Uganda Fellows Complete Training

April 26, 2021 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

Congratulations to three fellows from the Uganda Cancer Institute for completing the IGCS Gynecologic Oncology Global Curriculum & Mentorship Program!

Dr. Pius Mulamira
Uganda Cancer Institute
Fellowship Training Completed: 2021

“I am so grateful to my mentors for your commitment to us and the program. I remain eager to learn and grow even more with your continued guidance and counsel in my career. The program has empowered me to make better decisions and judgement in the care of my patients. I am indebted to you all.”

Dr. Julius Nkalubo
Uganda Cancer Institute
Fellowship Training Completed: 2021

“Thank you all for the support. This has been one of the most impactful academic journeys I have experienced.”

Dr. Martin Origa
Uganda Cancer Institute
Fellowship Training Completed: 2021

“The IGCS Fellowship program has profoundly expanded my skill and knowledge toolkit which will definitely and positively impact my lifelong clinical practice.”

The Global Curriculum was established in 2017 under the leadership of then-President, Michael Quinn. It is a comprehensive two-year education and training program designed for regions around the world that do not currently have formal training in gynecologic oncology. Click here to learn more about the program.

Congratulations to Drs. Mulamira, Nkalubo, and Origa on achieving this important milestone.

Dr. Paula Lee, Gynecologic Oncologist at Duke University School of Medicine (USA) and International Mentor for the Uganda Cancer Institute congratulates the recently trained fellows:
“I am extremely proud of Pius, Julius, and Martin for their accomplishments and completion of the fellowship. They have made many sacrifices to achieve their professional goals to improve the care and outcome for women with gynecologic cancers. Their success is also a reflection of the dedication of the local mentors, especially during this past year when international mentors have not been allowed to travel due to the COVID19 pandemic. The unusual challenges have been an opportunity for growth and for local leadership to recognize the importance of paving a path for the local mentors to lead this training site in gynecologic oncology. As an external mentor, I am grateful for IGCS, the local mentors and leaders, all the faculty participating in our ECHO Tumor Board sessions, and of course to all the fellows. Congratulations Pius, Julius, and Martin!”

Volunteer to Support IGCS Mentorship & Training Programs

We are always looking for volunteer leaders of all disciplines to support our mentorship and training programs. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or contributing to our virtual tumor boards, please contact Susan Ralph at susan.ralph@igcs.org.

See all the IGCS Fellows who have completed training since 2019.

Nominations for Distinguished Advocacy Award

April 19, 2021 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

Advocacy Award Nominations Email Banner 1000x300

The Annual IGCS Distinguished Advocacy Award recognizes advocates and/or advocacy organizations that provide active, dedicated service to patients-survivors, families, caregivers, and communities—at a local, regional, or international level. The Award, reserved for those most persistently engaged in the fight against gynecologic and other cancers,

recognizes those currently engaged in activities and projects that tangibly provide benefit to patient-survivor communities
highlights best practices and outstanding individuals and organizations in various settings throughout the world
inspires others to engage so generously

Annually, IGCS honors up to three individuals and organizations from different regions of the world, and special consideration is given to those who collaborate beyond their community or country of residence. Award recipients will

receive complimentary registration to virtually attend the 2021 IGCS Annual Global Meeting (August 30 – September 2)
be recognized at the Global Meeting during the Opening Ceremony and during the Survivor-Caregiver Symposium (awardees will be asked to record a 2- minute acceptance speech)
receive a plaque in recognition of the Award
be highlighted on the Advocacy pages of the IGCS website

Accepting Nominations for 2021

IGCS is currently accepting nominations for its 2021 Distinguished Advocacy Award. The deadline for receipt of nominations for the 2021 Award is May 7, 2021, at 11:59 pm EST. Award recipients will be determined by a Selection Committee with IGCS Council consultation. In selecting award recipients, we will consider global distribution of the award and regional ableness; however, these will not be the primary considerations. We accept self-nominations.

Award recipients must be patients-survivors, family members, caregivers, or other individuals who make outstanding contribution(s) to the patient-survivor community and be engaged in one or more of the following areas:

advocating for enhanced cancer awareness and prevention
providing or advocating for the delivery of the highest-quality cancer care
supporting achievement of the highest quality of life possible (to include support or palliative care)
implementing program(s) that support and/or advance health equity
collaborating with other advocates and/or advocacy organizations to benefit patients-survivors across geographic boundaries and demographics

Nominees do not have to belong to an established organization but must be active in their own community and/or beyond. In each calendar year, only one person or organization from a region can receive the Award.

Download Nomination Form

Submit Completed Nomination Form

If you have questions or need assistance, please email the IGCS Director of Global Outreach and Engagement, Mary (Dicey) Jackson Scroggins at dicey.scroggins@igcs.org.

Previous Recipients

Nathalie Dauphin McKenzie, MD & Innovating Health International
USA/Haiti

Runcie Chidebe
& Project PINK BLUE
Nigeria

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance
USA

Venus Ginés
USA

Miho Katagi
Japan

Benda Kithaka and Women4Cancer Early Detection & Treatment
Kenya

Gynecologic Oncology of Canada Partners with IGCS

April 12, 2021 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

We are pleased to announce that The Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC) has joined the IGCS Strategic Alliance Partnership. IGCS and GOC are aligned in many ways including the GOC’s purpose, to improve the care of women with or at risk of gynecologic cancer by raising standards of practice, encouraging ongoing research, promoting innovation in prevention, care and discovery, and advancing awareness.

Gynecologic oncology was recognized in 1989 by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, due in large part to GOC’s ongoing commitment to the development of practice guidelines, training standards and research goals in women’s reproductive cancer care. Subspecialty certification examinations by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada began in 2010.

Today over 216 of all gynecologic oncologists practicing in Canada are members of GOC. Its membership reflects the multi-disciplinary approach to cancer care and includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, fellows-in-training, residents, nurses specializing in gynecologic cancer care, scientists and pharmacists who devote a significant amount of their practice to the treatment and research of gynecological cancer.

GOC members will now benefit from dual membership and gain access to IGCS Member benefits such as the Early Career Research & Publications Network, the online member Education Portal (including the new Pathology Corner), AAGL’s SurgeryU video library, discounted registration for the IGCS Annual Global Meeting, and access to our online member community Social Link to name a few.

Canada, with a population of 38 million, is the largest country in the Western hemisphere and the second-largest country in the world after Russia. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer affecting women in Canada with cervical cancer being the number-four cause of cancer-related deaths after breast, lung and colorectum cancer.

Dr. Helen Mackay, GOC’s President, had this to say: “At GOC, we are ready to push the envelope by developing new ways of thinking, involving the next generation of healthcare professionals with an interest in gyn cancers and partnering with like-minded organizations such as IGCS. Most importantly, we aim to also include women in the discussion to find novel solutions and work towards the eradication of gynecologic cancers. We are excited for this next chapter in our history.”

IGCS President, Dr. Robert Coleman echoes the sentiment of the GOC and feels “having GOC has a strategic alliance partner allows IGCS to further our work under our new health equity statement. We welcome our Canadian colleagues and look forward to our great partnership.”

We look forward to our partnership with GOC, to serve the gynecologic cancer professionals in the region, unite them with our global community, and to find ways to achieve our common goals to fight gynecologic cancers through training, education, and public awareness.

Global Health Equity

January 24, 2021 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

The International Gynecologic Cancer Society stands at the forefront in the global fight against gynecologic cancers, supporting and sponsoring programs “to enhance the care of women with gynecologic cancer worldwide through education and training and public awareness.”

Consistent with this mission and the current heightened global awareness of, and attention to, social and health inequity, IGCS is issuing this statement outlining its position on these important matters. Most succinctly put, IGCS supports all who espouse social and health equity around the globe.

Our statement provides clear context and specificity to our longstanding and forward-moving embrace of these important social justice and human right imperatives. We hope that it stimulates dialogue/discourse, and we welcome your comments. Most importantly, we hope that it prompts programming and actions that improve the lives of girls, women, and communities worldwide.

We would like to thank the working group for drafting the statement:

Dr. Andreas Obermair (Australia)
Dr. Marie Plante (Canada)
Dr. Michael Quinn (Australia)
Dr. Ritu Salani (USA)
Ms. Mary (Dicey) Jackson Scroggins (USA)

To continue the discourse, add to the literature, and prompt discussion and most importantly action, IGCS is currently drafting an article focused on global health disparities. The article will:

elucidate IGCS’ position more completely
site and explore specific systemic patterns and institutions that support or perpetuate inequities
highlight areas of women’s well-being that go beyond gynecologic cancer but are integral to their health and that of their communities
offer an action plan for moving forward.

In the coming weeks, we will review IGCS operations and programming for areas of potential improvement relative to issues of global health equity. Where appropriate and needed, we will enhance or restructure these areas such that they more explicitly align with our core belief that global health equity is a social justice and human rights imperative—one that we fully support.

After these initial assessments, we will regularly monitor programming and new program development for consistency with our core values summarized in the statement and with the attainment of documentable enhanced global health equity. Of course, we will keep members informed of this ongoing effort, programming adjustments, and progress in this important work. And, we will need and request your help in this organization-wide commitment to global health equity.

Statement

Global Health Equity: A Social Justice and Human Rights Imperative

IGCS Supports All Who Espouse Social and Health Equity Around the Globe

As a core principle, the concept of global health equity—the absence of systematic disparities in health to allow the opportunity for every person to attain her (or his) full health potential—is embedded in the mission of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) and is reflected in the breadth of our membership and the design and implementation of our programs.

With over 3,100 members from low-, middle-, and high-income countries around the globe, IGCS has purposefully developed an inclusive membership framework that encourages interaction and growth across diverse social, political, and health care systems. Through this framework, IGCS connects our members with specific needs to those with corresponding resources and programs; forms partnerships; educates, trains, and mentors clinicians, survivors-patients, and caregivers; and otherwise enhances benefits to women not only in optimal but also in the most challenging circumstances and environments.

Since our establishment in 1987 as a forum for the worldwide exchange of scientific information, IGCS has grown as a model for global health equity, and consistent with that history and our current operation, IGCS supports individuals and organizations meaningfully engaged, at whatever level, in the journey toward social and health equity worldwide.

As we lead the global fight against gynecologic cancers, we do so with the clear understanding that prompting, promoting, and inspiring maximum achievable health outcomes for every girl and woman (and thus every community)—wherever and under whatever circumstance she might live—are fundamental to the social justice and human rights imperative of global health equity, irrespective of

national origin or political system
location of residence/citizenship
race or ethnicity
religion
sexual orientation and/or gender identity
local, national, or regional leadership
sociodemographic factors
geopolitics
any other intervening factor

In keeping with this understanding and by focusing our work and service where they can have the greatest impact on health and well-being, IGCS supports the empowerment of girls and women—and the health professionals who serve them—so they can attain the best health and life outcomes specific to but not limited to gynecologic cancers.

In the coming weeks and months, IGCS will review our programming. Furthermore, as an act of social responsibility, we will continually review the health equity-explicit initiatives within our portfolio and identify the need for new initiatives where none exist. After all, our mission “to enhance the care of women with gynecologic cancer worldwide through education and training and public awareness” and our demonstrated commitment to global health equity explicitly require as much.

Download PDF of this statement.

Season’s Greetings from IGCS

December 21, 2020 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

Dear IGCS Members and Friends,

This year has been like no other in our lifetime. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by the coronavirus and I would like to express my gratitude to those of you who are frontline workers and caregivers who have selflessly provided care to the most vulnerable in impossible circumstances. You give your strength to so many. I would also like to recognize and applaud the scientists and researchers within our community who dedicate their careers to scientific innovation and the development of life-saving technologies and therapies. Your work is so important.

I think this year it has been more apparent than ever that we are all connected regardless of our beliefs, culture, or geography. I am heartened by what I have seen this year – the global collaboration, support, and communication that has continued despite our inability to gather in the same rooms. The challenges of this year jumpstarted our virtual programs which allowed us to reach thousands of healthcare professionals, advocates, patient-survivors, and collaborate with organizational partners from all over the world. Many of you are new to the IGCS community – I am so glad you are here.

Thank you for participating in our virtual events whether it be our Surgical Film Festivals, Virtual Tumor Boards, Global Patient Perspectives Roundtables, and of course the 2020 Annual Global Meeting and the Survivor-Caregiver Public Summit. Through it all, I have seen how you have been supportive of one another. What a comfort it has been to know that we were never alone; that others were facing similar challenges and that we could find solutions to shared problems together. Thank you for your dedication, collaboration, and courage.

As 2020 comes to an end and knowing that this holiday season may not be as festive as previous years, I wish you moments of peace amid difficult situations, connections with family and friends even if you cannot touch, and the comfort of warm memories of holidays past. We are seeing glimmers of promise that the pandemic will wane, so let’s welcome 2021 with hope.
Thank you for being a part of our community. I wish you all a safe and joyful holiday season and may the New Year bring you good health and happiness.

Sincerely,

Mary C. Eiken, MS
IGCS CEO

Congratulations to IGCS Global Curriculum Graduates!

November 11, 2020 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

Congratulations to three fellows from Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique completing the IGCS Gynecologic Oncology Global Curriculum & Mentorship Program!

Veja esta mensagem em Portugues.

Dr. Dércia Changule
Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique

Dr. Siro Daud
Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique

Dr. Ricardina Rangeiro
Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique

Congratulations to Drs. Changule, Daud, and Rangeiro on achieving this important milestone. They will be the first formally trained gynecologic oncologists in Mozambique.

To learn more about the program, please download the 2019 Annual Report.

Those who would like to learn more about how to contribute to the mentorship and training aspects of this program, please email mary.eiken@igcs.org.

Dr. Dércia Changule
Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique
Fellowship Training Completed: 2020

“Thank you very much to the whole IGCS team. I am aware that with the program many Mozambican women will be benefited, (during the training, many Mozambican women with gynecological cancer received the appropriate treatment), it is our duty to continue treat them properly.

Special thanks to Drs.: Kathleen Schmeler, Ellen Baker, Mila Pontremoli Salcedo, Geórgia Fontes Cintra, Renato Moretti, Andre Lopes and Marcelo Vieira who were engaged to train us (I am sure that we can always count with you), you trained us with professionalism and goodwill, in a country that did not even have an oncologist gynaecologist. Thank you, amazing team!”

Dr. Siro Daud
Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique
Fellowship Training Completed: 2020

“The IGCS GC Program changed the approach of diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic malignancies in Mozambique. Our training played a key role in this change. I am happy to be part of this program.”

Dr. Ricardina Rangeiro
Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique
Fellowship Training Completed: 2020

“It was a great and unique opportunity to be part of this program. I will be forever grateful to the mentors and all the staff involved …Mozambique is now part of Gynecology Oncology team!!!”

We would like to sincerely thank their local mentors in Mozambique: Drs. Elvira Luis and Magda Ribeiro as well as our six volunteer international mentors: Drs. André Lopes (Instituto Brasileiro de Controle do Câncer e Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo), Georgia Fontes-Cintra (Hospital Sírio-Libanes), Kathleen Schmeler (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center), Marcelo Vieira (Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein), Mila Pontremoli Salcedo (Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre/Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre/ The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center) e Renato Moretti (Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein).

See more about the program in Mozambique.

2021 Membership Renewal

October 21, 2020 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

It’s that time of year! If your membership is set to expire on December 31st, please make sure to renew so that we may continue to serve you in 2021.

On behalf of the IGCS leadership, I want to thank all of you in advance for paying your 2021 membership dues. We know you have other organizations that you belong to and IGCS is very grateful for your willingness to continue your membership with us. Dues allow organizations, like IGCS, to fund important programs that are essential to you, our members, and for you to take advantage of the many member benefits offered.

IGCS, being a member driven organization, relies on the members to support us in many ways – including renewing your membership.

Please sign in to your member account and submit your membership dues for 2021 or pay in advance up to three years. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the IGCS Membership Manager, Cathy Fearing at cathy.fearing@igcs.org.

As always, we thank you for your continued dedication. We look forward to serving you for another year!

Mary Eiken, MS
IGCS CEO

2020 Award Recipients

August 19, 2020 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

These award recipients will be recognized at the upcoming xDigital Annual Global Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society which will be held in a fully digital setting this September 10-13, 2020. The Awards Ceremony will take place during the Opening Ceremony on September 10th at 2:00 p.m. UCT.

Please join us in congratulating them on their achievements!

2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Monica Bacon, RN
Canada

Co-Founder of the Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup (GCIG), Ms. Bacon is a recipient of the IGCS 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for her lifelong dedication to women’s health and serving the gynecologic cancer community though nursing, clinical trial coordination and international team building, advocacy, and volunteerism.

2020 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient

Rahel Ghebre, MD, MPH
USA

For her mentorship and leadership with gynecologic oncology sub-specialty training programs in Ethiopia, specifically at Addis Ababa University and initiating a program at St. Paul’s Millenium Medical College. This award recognizes a deep commitment and dedication to gynecologic oncology, exemplifying the core components of teaching and education.

2020 Distinguished Advocacy Award Recipients

Runcie C.W. Chidebe & Project PINK BLUE
Nigeria
For outstanding advocacy throughout Nigeria and in global forums, including founding Project PINK BLUE—an organization focused on cancer advocacy, oncology training, and research—as well as influencing the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, developing numerous programs to serve the most needy, and changing cancer awareness and care throughout Nigeria

Nathalie Dauphin McKenzie, MD (USA) &
Innovating Health International (Haiti)
For courageous, ongoing advocacy for survivors-patients in the USA and Haiti, including traveling to Haiti several times a year—at great personal risk—to perform life-saving surgeries (otherwise unavailable) and to train oncologists to do the same, currently primarily through Innovating Health International, a Port-au-Prince based women’s cancer center, where no patient is ever turned away because of treatment costs

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance
For dedicated service to advocate and research communities, as the largest global, non-government funder of ovarian cancer research, having raised over $100 million for research/services and developed and conducted extensive advocacy programs including Survivors Teaching Students® through which ovarian cancer survivors and family members have trained/reached nearly 100,000 medical and other health professions students

2020 IJGC Award Recipients

The International Journal of Gynecological Cancer (IJGC) is a joint publication of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) and the European Society of Gynaecological Cancer (ESGO). The IJGC Awards are presented at the IGCS and ESGO Annual Meetings on alternate years. This year, the IJGC Awards will be presented at the 2020 IGCS Annual Global Meeting.

Most Downloaded Paper Award (2020)

Gloria Salvo, MD
for the paper titled
“Updates and management algorithm for neuroendocrine tumors of the uterine cervix”

Editor’s Choice Award (2020)

David Cibula, MD, PhD
for the paper titled
“European Society of Gynaecological Oncology quality indicators for surgical treatment of cervical cancer”

View Top 10 Journal Reviewers of 2020

CEO Update: COVID-19 Survey Results

July 23, 2020 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

Dear Members and Friends,

In this CEO Update, I’d like to share with you the results from our recent COVID-19 survey, provide an update on IGCS 2020 abstracts and our upcoming Surgical Film Festival with AAGL, and remind readers of the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer to complete the 2020 readership survey.

COVID-19 Survey Results

We would like to thank our members for taking the time to complete our international survey of gynecologic cancer care providers to help us better understand the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care in the initial months of the pandemic. An executive summary of the results is now available.

Download COVID-19 Survey Results Executive Summary

We received responses from a total of 270 participants from 62 countries, with representation largely from North America, South America, and Asia. 83% were gynecologic oncologists and the rest included medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and nurses. The primary practice of 97% of participants is in clinical work and 91% work in an urban setting. 70% work in academic medical centers while 26% work in community hospitals.

From the survey responses, we learned that there is a definite and urgent need for the IGCS to comprehensively evaluate and understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gynecologic cancer practice and women’s cancer care. This understanding goes to the raison d’être of the Society in supporting its membership through education, advocacy, and political activism for women living with cancer all over the world. If you are interested in informational resources IGCS has compiled related to cancer care and COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 page for resources, articles and recordings of educational tumor boards.

I would also like to thank Dr. Joseph Ng, IGCS Council Member and Chair of the Mentorship and Training Committee for his work in developing the survey questions and Dr. Li Min Lim for analyzing and compiling the executive summary.

The IGCS will be diving deeper and into some of the comments and responses you have provided. We intend to share what we find on these deep dives across our entire suite of information-distribution platforms including social media and in our society journal, the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer.

IGCS 2020 xDigital Annual Global Meeting

Abstract and Surgical Film Submission for the IGCS 2020 Annual Global Meeting closed on July 15, 2020 at 11:59 pm PDT. We are grateful to have received over 500 abstracts and surgical films.

Late Breaking Abstracts will be accepted from July 25-August 15. Please note that the late breaking submission site is reserved for high priority data that was not fully available at the time of original submission deadline on July 15. Other submissions will not be considered for acceptance.

There is still plenty of time to register for IGCS 2020. Learn more about the meeting which will be 100% digital. Session details will be released soon but until then, please view the program overview to see all the great sessions that will be offered.

IGCS/AAGL Surgical Film Festival

The next IGCS/AAGL Film Festival covering surgical complications will be held July 29, 2020 at 5:00 pm CDT. This online event is free but registration is required. View the program outline and speakers.

IJGC Readership Survey (July 2020)

The International Journal of Gynecological Cancer is conducting a readership survey to collect feedback from IGCS members and subscribers regarding journal content and educational offerings such as podcasts, video articles and different article types.

Please complete the IJGC survey here.

In closing, I’d like to thank the numerous volunteer leaders who allow IGCS to achieve our goals and better the care for women with gynecologic malignancies.

Sincerely,

Mary Eiken, MS
IGCS CEO

Welcome, SASGO!

June 15, 2020 | International Gynecologic Cancer Society

We are so pleased to announce that the South African Society of Gynaecologic Oncology (SASGO) has joined the IGCS Strategic Alliance Partnership.

SASGO Members will now benefit from dual membership and gain access to IGCS Member benefits such as the Early Career Research & Publications Network, the online member Education Portal (including the new Pathology Corner), AAGL’s SurgeryU video library, discounted registration for the IGCS Annual Global Meeting, and access to our online member community Social Link.

Greta Dreyer, who serves as SASGO President and as an IGCS Council Member, was instrumental in communicating with SASGO Council and Members and sharing feedback with IGCS leadership to discuss challenges and opportunities to collaborate and share resources to improve treatment of women affected by gynecologic cancers in South Africa.

SASGO was founded in 2006 to promote excellence in gynaecologic cancer care through training, research, and quality of care. They also advocate on behalf of women in South Africa by liaising with concerned governmental and non-governmental groupings, institutes for training and examination, authorities, and related advisory and research groups.

South Africa, with a population of 55 million, is a multiethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures and religions with 11 official languages. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, breast and cervical cancer are the most prevalent cancers affecting women in South Africa with cervical cancer being number one cause of cancer-related deaths. Vulvar, uterine, and ovarian cancer are also among the top eight most prevalent cancers in the country.

We look forward to our partnership with SASGO, to serve the gynecologic cancer professionals in the region, unite them with our global community, and to find ways to achieve our common goals to fight gynecologic cancers through training, education and public awareness.