International Cancer Expert Corps Inc

Programs: Icec mentoring partnerships/twinning programsicec's program brings cancer care experts from resource-rich settings, together with healthcare professionals in resource poor countries to improve cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. With well-defined governance, established policies and procedures, transparency in operations and the ability to leverage expertise, icec partners with and enhances ongoing activities of governments, prof societies, cancer centers and other ngos. Icec encourages local regional and national initiatives to develop sustainable capacity and capability in the efforts of these countries to battle cancer. Icec established mentoring partnerships/twinning programs with the goals to, 1) improve, facilitate and sustain population-directed clinical care and translational research in cancer through projects carried out by multi-disciplinary expert teams, 2) train at these centers physicians, nurses, scientists, and other healthcare & health policy workers in public health oncology and to analyze local cancer care systems and model approaches for their strengthening, and to encourage healthcare professionals to remain in low- and middle-income countries (lmic) rather than migrate to upper income countries for employment, and 3) create a bona fide and valued career path in academia and practice for healthcare service to the underserved by providing an organizational, educational, research and service base in academic centers of excellence in resource-rich countries and professional societies to develop and sustain experts in public health oncology. In 2016, icec developed partnerships with professional societies and major international agencies including the american society of clinical oncology (asco), american society for radiation oncology (astro), association of residents in radiation oncology (arro), royal australian and new zealand college of radiologists (ranzcr), consortium of universities for global health (cugh), and the union for international cancer control (uicc). Standard operating procedures for mentoring partnerships were created including components for experts (mentors) in icec hubs and associates (mentees) in icec centers. A 5-step progression plan which includes a set of metrics for progression of icec associates and centers was drafted to evaluate current capabilities and provide an understanding of where investment is needed. Twinning programs/mentoring relationships have been established in the united states (native americans), canada (first nations), gabon, armenia, algeria, tanzania, cambodia and kenya. The number of people benefited is dynamic as the region's workforce capability and capacity increases through ongoing mentoring, training and education improving the quality of cancer care delivered to all patients presenting with cancer. For additional information see www. Iceccancer. Org.

icec has established a model for a sustainable career path in academia and private practice so that altruistic service can become a pillar of healthcare careers for the exceptional young healthcare professionals such as those who now work with icec as icec "early career leaders". 2016 early career leader activities: icec established an early career leaders working group organized by and comprised of outstanding young people in oncology focusing on cancer care for the underserved. The icec early career leaders working group operates within the icec experts committee. Icec seeks financial support for programs and operations with the goal to provide a rewarding academic career and life path to young medical professionals while having cancer control be a challenging new opportunity to make a substantial impact on global health. Icec provided peer-reviewed grants to six individuals whose efforts are making significant improvements in care in low- and middle-income countries (lmics). By providing mentoring and financial support to these doctors, nurses, physicists and other allied healthcare providers, these individuals are able to improve care in these regions while also building a career that bridges the divide between academia and global health. Programs include: 1) gabarone, botswana: development of a cancer center in princess marina hospital (upenn-botswana) partnership, 2) yerevan, armenia: development of a two-week curriculum to transition the radiation oncology department from using 2-dcrt to 3-dcrt for breast cancer, and development of a long-term plan to sustain excellent cancer care addressing education gaps, equipment, and training needs, 3) mwanza, tanzania: strengthening pediatric oncology care and research capacity, developed a cancer registry and increased training capacity in pediatric hematology, oncology and surgery, bugundo medical center (duke), 4) phom penh, cambodia: development of a radiation oncology department at the newly established national cancer center ensuring a safe and sustainable commencement of radiotherapy services, and assessment of the national cancer centers' goal to provide safe and precise radiotherapy, 5) sioux falls, south dakota, usa,: walking forward program provided cancer education, and culturally tailored patient navigation services to native americans (lakota sioux) increasing access to clinical trials, and 6) greater horn of africa oncology symposium (ghos): the ghos is a multidisciplinary oncology symposium dedicated to increase awareness of cancer care through an exchange of ideas to improve cancer care. The number of people benefited is dynamic as the individual early career leaders focus on different cancers and treatment methods. Each program is unique addressing the different requirements and current status of existing in-country cancer programs. Through mentoring, education and training curriculums early career leaders work to improve the skills and knowledge of the healthcare providers with whom they work, thus increasing the capability and capacity of the health care and cancer care professionals while improving the quality of care delivered to the local populations.

developing novel medical linacs for low- and middle-income countries (lmic) and challenging environments. Addressing the current gap of approximately 5,000-10,000 radiation treatment machines, primarily in lmics, as reported by the uicc global task force for radiation therapy for cancer control, and the global need to reduce the threat of radiological terrorism inherent in the wide distribution of cobalt-60 treatment units, primarily in lmics, icec's efforts represent a convergence of goals and objectives of national and international organizations. Icec organized a workshop held in geneva, switzerland in november 2016, bringing together leading experts from world renowned agencies and organizations including engineers, physicists, academicians, scientists, economists, tech and bio-tech representatives, governmental and non-governmental organizations such as us department of energy's national nuclear security agency and the international atomic energy agency. The focus of the workshop ultimately addressed the need to replace co-60 treatment units with a novel linear accelerator technology to reduce the risk of un- or poorly-secured radioactive materials. The workshop emphasized identifying the preliminary design characteristics needed for a novel, probably linear accelerator to fill the gap in need for radiation treatment machines in challenging environments as well as in lmics, and to replace cobalt-60 machines in those countries. 2016 novel medical linac development activities:icec identified four specific task forces and individuals to oversee teams to initiate work on the following objectives: 1) enhancing current available treatment systems with innovative software2) developing novel hardware as well as software technological systems solutions,3) augmenting and upgrading education and training modules to ensure optimal use of new or improved treatment systems, and4) developing and implementing innovative economic models to sustain the icec-led program. Icec continues to spearhead this initiative and invites other partners and interested parties to join the project. A full report is available for interested partners with the general conclusions that there are now opportunities, ideas and interest to support and pursue such an effort. More information can be found at www. Iceccancer. Org. At this time, the organization is not able to determine the number of people directly benefited by the program, however, the anticipated benefit, once the machine is developed, will be hundreds of thousands of people in low- and middle-income countries and in challenging environments will have access to effective and safe cancer treatment and much needed palliative care for those with advanced disease.