December 2016 Issue: ICEC “Essential News” Letter

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The growing trends toward isolationism and xenophobia make efforts of collaboration, person-to-person connectivity and sustainable partnerships such as those of ICEC even more important on a global level. Understanding the issues behind the global trends rather than simple condemnation can be of benefit in helping to improve existing relationships and conditions and to work toward novel approaches that can counterbalance intolerance. Being apolitical and global as well as focusing on cancer that transcends borders, ICEC is in an excellent position to build new models and bridges. As our recent efforts illustrate, we are well on our way to doing just that.

The December issues of the ICEC Essential News Letter of 2016 provides updates from activities over the last five months. Building from a detailed description of the various components and activities in the June 2016 ICEC Essential News Letter (Vol 1, No 2) we provide updates and a progress report. Read the ICEC Essential News Letter…

ICEC hosted second in a series of receptions: “Partnering to Transform Global Cancer Care”

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On October 5, 2016, the International Cancer Expert Corps Board of Directors hosted the second in a series of receptions, “Partnering to Transform Global Cancer Care” at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. The purpose of the event series is to introduce the efforts of the organization to friends and colleagues in the corporate, scientific, governmental and philanthropic communities.

This well-attended event, made possible through the generous financial and in-kind support of Strategic Visions in Healthcare; the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Radiation Medicine Program in Toronto, Ontario; Pfizer, VIA Studios Global and others companies and individuals, attracted a broad range of interested guests. Attendees included representatives from Cancer Africa, Columbia University, Duke Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, International Organization of Medical Physics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Medical College of Wisconsin, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, MIT, Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center, NCI Radiation Research Program, New York-Presbyterian, Nuclear Threat Initiative, NYU Langone Medical Center, Pace University, Pfizer, Seaton Hall University, Starr Foundation, Strategic Visions in Healthcare, UN Coordination Division, United Office for Disarmament Affairs, UPENN, VIA Global Studio, Weill Cornell Medical College, Winthrop University Cancer Center and many others.

The evening was highlighted by a short program which included overviews of several initiatives focused on access to, and the delivery of, global cancer care. Dr. Norm Coleman, Senior Scientific Advisor to the ICEC, set the stage emphasizing the significant burden of non-communicable diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, and that this burden has been recognized by the United Nations and is now a part of its Sustainable Development Goals. Dr. Coleman proffered that the need for transformational change in global cancer care can be addressed by the ICEC’s global mentorship model that leverages opportunities for academics, retirees and healthcare providers in private practice, while also considering new technologies to improve access to care. Referring to the Gap projections stated by the IAEA, “If only one effective radiation treatment unit is commissioned every week, it will take a century to solve this problem”. The shortage of human capital, as well as medical technology, is staggering.

Dr. Nelson Chao, MD, MBA, Director of the Global Cancer Institute at Duke University, reflected on the importance of collaborations in efforts to make substantive improvements in global health initiatives. He highlighted Duke’s efforts across multi-specialty disciplines in Tanzania. This collaboration illustrates the importance of ICEC’s mission and the need to support and sustain this work in LMICs and other challenging environments.

John “Mac” Longo, MD, of the Medical College of Wisconsin described the efforts of radiation oncology residents as members of the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO). These individuals, using their enthusiasm and initiative, have taken the initiative to increase awareness of health care disparities and opportunities to improve the quality of cancer care worldwide. As one of ICEC’s Ellen Lewis Stovall Early Career Leaders, Mac has been instrumental in promoting his recent experiences and successes as part of an expanding global focus.  Mac shared his experiences working with the Walking Forward Program in South Dakota. This successful Cancer Disparities Research Partnership (CDRP) pilot program was initiated by the Radiation Research Program (RRP) within the National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) in 2002 as a novel strategy to address the cancer health disparities that exist in racial, ethnic, minority, and underserved populations within the United States.

Onyinye Balogun, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College, described her efforts focused on Global Health Programs at the National Center for Oncology in Yerevan, Armenia and at the Libreville Cancer Institute in Libreville, Gabon. Onyi shared some of the surprising conditions often found in existing healthcare centers in LMICs and the challenges faced trying to implement protocol- or guideline-based care. Working with local healthcare providers, Onyi focused on designing and delivering a training curriculum to transition radiation oncologists, therapists and medical physicists from delivering 2-D Radiotherapy to the safe and effective delivery of 3D- Conformal and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy where there previously had been none. In addition, Onyi painted a chilling picture illustrating the critical need for mentoring partnerships for fledgling healthcare professionals who currently have little-to-no support. Though Onyi has experienced many trials and tribulations, her singular efforts and the efforts of others have been met with enthusiasm from in-country healthcare providers and have served as a catalyst to make a significant difference in the delivery of cancer care in these two countries.

Lastly, Silvia C. Formenti, MD, the Chair of Radiation Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College and Radiation Oncologist-in-Chief at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, emphasized the enormous disparities in the delivery of healthcare and the importance of ICEC and other similar efforts and organizations to succeed. Stressing that while many people recognize the urgency to transform the delivery of global cancer care, the many small effective programs that currently exist do so in numbers far below the scope required.  The ICEC is well positioned to expand and pair its mentoring network of expert healthcare providers with global partners to make immediate significant measured improvements in cancer care.

October 5, 2016, Reception – Organizations Represented
Cancer Africa
Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB)
Columbia University
Duke Cancer Institute
Glenmede
Harvard School of Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
International Organization of Medical Physics
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School
Medical College of Wisconsin
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
MIT
Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center
Mount Sinai Hospital
NCI Radiation Research Program
New York-Presbyterian/Queens
Nuclear Threat Initiative
NYU School of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center Perlmutter Cancer Center
Pace University
Pfizer
Seaton Hall University
Starr Foundation
Strategic Visions in Healthcare
United Nations Coordination Division
United Office for Disarmament Affairs
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
VIA Global Studio
Weill Cornell Medical College

 

 

ICEC hosted first in a series of receptions: “Partnering to Transform Global Cancer Care”

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ICEC Board of Directors 2016

ICEC Board of Directors      From left to right: Norm Coleman, Harmar Brereton, Monique Mansoura, David Kramer, Donna O’Brien, David Pistenmaa, Larry Roth, Nina Wendling, Richard Slowinski (Baker & McKenzie) and Barry Alperin. Missing: Bhadrasain Vikram, Nelson Chao, Daniel Petereit, Tim Williams and Silvia Formenti

 

On June 1, 2016, the International Cancer Expert Corps Board of Directors hosted the first in a series of receptions, “Partnering to Transform Global Cancer Care” at the law offices of Baker & McKenzie, LLP in Washington, DC. The purpose of the event series is to introduce the efforts of the organization to friends and colleagues in the corporate, scientific, governmental and philanthropic communities.  The venue, perched just above Lafayette Park overlooking the White House, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial, served as an idyllic setting for the ICEC’s first of several introductory gatherings.

This well-attended event, made possible through the generous support of Baker &McKenzie, LLP and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Ontario, attracted a broad range of individuals. Attendees included representatives from the Alberta First Nations Information Governance Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital- Taiwan (CGMH), Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH), National Nuclear Security Administration, National Cancer Institute (NCI) and many others. Many of the organizations represented at the reception are listed below. The evening was highlighted by a short program which included overviews of several programs focused on global health. Keith Martin, MD, the Executive Director of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) reflected on the importance of collaborations in efforts to make substantive improvements in global health initiatives. The CUGH is located in Washington, DC and is a stalwart supporter of the ICEC.

Daniel G. Petereit, MD, of the John Vucurevich Cancer Care Institute at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in South Dakota, shared his experiences as the Principal Investigator of the community-based participatory research program, “Walking Forward” in western South Dakota. The program is funded by the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) and lauded as an exemplary program proving that high-quality mentoring networks do improve both access to, and the quality of care delivered to indigenous populations in underserved areas.

Lastly, Dr. Surbhi Grover, MD, MPH, one of ICEC’s Early Career Leaders and an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the principle lead for the Botswana-UPENN partnership, highlighted many of the successes and challenges she has faced while developing an oncology program in Gaborone, Botswana. Though she has experienced many trials and tribulations, her efforts and the efforts of others have served as a catalyst to make a significant difference in the delivery of cancer care in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ICEC will host the next reception in October 2016 in New York City. Details will be posted on the ICEC website. To attend or to sponsor an upcoming event, or for more information on the 2016 ICEC Partnering to Transform Global Cancer Care reception schedule, please contact ICEC at development@iceccancer.org.

June 1, 2016, Reception – Organizations Represented
Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (AFNIGC)
American Cancer Society
American Indian “Walking Forward” Program
Anne Arundel Medical Center
Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington
Baker & McKenzie, LLP
Bethesda Systems
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital- Taiwan (CGMH)
Consortium of Universities for Global Health
Dana-Farber Global Cancer Medicine
Dartmouth Medical School
Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration
Duke University
Hughes Network Systems
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Johns Hopkins SOM
Medical College of Wisconsin
Metro State University of Denver
National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Cancer Institute, Radiation Research Program
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
SBK Partnership, LLC
Seqirus
Strategic Visions in Healthcare, LLC
The Commonwealth Medical School
University of Maryland Baltimore Campus
University of Pennsylvania
WeseEd

Establishing global health cancer care partnerships across common ground: Building on nuclear security, cancer disparities, education and mentorship

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Dr. C. Norman Coleman delivered the presentation, “Establishing global health cancer care partnerships across common ground: Building on nuclear security, cancer disparities, education and mentorship” at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health meeting in San Francisco in April 2016.

Bringing together ongoing efforts is critical and best done with formal collaborations between existing programs, allowing for individual recognition and a range of approaches while keeping competition that can dissuade investment to a minimumPartnerships are developing among: early stage career cancer experts committed to global health; experts in the private practice sector; organizations interested in supplying refurbished equipment; oncologists addressing health disparities among indigenous populations in resource-rich countries; retirees seeking opportunities to use their skills to help the underserved; linear accelerator manufacturers; and government agencies and foundations working to eliminate dangerous nuclear material, especially in unstable countries.

CUGH-April-2016-Presentation-Establishing-global-hc-partnerships

Uganda’s sole radiotherapy unit fails

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The BBC reports that Uganda’s only radiotherapy machine breaks and is likely beyond repair forcing thousands of patients to seek very limited radiotherapy options in Kenya or outside of Africa. Of the estimated 44,000 people diagnosed with cancer in Uganda and neighboring countries, nearly three-quarters of them are candidates for radiotherapy treatment. Read more.

Treatment, Not Terror: Strategies to Enhance External Beam Cancer Therapy in Developing Countries While Permanently Reducing the Risk of Radiological Terrorism

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Strategies to Enhance External Beam Cancer Therapy in Developing Countries While Permanently Reducing the Risk of Radiological Terrorism 

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, governments across the globe have shown increased concern that terrorists could gain access to high-activity radiological sources that could be used in dirty bombs. Despite efforts to increase their security and detect/prevent their smuggling, the problem has persisted because these radiological materials are in such widespread use in commercial applications across the globe. As a result, proposals to permanently reduce the risk by replacing the use of these materials with less dangerous alternatives have been gaining traction in the international community.

One of the more challenging cases of replacement is that of substituting cobalt-60 devices in external cancer radiation treatment in poorer countries where cancer treatment is grossly inadequate. This has been the case in Africa, a continent which has also seen a documented rise in terrorist activity. 

On September 1-2, 2015, the Stanley Foundation and the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, with input from experts of the National Cancer Institute’s Radiation Research Program and the University of Witwatersrand, organized a workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa, to discuss ways for policymakers to reduce the threat of radiological terrorism while also trying to improve cancer care in Africa and other developing countries. 

This report presents key themes of the discussion and provides actionable recommendations for the United States, other donor countries, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The International Cancer Expert Corps establishes the Ellen Lewis Stovall Early Career Leaders Working Group Fund

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Ellen-Stovall

Ellen Lewis Stovall Early Career Leaders Working Group Fund

Ellen Stovall, a founding member of the International Cancer Expert Corps, had great vision and an unsurpassed understanding of the needs of people with cancer and their families, friends and colleagues. She was a decisive leader in the cancer survivorship community and for nearly two decades served as President and CEO of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

Recognizing the enormous gap in cancer care for the underserved worldwide in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries and also among the indigenous and geographically isolated peoples in the United States and other resource-rich countries, Ellen joined the ICEC Board of Directors to help develop the unique ICEC approach to global mentorship and to help bring altruistic human service careers to the fore in cancer care.

This challenge provides an enormous opportunity for creativity, investigation, service and determination to reduce the burden of cancer on millions of people. To be successful and to reach the scale of action necessary, there is a need for a career-long effort that requires sustainability and continuity so that person-to-person partnerships can be established and maintained. Ellen astutely recognized the importance of mentorship and support from leadership for those individuals who displayed a genuine interest in this area of pioneering global health work.

In honor of Ellen’s transformational role in cancer survivorship, the ICEC has established the Ellen Stovall Early Career Leaders Working Group Fund. These leaders are trainees and early career academic faculty and private practitioners with demonstrated global health interests who have joined ICEC. These leaders will dedicate their efforts to 1) implementing ICEC’s unique mentorship model to develop sustainable cancer care in underserved communities worldwide and 2) establishing person-to-person relationships with people on the ground. Working with and supporting these leaders of the next generation, ICEC will help sustain careers in global health and service to the underserved in general, which is somewhat challenging in the current healthcare environment.

Contributions to this fund to honor Ellen’s efforts may be made online to the Ellen Stovall Early Career Leaders Working Group Fund or by completing and mailing in a downloadable donation form.  Persons, practices or academic centers who have an interest in applying for support, or to become an ICEC Hub, Expert, Center or Associate should complete an ICEC application found on the ICEC website at iceccancer.org/apply/.

Further information on the ICEC model is on the ICEC website and in Science Translational Medicine.

 Photo Credits
Ellen Stovall – Connie Rieder