we exchange ideas with - and acknowledge the diversity of - others.