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.