During ISOPP’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) two months ago, I shared two of ISOPP’s strategies in navigating the pandemic, namely, advancing cancer care globally through projects and collaborations, and preparing for the return of in-person meetings.
While we enjoyed a first class virtual Symposium with the AGM, enabling over 120 participants from 33 countries to connect and engage in sessions and various activities, there is no doubt we long to get together in person. With the varying timelines of vaccination rollouts around the world, ISOPP’s next international Symposium will be moved from March 2022 to 2023 – still in beautiful Sevilla. This does not preclude our Regional Symposium initiatives.
The Saudi Oncology Pharmacy Assembly (SOPA) is hosting ISOPP’s first ever Saudi Arabia Regional Oncology Pharmacy Conference, scheduled to take place from November 4 to 6, 2021 as an in-person event for those in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and virtually for the ISOPP presenters.
Another collaboration in the Middle East is the Excellence in Oncology Pharmacy Practice Series, a scientific exchange forum for clinical pharmacists across the Gulf that aims to educate pharmacists on recent trends and international standards in oncology. Two ISOPP members will participate as presenters in four sessions over the next few months in this invitation only series.
In Africa, we welcomed the Egyptian Foundation of Clinical Pharmacy (EFCP) as joint membership partners and invite pharmacists from both EFCP and ISOPP to join their respective organizations at discounted membership fees. We are also sharing our expertise as part of the Project PINK BLUE, a medical oncology training for Nigerian clinical oncologists through the Upgrade Oncology: U.S. - Nigeria Science & Technology Exchange Program.
Read on to learn more about other projects and collaborations advancing care globally, including the work of the Advocacy Task Force and the Immunotherapy Task Force, and ISOPP’s recently published position statement in the Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice (JOPP) on the “Role of the Oncology Pharmacy Team in Cancer Care” (with thanks to the Credentialing, Specialization, Scope of Practice Task Force).
Another strategy highlighted in the AGM was engaging and growing membership even more. To this end, please watch for and complete a survey seeking your input on how we can add more value to your membership and improve our service. For members located in Africa, there will be another survey coming your way seeking input on Biosimilar implementation in oncology practice in Africa.
If you weren’t able to join us for ISOPP’s 2021 Virtual Symposium, benefit from additional knowledge and best practices by accessing the video presentations through ISOPP’s Virtual Library – complimentary for all ISOPP members. Many thanks to Melanie Danilak, our Virtual Symposium Task Force Chair, and all those who participated and volunteered their expertise to make our virtual gathering an outstanding success. In fact, 97% rated the event as good to excellent, and 90% rated the online platform as good to excellent as well.
Enjoy the rest of the newsletter, including the “Oncology Around the World” articles, and see you online and in person soon!
Shaun O’Connor
ISOPP President