“I always wanted to be an oncologist, and I think new developments happen in oncology every day. I am excited to learn from you all,” remarked one of the fellows during this week’s course. Despite the difficulty of the specialty, physicians worldwide are still dedicated to practicing and improving their knowledge in oncology. The MSKCC gastrointestinal cancers seminar that took place from March 22-28, 2026, brought together six leading oncologists with 35 young clinical practitioners from 27 countries to share the latest breakthroughs and discuss emerging therapeutic strategies.
We are thrilled to partner with the prestigious institution of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) once again this year to bring our oncology courses to life.
The seminar, which is part of a three-year curriculum, addressed the evaluation and management of colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, and appendiceal cancers, including advanced endoscopic and minimally invasive interventions and nutritional optimization. Much time was spent discussing the approach to the selection of patients for active surveillance, multimodality therapy, targeted local/regional therapies, and multiple different lines of systemic therapy.
This week’s faculty cohort consisted of six dedicated professionals. Course director Dr. Garrett M. Nash, Dr. Jacques C. Beauvais, Dr. Michael Foote, Dr. Marsha Reyngold, and Dr. Alice C. Wei (all Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), teamed up with local expert Dr. Lukas Weiss from the General Hospital of Salzburg to share their expertise with the motivated group of fellows. For course director Dr. Nash, as well as Dr. Reyngold, this seminar marked their third participation in a Salzburg course. Dr. Weiss has participated in two seminars, while Dr. Beauvais, Dr. Foote, and Dr. Wei served the program for the first time.
The course director is the Vice President for Quality and Safety at MSKCC. He oversees the Division of Quality and Safety, and his administrative focus is on using data analysis and reporting to drive process improvements, teaching and training, and nurturing a culture of safety and transparency. “Our primary mission is to ensure the safety of our patients while delivering the highest quality care. Nothing comes before that,” stated the oncologist in an MSKCC interview. We were honoured to host such a prestigious figure in the oncology world as part of our program.
Dr. Nash values education and improving patient care worldwide. When asked why educational seminars, such as this week’s course, are important, he happily explained: “The seminar aimed to deepen the fellows’ understanding of prevention, diagnosis, management, and surveillance for oncology patients. This course effectively bridged fundamental scientific concepts with clinical implications, emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis, comprehensive clinical phenotyping, and consideration of disease mechanisms in developing personalized treatments. Equipped with this knowledge, the participants are empowered to optimize oncologic patient care in their home communities.”
The two interactive case presentation sessions allowed fellows to present challenging clinical cases from their own practice and receive constructive feedback from the experienced faculty members. This case-based learning fostered critical thinking and practical problem-solving. Seven cases were chosen to be published on OMI’s e-learning platform.
The seminar offered fellows the unique opportunity to expand their clinical knowledge, engage with leaders in their field, and become part of an international network dedicated to improving cancer care worldwide.
Mari Lohmus, MD, MSc
OMI fellow from Estonia
“Dr. Garrett M. Nash guided us through complex subjects such as appendiceal tumors and the multimodal treatment of rectal cancer. These detailed lectures were invaluable for improving my daily work back home. Dr. Nash’s ability to create a learning-friendly environment where every question and discussion felt welcome truly made the experience special.”
Tin Tran, MD
OMI fellow from Vietnam
“Dr. Michael Foote, with his witty teaching style, left the strongest impression on me. The way he talked about immunotherapy and his genuine belief in its transformative role in cancer treatment reflected a level of passion I had never seen before. To me, he represents the kind of oncologist I truly aspire to become in the future.”
Jerry Mugisha, DrPH
OMI fellow from Tanzania
“This influential course strengthened my understanding of modern oncology practice, particularly in systemic chemotherapy and emerging clinical trials. It will help me make better-informed decisions in managing treatment-related toxicities while ensuring optimal therapy outcomes, giving hope of survival to our patients.”
