In the ever-evolving landscape of cancer care, staying up to date with the newest trends and treatments is vital. This sentiment was also reflected during the second oncology seminar this year, which took place from July 6-12, 2025. The focus of the course was placed on uro-oncology, specifically the conditions of bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and renal cell carcinoma. Who better to educate the young group of fellows in this complex subject than top experts in the field?
This week’s faculty stemmed from none other than the esteemed Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). The institution is known for its comprehensive cancer care, groundbreaking research in the field, and experienced doctors. It is consistently ranked among the top cancer hospitals in the US and globally. Course director Dr. Timothy Donahue, Dr. James A. Eastham, Dr. Daniel Gorovets, Dr. Gopa Iyer, Dr. Alison Schram, as well as Dr. Susan F. Slovin, made up the dynamic faculty cohort.
When asked to summarize this eventful week, the course director explained, “The goals of the course this week were to allow the fellows to better appreciate the natural history of genitourinary cancers and how this influences the options for management of both localized and advanced disease. Combining the expertise of urologic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists, we discussed each of these approaches for genitourinary cancers and emphasized how multi-disciplinary management can improve outcomes. Additionally, we hope to have provided the fellows with strategies to improve the care they provide in their own unique healthcare environments within the framework of the resources available to them.”
We were honored to host Dr. Eastham, who is Chief of the Urology Service in the Department of Surgery, Director of Clinical Research for the Urology Service, and Co-Leader of the Genitourinary Disease Management Team at MSKCC, for the first time this week! He described his first impressions in a thoughtful statement: “Several of my colleagues have been faculty at an OMI seminar and all have been quite positive about the experience. This was my first time attending an OMI seminar (urologic oncology), and I have been impressed by the staff who have left no detail to chance. Any questions were promptly answered, and the venue was excellent both for housing and as a conference center! Printed materials and audiovisual support were excellent. The faculty-to-fellow ratio allowed for interactive discussions throughout each of the sessions as well as during the breaks and meals. As faculty, I found the OMI process an ideal method of education and feel confident that the fellows have gained tools to improve the care of their patients.”
Out of 226 applications, 34 aspiring doctors from 23 countries, including Albania, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Tanzania, and Uzbekistan, were selected for the MSKCC course. They were thrilled to learn more about surgical skills, specific therapies, and novel treatment methods for their patients with uro-oncologic malignancies. The participants eagerly took part in the Q&A sessions after the 20 didactic lectures, presented their own cases, and networked with each other during their free time. They will certainly return to their home countries not only with a plethora of new knowledge but also with an international group of colleagues, whom they can discuss their difficult patient cases with in the future.
We would like to thank our academic partner, MSKCC, and its faculty members for their unwavering support in our shared endeavor to educate doctors worldwide!
Sena Akkasa, MD
OMI fellow from Ethiopia
Pavel Banov, MD, PhD
OMI fellow from Moldova
Evelyn Lilian Beas-Lozano, MD
OMI fellow from Mexico
