New York City is home to an abundance of hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices. However, only a handful stand out amongst them as being truly exceptional. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC for short, is one of the most renowned institutions worldwide. For more than three decades, U.S. News & World Report has consistently recognized Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as one of the top two cancer hospitals in the United States. They are known for their expertise in cancer care, their friendly staff, and their commitment to improving the lives of their patients. The OMI is proud to call MSKCC one of its main academic partners.
We were thrilled to welcome seven international specialists to Schloss Arenberg this week for our 45th oncology seminar. The course focused on breast and gynecologic cancers. From MSKCC, we were joined by course director Dr. William P. Tew, who is Clinical Director of the Gynecologic Medical Oncology service, Dr. Monica Morrow, who is Chief of the Breast Surgery Service at MSKCC, Dr. Dhwani Parikh, and Dr. Serena Wong.
The remaining European faculty cohort consisted of Dr. Oliver Zivanovic from the Heidelberg University Hospital (Germany), Dr. Karen Cadoo from St. James’s Hospital (Ireland), as well as Dr. Simon P. Gampenrieder from the General Hospital of Salzburg (Austria). Dr. Zivanovic is currently Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Heidelberg, Germany, after working at MSKCC for many years. He remains a Consultant for the Gynecology Service at the US institution.
The latest surgical and radiation approaches to minimize morbidity for women with breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancer were covered during the seminar. By understanding the genetic risk and molecular signatures of cancer, emerging biologic therapeutics, such as antibody-drug conjugates and immunotherapy, were highlighted.
Course director Dr. Tew explains why he supports our program in a thoughtful statement: “Rapid advances in cancer science are transforming the practice of oncology. By bringing together experts in breast and gynecologic cancers for a week of immersive and organized learning in the magical city of Salzburg, the OMI provides a successful platform to teach the latest breakthroughs to physicians from across the globe. The enthusiasm and close interaction with the fellows made the week so rewarding.”
The faculty members were excellent teachers, willing to share their extensive knowledge and skills with the 33 young oncologists from 26 countries in a series of 21 didactic lectures. The fellows keenly listened to the interesting presentations, which included topics such as the surgical management of different types of breast cancer, antibody-drug conjugates in breast cancer, the surgical management of ovarian cancer, the genetics of endometrial and colon cancer, and the systematic treatment in cervical cancer.
We would like to thank our faculty for donating their time to the cause of treating cancer on a global scale!
Beáta Loffayová, MD
OMI fellow from Slovakia
“My personal highlight of the seminar was the presentations by Dr. Monica Morrow. I still cannot believe that one of the world’s best surgeons shared her expertise with us! I gained high-quality knowledge in a supportive atmosphere that made the entire experience truly meaningful.”
Bertha Alejandra Martinez-Cannon, MD
OMI fellow from Mexico
“Having the unique opportunity to present a real clinical case from my own practice and receive feedback from renowned faculty was incredibly rewarding. The discussion that followed was rich, thoughtful, and immediately applicable to my daily work.”
Gabriele Bielinyte, MD
OMI fellow from Lithuania
“The seminar offered a unique opportunity to learn from a world-class team of physicians who generously shared their expertise through engaging presentations and discussions. Dr. Cadoo and Dr. Tew introduced cutting-edge immunotherapy and emerging treatment options, broadening my understanding of innovative therapeutic approaches.”
